There shall be established a Department of General Services, headed
by a Commissioner of General Services. The Commissioner of General Services
shall supervise and coordinate the diverse units, offices, departments, activities,
functions and services of purchasing, data processing, maintenance, buildings,
grounds, utilities, construction, leasing of space, housekeeping, building
security, equipment and automobile maintenance, communications, mailroom,
printing and reproduction at all County facilities, except as set forth below;
said units, offices and departments being transferred and becoming divisions
of the Department of General Services, with the express aim that the activities,
goals and industry of the aforesaid units, offices and departments of government
be integrated and consolidated insofar as is possible, so that high-quality
service may be provided to all served departments, so that their respective
functions may be performed and achieved at the greatest efficiency and fiscal
economy possible, and duplication and waste may be avoided. The aforementioned
Department of General Services shall exclude all units, offices and departments
of Rockland Community College and Rockland County Sewer District No. 1.
The Commissioner of General Services shall be appointed by the County Executive pursuant to §
C3.02 of the Rockland County Charter to serve at the pleasure of the County Executive. The Commissioner shall be appointed on the basis of education, experience and professional competence in public administration.
Except as otherwise provided by law, the Commissioner of General Services
shall have the following duties:
A. To serve as the Commissioner, supervising the aforesaid
units, offices and departments of County government, and to serve as a liaison
between the Rockland County Executive and the various directors of said departments.
B. To be the appointing authority for all of the heads of the various divisions within the Department except for the Director of Purchasing, who shall continue to be appointed pursuant to §
C3.02w of the Rockland County Charter, but who shall report to the Commissioner of General Services for administrative purposes.
C. To assemble all available information with respect to
state and federal grants that may be available to reduce the cost of operation
of said units, offices and departments, and to supervise the coordination,
planning and review of all programs operated by the aforesaid units, offices
and departments.
D. The Commissioner shall also exercise such further power
and authority as the Legislature of Rockland County may, from time to time,
delegate by local law or resolution or as the County Executive may delegate
in his or her administrative capacity.
Subject to budgetary appropriations made therefor by the Legislature
of Rockland County, the Commissioner of General Services shall appoint all
subordinate employees (except for the Director of Purchasing) in the Department
of General Services and shall have authority to appoint a Deputy Commissioner
of General Services from the various heads of the divisions contained within
the Department of General Services, at no additional compensation, who shall
act for and in place of the Commissioner in his or her absence or inability
to act.
The Department of General Services shall have within it the following
divisions:
A. Purchasing division, which shall consist of the Purchasing
Department (budget account No. A1345), the purchasing store/office supplies
(budget account No. A1660) and materials management (budget account No. H4550-6310,
H4800-6320). The Office of Purchasing shall continue to be headed by a Director
of Purchasing who shall continue to perform the duties and responsibilities
as set forth in the Rockland County Charter and the Administrative Code. The Director of Purchasing shall continue to be appointed by the County Executive, in accordance with Charter §
C3.02w; however, he or she shall report for administrative purposes to the Commissioner of General Services.
B. Data processing division, which shall include the Department
of Data Processing (budget account No. A1680).
C. Facilities management division, which shall include the
units, offices and departments of buildings and grounds (budget account No.
A1620), plant facilities (budget account No. H4650), construction (budget
account No. A1275), housekeeping (budget account No. H4550-6280) and building
security (budget account No. H4550-6340).
D. Communications division, which shall include the offices,
units and departments of communications (budget account No. A1690, H4550-6100),
mailroom (budget account No. H4550-6040), printing and reproduction (budget
account No. H4550-6130) and E-911 telephone systems (budget account No. A3645).
The following positions in the following departments are hereby transferred
to the Department of General Services.
The employees encumbering the aforesaid positions shall be concurrently
transferred consistent with civil service requirements and the various employment
agreements between the County and the respective collective bargaining units
involved. Employees transferred hereby shall not be reduced in grade or salary
or have their civil service status and rights diminished by reason of such
transfer.
All budgetary allocations for the personnel and functions incorporated
into the Department of General Services are transferred to that Department,
and the Budget Director shall make appropriate provision within the 1996 budget
of the County of Rockland for this Department.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit the authority of
the Commissioner of Hospitals to enter into memoranda of understanding between
and among County departments and agencies in order to ensure compliance with
all state and federal rules and regulations regarding the operation of the
Rockland County Infirmary and Summit Park Hospital.
Any and all portions of such local laws and resolutions heretofore adopted
by the Board of Supervisors or the Legislature of Rockland County inconsistent
herewith are hereby repealed. However, unless inconsistent with the provisions
of this chapter, nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to alter or impair
any of the powers, duties or responsibilities which are provided under general
laws of the Legislature of the State of New York, relative to any County board,
office or agency or department, and each such board, office or agency or department
shall continue to possess all such powers, duties and responsibilities.