§ 416 — Central staff operation

* § 416. Central staff operation. 1. The department shall provide for\nthe financial operations of the central staff and ensure that the\ncentral staff activities are in compliance with applicable laws and\nregulations. The relative responsibilities of the council and the\ndepartment for the central staff are detailed below. In all cases the\nresponsibilities of the council for the central staff shall be carried\nout on a day-to-day basis by the program, finance and administration\ncommittee.\n 2. The council shall be responsible for:\n (a) program results:\n (i) Assuring that the desired results or benefits of the central\nstaff's work are being achieved, including that the unified planning\nwork program activities are on schedule, of proper quality, and are\ndocumented and reported on in an appropriate manner.\n (ii) Assuring that the urban transportation planning objectives\nestablished by the federal regulations and the council itself are being\nmet, including that the unified planning work program elements are\nresponsive to federal planning requirements and area transportation\nissues and problems.\n (b) Economy and efficiency of central staff operation:\n (i) Assuring that desired results are achieved at lowest cost,\nincluding that central staff size, salary levels and other costs are\nappropriate and planning methods well chosen.\n (ii) Assuring that the central staff is managing or utilizing its\nresources (personnel, property, space, etc.) in an economical and\nefficient manner, including that management information systems,\nadministrative procedures, organizational structures and other\nmanagement tools are adequate.\n (c) Selecting consultants to perform activities in the central staff\nwork program as provided for in the approved unified planning work\nprogram and negotiating professional services agreements, except that\nthe department shall be entitled to have a representative in all\nconsultant selection decisions and fee negotiations that affect\ncontracts held by the department on behalf of the council;\n (d) Approving all required task work programs (task amplifications)\nand preparing those required for central staff activities;\n (e) Providing funds for a central staff director and directing him/her\nto:\n (i) Manage central staff planning activity to ensure continued\ncompliance with federal and state regulations;\n (ii) Prepare and maintain work budgets for all central staff planning\nactivities and cash flow budgets for central staff operations;\n (iii) Assist the department in establishing acceptable ledgers and\naccounting procedures to maintain complete and accurate records\npertaining to revenues, expenses, work performed, and cash on hand;\n (iv) Assist the department in preparing appropriate documentation of\npayrolls, time records, grant charges, invoices, vouchers, purchases,\nand other expenses in accordance with state and federal requirements;\n (v) Assist the department with the establishment and maintenance of\ncentral staff-related accounting records and bookkeeping procedures;\n 3. The department shall be responsible for:\n (a) Prefinancing the central staff operation for the council prior to\nreimbursement;\n (b) Employing central staff and paying central staff salaries and\nfringe benefits;\n (c) Paying central staff operating expenses and program costs in\naccordance with the approved unified planning work program;\n (d) Controlling central staff revenues, expenditures, assets, and\nliabilities to the extent necessary to meet the department's obligations\nwith respect to the state funds involved;\n (e) Purchasing, receiving, accounts payable, payroll and billings;\n (f) Assuring that the central staff operation is in full compliance\nwith all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations,\nincluding that all central staff activities are eligible for\nreimbursement and that all matching requirements are met.\n 4. New York state shall provide the non-federal share of central staff\nfinancing as detailed in the unified planning work programs.\n * NB Expired June 30, 1983\n