There shall be a Department of Youth Services headed by a Director,
who shall be appointed by the County Administrator following consultation
with the Youth Services Board, subject to confirmation by the Tompkins
County Legislature. The Director shall be appointed on the basis of
professional experience working with youth services, administrative
ability, and other qualifications appropriate to the responsibilities
of the office. The Director shall be directly responsible to the County
Administrator for the implementation of policies established by the
Tompkins County Legislature.
The Director of the Department of Youth Services shall have
the power to appoint such deputies, assistants, and employees of the
Department as may be necessary to perform the duties of the Office
of Director of the Department of Youth Services and as shall be authorized
by the Tompkins County Legislature. All deputies, assistants, and
employees of the Department shall be directly responsible to the Director.
Except as otherwise provided in this Charter, the Director shall
have all the powers and perform all the duties now or hereafter conferred
or imposed by New York State Executive Law Article 19-A, § 420,
Executive Law Article 19-H, and the regulations of the Office of Children
and Family Services upon a "Youth Bureau Director and Runaway Coordinator,"
together with such other and related duties as may be required by
the Tompkins County Legislature.
The powers and duties of the Youth Services Director shall be
to:
(a)
Assist County municipalities and agencies in identifying and meeting
needs of youth;
(b)
Assist in maintaining appropriate records in the County so that adequate
information is available for youth program planning and evaluation;
(c)
Assist in coordinating youth-serving agencies;
(d)
Help develop and implement youth service plans to maximize the availability
of services and the effective utilization of public and private funds
within the County;
(e)
Help County municipalities and agencies apply for grants for youth
programs and provide technical assistance as needed to assure effective
implementation of youth services; monitor and evaluate programs funded
through the Department of Youth Services;
(f)
Manage the administrative activities of the Department of Youth Services.
There shall be a Youth Services Board appointed by the Tompkins
County Legislature. The composition of the Youth Services Board shall
consist of not fewer than 10 and not more than 28 members and include
representatives from municipalities and the youth-serving community.
A non-voting liaison from the Tompkins County Legislature shall be
appointed annually by the Tompkins County Legislature. Terms shall
be as provided in the bylaws of the Tompkins County Youth Services
Board. Any municipal representative shall be designated by the governing
body of the respective municipality. Youth members and other at-large
members shall be recommended by the Youth Services Board.
The Youth Services Board shall have the authority to draft bylaws
for approval by the Tompkins County Legislature, elect officers from
its membership, and establish committees. Updated copies of bylaws
must be kept on file in the office of the Clerk of the Tompkins County
Legislature.
The Youth Services Board shall be advisory to the Tompkins County
Legislature and the Director, and shall have the following powers,
duties, and responsibilities:
(a)
In consultation with the Youth Services Director, recommend effective
programs for the prevention and control of delinquency and crimes
by youth, for youth recreation, and to further youth development;
(b)
Act as a resource to municipal legislative bodies in the solution
of youth problems and/or the enactment of youth programs;
(c)
Encourage closer cooperation among employers, labor, school, families,
churches, recreation and youth commissions, state and local employment
programs, service clubs, and other public and private agencies so
as to encourage sound planning of youth programs reflective of our
culturally diverse population;
(d)
Review and make recommendations to the Director and the Tompkins
County Legislature on the Department's budget;
(e)
Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as may now
or hereafter be imposed by law or provided in the Official Compilation
of the Codes, Rules and Regulations of the State of New York.
The Youth Services Board shall appoint planning committees as
needed to appropriately meet the diverse needs of children and youth.
Required plans shall be prepared in compliance with local, state and/or
federal regulations. Plans shall be submitted to the Tompkins County
Legislature for review after review and approval by the Youth Services
Board.
