[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 58 (Tuesday, March 26, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13790-13792]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-7245]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-4572-D-20]


Delegation of Authority to Regional Directors

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, HUD.

ACTION: Notice of Delegation of Authority to Regional Directors in the 
HUD Regional Offices.

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SUMMARY: In this notice the Deputy Secretary, through the Assistant 
Deputy Secretary for Field Policy and Management, delegates operational 
management authority to the HUD Regional Directors. The delegation 
provides the authority necessary to manage programs and resources 
located in HUD regional and field offices nationwide. Currently the 
Regional Directors are located in Region I (Boston, MA); Region II (New 
York, NY); Region III (Philadelphia, PA); Region IV (Atlanta, GA); 
Region V (Chicago, IL); Region VI (Ft. Worth, TX); Region VII (Kansas 
City, KS); Region VIII (Denver, CO); Region IX (San Francisco, CA); and 
Region X (Seattle, WA). Pursuant to this authority, HUD Regional 
Directors are delegated specific authorities pertaining to cross 
program coordination, personnel management, administrative management, 
resource management, and representation regarding matters under their 
respective jurisdictions. Except as otherwise specified, Regional 
Directors

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are authorized to redelegate operational management authority to Field 
Office Directors under their respective jurisdictions. In accordance 
with this delegation, performance elements will be standardized for all 
field managers and supervisors. In addition to overall management and 
supervision, the elements shall include communication, customer 
service, representation, equal employment opportunity, and a subject-
matter specific critical element. Regional Directors are also 
authorized to provide input into the performance assessment of program 
managers in their jurisdictions. To the extent practicable, 40% weight 
will be given to the assessment provided by the Regional Director. This 
delegation further authorizes the Regional Directors to enter into co-
sponsorship agreements with the concurrence of the General Counsel and 
the relevant program Assistant Secretary or equivalent. Under this 
delegation, the title of the ten Field Assistant General Counsel is 
changed to Regional Counsel.

EFFECTIVE DATE: March 18, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob Etchison, Office of Field Policy 
and Management, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th 
Street, SW, Washington, DC 20410, (202) 708-1123. (This is not a toll-
free number.) This number may be accessed via TTY by calling the 
Federal Information Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339.) Comments or 
questions can be submitted through the Internet to Bob--
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: These Delegations of Authority are designed 
to improve efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability of management 
operations. They are intended to provide a managerial framework, 
promote customer service, and encourage coordination among and within 
the field offices.
    Accordingly, the Deputy Secretary, through the Assistant Deputy 
Secretary for Field Policy and Management, delegates to each Regional 
Director authority within his or her respective jurisdiction as 
follows:

Section A: Authority Delegated

    1. Cross-Program Coordination. Each Regional Director is delegated 
the following duties to aid cooperation among different programs, 
program directors, and offices:
     Developing and implementing Management Plans;
     Coordinating cross-program projects and Field Office 
Quality Management Reviews;
     Preparing briefing papers and hot issues documents;
     Leading disaster relief efforts; and
     Consulting with program directors on major program 
decisions. Regional Directors can trigger Headquarter's review of 
decisions made by program directors. Where the Regional Director and 
relevant program director disagree regarding a major program decision, 
the Assistant Deputy Secretary for Field Policy and Management may 
raise the matter with the relevant Assistant Secretary or equivalent. 
The relevant Assistant Secretary or equivalent makes the final 
determination, subject to review by the Deputy Secretary, if necessary.
    2. Personnel Management. Each Regional Director is delegated the 
following personnel management responsibilities for field offices 
within his or her jurisdiction:
     Providing input on the performance ratings of managers and 
supervisors within the region. To the extent practicable, 40% weight 
will be given to the assessment provided by the Regional Director. The 
performance for the Directors of the Homeownership Centers; Troubled 
Agency Recovery Centers; Administrative Service Centers; Satellite 
Field Directors of the Departmental Enforcement Centers; and the 
Regional Counsel will be evaluated within their respective 
organizations, with consultation provided by the Assistant Deputy 
Secretary for Field Policy and Management;
     Approving short-term details across program area lines (up 
to sixty days);
     Approving leave requests for managers and supervisors;
     Regional Directors are authorized to serve as part of the 
recommending and hiring process for managers and supervisors within 
their respective jurisdictions. The Assistant Secretary, or equivalent, 
makes the final selection regarding their managers and supervisors;
     Acting as supervisor, or when necessary assigning a 
supervisor, to out-stationed staff; and
     Managing and conducting labor/management relations.
    3. Administrative Management. Each Regional Director is delegated 
the following administrative duties for field offices under his or her 
jurisdiction:
     Determining official office hours, opening, closing, and 
emergency procedures.
    4. Resource Management. Each Regional Director is delegated the 
following resource allocation responsibilities under his or her 
jurisdiction:
     Managing the administrative budget, e.g., training, 
equipment, etc.;
     Approving program travel requests; and
     Redistributing up to 20% of travel funds among program 
areas.
    5. Representation. Each Regional Director is delegated the 
following duties as the Region's primary contact person and HUD 
representative regarding:
     Developing and maintaining the lead point of contact with 
local officials;
     Maintaining the role as principal point of contact with 
industry groups;
     Managing all inquiries and correspondence, including 
Freedom of Information Act requests, Congressional and 
Intergovernmental communications;
     Responding to all media inquiries in conjunction with 
Headquarters and the Office of Public Affairs;
     Administering the local office's web page and internet 
sources;
     Monitoring and evaluating customer service; and
     Entering into co-sponsorship agreements, with the 
concurrence of the General Counsel and the relevant program Assistant 
Secretary or equivalent.

Section B: Authority Revoked

    The redelegations of authority from the Assistant Secretaries to 
the Secretary's Representatives pertaining to the waiver of program 
directives and handbook provisions are revoked. These redelegations 
were published in the Federal Register at 61 FR 35800 (July 8, 1996) 
PIH; 61 FR 35801 (July 8, 1996) Housing; 61 FR 35802 (July 8, 1996) 
CPD; and 61 FR 35803 (July 8, 1996) FHEO. Today's delegation also 
revokes the further redelegations from the Secretary Representative to 
the Southeast/Caribbean State and Area Coordinators published in the 
Federal Register at 61 FR 59236 (November 21, 1996) Housing; 61 FR 
59236 (November 21, 1996) PIH; 61 FR 59237 (November 21, 1996) FHEO; 
and FR 59237 (November 21, 1996) CPD. All previous delegated or 
redelegated authority inconsistent with this Delegation of Authority is 
hereby revoked.

Section C: Authority To Redelegate

    This authority may be redelegated, as appropriate, from Regional 
Directors to Field Office Directors within their respective 
jurisdictions. The authority to enter into co-sponsorship agreements 
may not be redelegated below the level of Regional Director.

    Authority: Section 7(d) of the Department of HUD Act, 42 U.S.C. 
3535(d); 66 FR 18790, Delegation of Concurrent Authority to the 
Deputy Secretary (April 11, 2001).


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    Dated: March 18, 2002.
Alphonso Jackson,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 02-7245 Filed 3-25-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-32-P