Approval of the Governor’s Chief of Staff is required for all hiring decisions, promotions, pay adjustments and transfers under revied cost containment measures issued by Governor Pulaalii Nikolao Pula.
A previous memorandum issued in January of this year instructed that the Governor must approve all hiring. In the revised cost containment measures outlined in a Dec 22 memo, the Governor has delegated his authority for approval of hiring decisions and other personnel actions to the Chief of Staff. However the Governor’s approval remains necessary for hiring decisions and other personnel actions involving cabinet members and deputy directors.
For overtime, all requests for paid overtime must be pre approved by the Governor. Directors may authorize compensatory time as long as it is in compliance with Human Resources statutes, regulations and policies.
Written requests for overtime pay must state the purpose for the overtime, number of employees required to work overtime, an estimated cost of the overtime pay and a screenshot of One Solution identifying the funding account If overtime is charged to a grant, the grant narrative confirming that overtime is an allowable cost must ne included.
Purchase order or contracts are required for all ASG payments. The new memo spelled out that no payments will be issued by ASG unless a properly approved purchase order and contract is on file for the applicable goods and services.
Regarding travel, all travel by cabinet members must be approved by the Governor. The memo says “where possible, non-essential travel that has already been arranged should be canceled or rescheduled.”
Semi autonomous agencies and authorities are exempt from the requirements of this general memorandum. However they are encouraged to implement best practices and safeguards to promote fiscal responsibility, cost efficiency and effective internal controls.
