  In the Reflection Equation (RE) algebra associated with an involutive or
Hecke symmetry $R$ the center is generated by elements ${\rm Tr}_R L^k$ (called
the quantum power sums), where $L$ is the generating matrix of this algebra and
${\rm Tr}_R$ is the $R$-trace associated with $R$. We consider the problem:
whether it is so in certain RE-like algebras depending on spectral parameters.
Mainly, we deal with algebras similar to those considered in \cite{RS} (we call
them algebras of RS type). These algebras are defined by means of some current
(i.e. depending on parameters) $R$-matrices arising from involutive and Hecke
symmetries via the so-called Baxterization procedure. We define quantum power
sums in the algebras of RS type and show that the lowest quantum power sum in
such an algebra is central iff the value of the "charge" $c$ entering its
definition is critical. We exhibit the dependance of this critical value on the
bi-rank of the initial symmetry $R$. Besides, we show that if the bi-rank of
$R$ is $(m|m)$, and the value of $c$ is critical, then all quantum power sums
are central.
