This Act is a public act of which the court shall take judicial notice and shall be liberally construed so as to carry into effect the object and purposes thereof and shall be known and cited by the short title of "Rensselaer City Charter."
The City of Rensselaer in the County of Rensselaer is bounded and described as follows: Beginning at a point in the west line of Rensselaer County, due west of the point next hereinafter mentioned, and running thence east to an iron pin driven in the middle of the bed of Dead Creek at its mouth, running thence south 76° 30 minutes, east five hundred and fifty-nine and six-tenths feet to an iron pin driven into the ground on the east side of the road; thence north seventy-four degrees thirty-five minutes east twenty-three hundred and forty-five and two-tenths feet to an iron pin driven into the ground in the west line of the land of the Boston and Albany Railroad Company; thence north seventeen degrees forty-two minutes east forty-seven hundred and seventy-one and seven-tenths feet along the west line of the Boston and Albany Railroad property to an iron pin driven into the bed of the creek; thence south sixty-five degrees thirty-one minutes east seven hundred and one and four-tenths feet to an iron pin driven into the ground at the Sulphur Spring; thence south eighty-three degrees of fifty-two minutes east seventeen hundred and forty-three and four-tenths feet to an iron pin driven into the ground near an elm tree at the junction of two roads in front of Irwin's house; thence north two degrees three-tenths of a minute west fifteen hundred and seventy-seven and three-tenths feet to an iron pin driven into the ground near Aiken's hill: thence north thirty-four degrees east thirty-one hundred and thirty-two and six-tenths feet to a willow tree in Partition Street, into which a nail is driven; thence north sixteen degrees thirty-two minutes east two thousand and six and three-tenths feet to a white oak tree back of W. O. Howard's barn; thence north thirty-four degrees forty-two minutes east eighteen hundred and thirty-seven and eight-tenths feet to a chestnut tree at the edge of a bank east of the state rifle range; thence south fifty-four degrees thirty-two minutes east three hundred and twenty and seven-tenths feet to an iron pin driven into the ground at a fence corner; thence north fifty-one degrees thirteen minutes east nine hundred and eighty-two and four-tenths feet to an oak tree in the fence line southeast of the butt in the state rifle range; thence north seventy-six degrees twenty-seven minutes east six hundred and ninety-five and two-tenths feet to an iron pin driven into the ground at a fence corner; thence north thirty-one degrees and twenty-eight minutes east seven hundred and fourteen and five-tenths feet to an iron pin in a creek; thence south fifty-eight degrees fifteen minutes east forty-nine hundred and thirty-four and three-tenths feet to an iron pin in a field; thence north eight degrees forty-one minutes east twenty-two hundred and forty-two and five-tenths feet to a large elm tree; thence north thirty degrees thirty-seven minutes west eighteen hundred and seventeen and four-tenths feet to an iron pin in a fence line; thence north forty-eight degrees fourteen minutes west forty-nine hundred and eighty and one-tenth feet to a beacon in the Hudson River; thence by shortest course to the west line of Rensselaer County; thence down and along said west line to the place of the beginning.
[1]
Editor's Note: In addition to the boundary description set forth in this section, L.L. No. 2-1991, adopted 2-20-1991, provided for the annexation of certain territory, to be included in Ninth Ward. The full text of the local law, including the full description of the annexed territory, is on file in the office of the City Clerk.
[Amended by L.L. No. 1-1977; L.L. No. 2-1993; 4-3-2013 by L.L. No. 1-2013]
The said city shall be divided into six wards, bounded respectively as follows:
First Ward. All that part of the said City of Rensselaer bounded as follows: Beginning at a point in the southerly line of the City of Rensselaer at the Hudson River; thence easterly and along the southerly line of the City of Rensselaer to a point; thence northerly and along the easterly line of the City of Rensselaer to a point where said city line turns easterly; thence along said line to a point which point is the intersection of the east end of Aiken Avenue and the east end of High Street; thence northerly and along the easterly city line of the City of Rensselaer to the center line of Third Avenue; thence westerly and along the center line of Third Avenue to the centerline of Thomas Street; thence northerly along the centerline of Thomas Street to its terminus; thence westerly to the centerline of Cottage Hill Street; thence southerly along the centerline of Cottage Hill Street to its point of intersection with the northerly line of lots fronting onto Third Avenue, extended easterly; thence westerly along said northerly line extended easterly and along the northerly line of lots fronting onto Third Avenue to the centerline of Adams Street; thence westerly along the centerline of Adams Street to the center line of East Street; thence northerly along the center line of East Street to the center line of Partition Street; thence westerly along the center line of Partition Street and along the westerly extended line of Partition Street to the Hudson River; thence southerly and along the Hudson River to the point and place of beginning.
Second Ward. All that part of the said City of Rensselaer bounded as follows: Beginning at a point in the easterly city line of Rensselaer at its intersection with the center line of Third Avenue; thence westerly and along the center line of Third Avenue to the centerline of Thomas Street; thence northerly along the centerline of Thomas Street to its terminus; thence westerly to the centerline of Cottage Hill Street; thence southerly along the centerline of Cottage Hill Street to its point of intersection with the northerly line of lots fronting onto Third Avenue, extended easterly; thence westerly along said northerly line extended easterly and along the northerly line of lots fronting onto Third Avenue to the centerline of Adams Street; thence westerly along the centerline of Adams Street to the center line of East Street; thence northerly along the center line of East Street to the center line of Partition Street; thence westerly along the center line of Partition Street and along the westerly extended line of Partition Street to the Hudson River; thence northerly and along the Hudson River to its intersection of the westerly extended line of the center of Pine Street; thence easterly along the extended line of Pine Street to the center line of Broadway; thence southerly along the centerline of Broadway to the centerline of Glen Street; thence easterly along the centerline of Glen Street to the centerline of Third Street; thence southerly along the centerline of Third Street to the centerline of John Street; thence easterly along the centerline of John Street and along the easterly extended line of John Street to the easterly line of the City of Rensselaer; thence southerly along the easterly line of the City of Rensselaer to the point and place of beginning.
Third Ward. All that part of the said City of Rensselaer bounded as follows: Beginning at the easterly city line of Rensselaer at its intersection with the easterly extended line of John Street; thence westerly along the easterly extended line of John Street and along the centerline of John Street to the centerline of Third Street; thence northerly along the centerline of Third Street to the centerline of Glen Street; thence westerly along the centerline of Glen Street to the centerline of Broadway; thence northerly along the centerline of Broadway to the centerline of Pine Street; thence westerly along the westerly extended line of Pine Street to the Hudson River; thence northerly and along the Hudson River to its intersection of the westerly extended line of Central Avenue; thence easterly along the westerly extended line of Central Avenue to the centerline of Forbes Avenue; thence southerly along the centerline of Forbes Avenue to the centerline of Tracy Street; thence easterly along the centerline of Tracy Street to the centerline of First Street; thence northerly along the centerline of First Street to the centerline of Central Avenue; the easterly along the centerline of Central Avenue to the centerline of Second Street; thence southerly along the centerline of Second Street to the westerly extended line of Fowler Avenue; thence easterly along the westerly extended line of Fowler Avenue, along the centerline of Fowler Avenue, and along the easterly extended line of Fowler Avenue to the easterly line of the City of Rensselaer; thence southerly along the easterly line of the City of Rensselaer to the point and place of beginning.
Fourth Ward. All that part of the said City of Rensselaer bounded as follows: Beginning at the easterly city line of Rensselaer at its intersection with the easterly extended line of Fowler Avenue; thence westerly along the easterly extended line of Fowler Avenue and along the centerline of Fowler Avenue to the centerline of Second Street; thence northerly along the centerline of Second Street to the centerline of Central Avenue; thence easterly along the centerline of Central Avenue to the centerline of First Street; thence southerly along the centerline of First Street to the centerline of Tracy Street; thence westerly along the centerline of Tracy Street to the centerline of Central Avenue; thence westerly along the westerly extended line of Central Avenue to the Hudson River; thence northerly and along the Hudson River to the northerly city line of City of Rensselaer; thence easterly along the northerly line of the City of Rensselaer to the centerline of the railroad tracks; thence southwesterly along the centerline of the railroad tracks to the center of Interstate Route 90; thence southeasterly along the center of Interstate Route 90 to the centerline of Washington Avenue; thence westerly along the centerline of Washington Avenue to the centerline of Eighth Street; thence southerly along the centerline of Eighth Street and the southerly extended line of Eighth Street to the centerline of Central Avenue; thence southerly to a corner point in the easterly line of the City of Rensselaer; thence southerly along the easterly line of the City of Rensselaer to the point and place of beginning.
Fifth Ward. All that part of the said City of Rensselaer bounded as follows: Beginning at the centerline of Central Avenue at its intersection with the southerly extended line of Eighth Street; thence northerly along the southerly extended line of Eighth Street and the centerline of Eighth Street to the centerline of Washington Avenue; thence easterly along the centerline of Washington Avenue to the center of Interstate Route 90; thence northwesterly along the center of Interstate Route 90 to the centerline of the railroad tracks; thence northeasterly along the centerline of the railroad tracks to the westerly extension of a National Grid overhead power line; thence southeasterly and easterly along said westerly extension and along the National Grid overhead power line to its intersection with the northerly extended line of Elmhurst Avenue; thence southerly along the northerly extended line of Elmhurst Avenue and the centerline Elmhurst Avenue to the centerline of Highland Avenue; thence easterly along the centerline of Highland Avenue to the centerline of Lakeview Avenue; thence southerly along the centerline Lakeview Avenue to the centerline of Washington Avenue; thence easterly along the centerline of Washington Avenue to the easterly line of the City of Rensselaer; thence southerly along the easterly line of the City of Rensselaer; thence southerly and westerly as the city line winds through the City of Rensselaer to a corner point in easterly line of the City of Rensselaer; thence northerly to the point and place of beginning.
Sixth Ward. All that part of the said City of Rensselaer bounded as follows: Beginning at a point in the easterly line of the City of Rensselaer at its intersection with the centerline of Washington Avenue; thence westerly along the centerline of Washington Avenue to the centerline of Lakeview Avenue; thence northerly along the centerline Lakeview Avenue to the centerline of Highland Avenue; thence westerly along the centerline of Highland Avenue to the centerline of Elmhurst Avenue; thence northerly along the centerline Elmhurst Avenue and along the northerly extended line of Elmhurst Avenue to a National Grid overhead power line; thence westerly and northwesterly along the National Grid overhead power line and along the westerly extension thereof to the centerline of the railroad tracks; thence northeasterly along the centerline of the railroad tracks to the northerly line of the City of Rensselaer; thence easterly along the city line as it winds through the City of Rensselaer to a point; thence southerly along the city line to the point and place of beginning.
[1]
Editor's Note: In addition to the boundary description set forth in this section, L.L. No. 2-1991, adopted 2-20-1991, provided for the annexation of certain territory, to be included in Ninth Ward. The full text of the local law, including the full description of the annexed territory, is on file in the office of the City Clerk.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 4, Supervisory districts, was deleted by L.L. No. 3-1990.
[Amended by L. 1943, c. 710; L.L. No. 3-1990]
The citizens of the State of New York, from time to time inhabitants of the City of Rensselaer as hereinbefore defined and set forth, shall be and continue to be a municipal corporation in perpetuity under the corporate name of the "City of Rensselaer," and the same shall in that name be a body politic and corporate in fact in law with power of perpetual succession.
a. 
Grant of general powers. The city is hereby granted power to regulate, manage and control its property and local affairs and is granted all the rights, privileges and jurisdiction necessary for carrying such power into execution. No enumeration of powers in this or any other law shall operate to restrict the meaning of this general grant of power or to exclude other powers comprehended within this general grant.
b. 
Grant of specific powers. Subject to the Constitution and general laws of this state, this city is empowered to:
1. 
Contract and be contracted with and to institute, maintain and defend any action or proceeding in any court.
2. 
Take, purchase, hold and lease real and personal property, within or without the limits of the city, and to acquire by condemnation real and personal property within the limits of the city for any public or municipal purpose and to sell and convey the same, but the rights of the city in and to its waterfront, ferries, bridges, wharf property, land under water, public buildings, wharfs, docks, streets, avenues, parks and all other public places, are hereby declared to be unalienable except as herein otherwise provided.
3. 
Take by gift, grant, bequest or devise and hold and administer real and personal property within and without the limits of the city, absolutely or in trust, for any public or municipal purpose, upon such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the grantor or donor and accepted by the city.
4. 
Levy and collect taxes on real and personal property for any public or municipal purpose.
5. 
Pay or compromise claims equitably payable by the city, though not constituting obligations legally binding upon it, but it shall have no power to waive the defense of statute of limitations or to grant extra compensation to any public officer, servant or contractor, except as herein provided.
6. 
Establish and maintain sinking funds for the liquidation of principal and interest of any indebtedness.
7. 
Lay out, establish, construct, maintain, abandon, alter and discontinue streets, sewers and drainage systems, water supply systems and lighting systems for lighting streets, public buildings and public places and to lay out, establish, construct, maintain and operate markets, parks, playgrounds and public places and, upon discontinuance thereof, to sell and convey the same.
8. 
Control and administer the waterfront and waterways of the city and to establish, maintain, operate and regulate docks, piers, wharves, warehouses and all adjuncts and facilities for navigation and commerce and for the utilization of the waterfront and waterways and adjacent property.
9. 
Establish, construct, maintain, operate, alter and discontinue bridges and tunnels and approaches thereto.
10. 
Grant franchises or rights to use the streets, waterways, waterfront and public ways and public places of the city.
11. 
Construct and maintain public buildings, public works and the public improvements, including local improvements, and assign and levy upon the city at large or the property benefited thereby the cost thereof in whole or in part.
12. 
Prevent and extinguish fires and protect the inhabitants of the city and property within the city from loss of damage by fire or other casualty.
13. 
Maintain, order and enforce the laws, protect property and preserve and care for the safety, health, comfort and general welfare of the inhabitants of the city and visitors thereto and for any of such purposes to regulate and license occupations and business.
14. 
Create, maintain and administer a system or systems for the enumeration, identification and registration, or either, of the inhabitants of the city and visitors thereto or such classes thereof as may be deemed advisable.
15. 
Establish and maintain institutions and instrumentalities for the instruction, enlightenment, improvement and entertainment, recreation and welfare of its inhabitants as it may deem appropriate or necessary for the public interest and advantage.
16. 
Regulate the manner of transacting the city's business and affairs, and the report of, and accounting for, all transactions of or concerning the city.
17. 
Determine and regulate the number, mode of selection, terms of employment, qualifications, powers and duties and compensation of all employees of the city and the relations of all officers and employees of the city to each other and to the city and to the inhabitants, not herein otherwise fixed, determined and regulated.
18. 
Investigate and inquire into all matters of concern to the city or its inhabitants and to require and enforce by subpoena the attendance of witnesses at such investigations.
19. 
Regulate by ordinance any matter within the powers of the city and to provide for the enforcement of ordinances, by legal proceedings to compel compliance therewith by penalties and imprisonment, and punish violations therefor.
20. 
Make, have, use and alter at pleasure a common seal.
21. 
Have and exercise all other rights and privileges conferred upon it by law or otherwise to carry out its corporate functions and duties.
22. 
Have and to exercise all the rights, privileges, functions, immunities and powers now prescribed and exercised by it, under existing and subsequent law and not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act.
The fiscal year of the city shall commence with the first day of August in each year; the official year of the city shall commence with the first day of January in each year. The term "streets," as used in this Act, includes highways, avenues, alleys, lanes and roads; the term "resolution," as used in this Act, includes all orders, rules, regulations and bylaws other than ordinances and local laws; the word "person," as used in this Act, includes all persons, firms, companies, corporations and associations; the word "his," as used in this Act, shall, in all proper cases, be held to include and be coextensive with the word "her," "it" and "their"; the word "work" shall be held to include and be coextensive with "improvements" and "repairs"; the word "materials" shall be held to include and be coextensive with "supplies," "stationery," "books," "furniture" and "repairs to furniture"; the word "assessment" shall, in all proper cases, be held to include and be coextensive with "tax"; the word "tax" shall, in all proper cases, be held to include and be coextensive with "city tax," "school tax," or "state and county tax," or "assessment or reassessment for local improvements"; "local improvements" includes the construction of curbs, sidewalks and the opening, extending, widening and grading of streets; "officers" includes all persons elected to office by the electors of the city or any division thereof, the heads of departments, the members of all boards and commissions appointed by the Mayor or Common Council; the word "commission" includes board, department or officer and, in proper cases, Common Council; the words "the board," "the department" or "the commissioner" used in any title mean the board, department, or commissioner whose duties and powers are prescribed in such title. The singular noun shall be held to include and be coextensive with the plural. The word "city" shall mean the City of Rensselaer. The term "real property," as used in this Act, includes all land, land under water, the water of any pond or stream, all easements and hereditaments, corporeal and incorporeal, and every estate, interest and right, legal and equitable, in lands, streets or water or any privilege or easement therein, including terms for years and liens thereon by way of judgment, mortgage or otherwise, and all claims for damages to such real property.
"Notice." When a notice is required to be given to a commission or body, service of such notice upon the clerk or chairman thereof shall be sufficient. [Amended by L.L. No. 3-1990]