[Added 1-17-1978 by L.L. No. 1-1978; amended 7-20-2021 by L.L. No. 4-2021]
There shall be in the City of Hudson a department known as the "Department of Senior Services."
There shall be appointed by the Mayor a Commissioner of Senior Services who shall be the head of the Department of Senior Services who shall hold office during the pleasure of the Mayor.
The appointment of the Commissioner of Senior Services shall be evidenced by a certificate in writing signed by the Mayor and filed forthwith in the office of the City Clerk.
The Commissioner of Senior Services shall appoint to hold office a Director of Senior Services and such other subordinates as may be necessary to exercise the powers and discharge the duties conferred and imposed upon him or her by law. The appointment of the Director and subordinates shall be for a probationary period pending passing of the civil service examination, and thereafter shall be permanent. In case of the absence or inability of the Commissioner or of a vacancy in the office of Commissioner, the Director of Senior Services shall discharge the duties of the office until the Commissioner returns, the disability ceases or the vacancy is filled.
The Commissioner and such other persons as the Commissioner shall designate, before entering upon the discharge of the duties of their respective offices, shall each execute and file with the City Clerk an official undertaking in such sum as may be specified elsewhere in this Charter.
Whenever a vacancy occurs in the office of Director of Senior Services, the Commissioner of Senior Services shall appoint in his or her discretion a person deemed by him or her to be suitable and competent to fill the same, pursuant to law.
The Commissioner of Senior Services is hereby invested with all the powers and duties now or hereafter prescribed and provided by the general statutes of the State of New York relating to senior service agencies and assistance, so far as the same are applicable and not inconsistent with this Charter. The Commissioner shall have power to establish, maintain and operate the Department for the purpose of coordinating and supplementing the activities of public and private agencies devoted in whole or in part to the welfare and protection of senior citizens within the City of Hudson, and to undertake and promote activities and establish, maintain and operate projects devoted in whole or in part to providing education, recreation and support services for senior citizens. The Commissioner shall have the power to expend moneys for the purposes of establishing, maintaining and operating the Department, and may also receive and expend moneys from the state, federal government or private individuals, corporations or associations for such purposes. The Commissioner shall also be invested with all the powers and duties now or hereafter to be prescribed for senior services by the laws of the State of New York, and for those purposes have the power to expend moneys in accordance with law.
The Commissioner of Senior Services shall have the authority to administer oaths, take evidence, affidavits and acknowledgments in all meetings and proceedings pertaining to the Department. The Commissioner shall have the general supervision over the records of the Department and its officers and employees. The Commissioner shall possess such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by law and all ordinances and local laws of the Common Council of the City of Hudson.
It shall be the duty of the Commissioner of Senior Services to meet with the Mayor for the purpose of reporting to him or her on the condition of the Department of Senior Services and the conduct of the Department on the second Tuesday of each month; provided, however, that in the event the second Tuesday of any month should fall upon a public holiday, the Commissioner shall meet with the Mayor on the first day thereafter.