City of Albany, NY Part 24 Department of Neighborhood and Community Services [1]

[Adopted 9-24-1998 by L.L. No. 3-1998; amended in its entirety 2-23-2023 by L.L. No. 5-2023]

[1] Editor's Note: Former Part 24, Department of Parks and Recreation, adopted 9-8-1983 by L.L. No. 4-1983, as amended, was repealed 1-23-1997 by L.L. No. 1-1997. See now § 42-103.

Article XXXV General Provisions

§ 42-283 Establishment.

There is hereby established a department known as the "Department of Neighborhood and Community Services."

§ 42-284 Commissioner.

There shall be appointed by the Mayor a Commissioner of Neighborhood and Community Services who shall head the Department and who shall serve and hold such office at the pleasure of the Mayor.

§ 42-285 Qualifications and compensation of Commissioner; Acting Commissioner; subordinates.

A. The qualifications for eligibility to hold the office of the Commissioner and the compensation of the Commissioner shall be established by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment.

B. Pending appointment of a qualified Commissioner, the position of Acting Commissioner may be established to serve temporarily; such temporary appointment shall be made by the Mayor.

C. The Commissioner shall appoint such deputies, directors and other subordinates as shall be authorized by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment and who shall serve at the Commissioner's pleasure.

§ 42-286 Departmental scope, powers and duties.

The Department of Neighborhood and Community Services shall have the following functions:

A. Neighborhood and community services: to partner with residents, community groups, and neighborhood businesses to develop and maintain neighborhoods that reflect the City's diverse population through a neighborhood-focused approach to planning, community development and code enforcement, and to provide the public with seamless access to City services and information.

B. Planning: to review all applications and plans for all permit approvals and other aspects involving the City's Unified Sustainable Development Ordinance and other federal, state and local laws and regulations related thereto, together with the coordination of and technical support required in the administrative and/or legislative review and consideration involving the City Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, Common Council and Historic Resources Commission.

C. Housing and community development: to plan, undertake and direct the City's efforts in providing affordable rental accommodations and home ownership opportunities for its residents by encouraging the growth and revitalization of the City's housing stock; to supervise and/or coordinate the City's participation in programs, activities and ventures designed to construct new housing accommodations, rehabilitate existing residential structures or convert other structures to residential use to better meet the need for affordable housing; to plan and undertake other activities designed to contribute to an enhanced quality of life and long-term stability for the City's neighborhoods, including activities which provide additional opportunities for employment and business development to the residents of those neighborhoods; and to coordinate the other City agencies as such actions relate to the provision of housing in and development of the City's neighborhoods.

D. Buildings and regulatory compliance: to perform all functions delegated to the Department of Buildings and Regulatory Compliance in Article L (General Provisions) of Part 40 (Department of Buildings and Regulatory Compliance) of Chapter 42 (Departments and Commissions) of Part I (Administrative Legislation) of the Code of the City of Albany, as such Department of Buildings and Regulatory Compliance is hereby made a part of, and is under the authority of, the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services.

E. Annual program evaluations and audit reports.

(1) It is hereby ordered that the Department of Planning and Development submit to the Common Council annual program evaluation and audit reports on agencies and organizations funded with state and federal moneys.

(2) The program evaluations and audit reports shall be submitted in January of each year. Such evaluations and reports must be in full accordance with all applicable regulations.

(3) The information to be contained in the annual reports will include but not be limited to the following:

(a) Service indicators: documentation indicating that program requirements were met, including goals, performance standards and objectives and the methodology used for measuring performance.

(b) Processing and servicing loans: documentation indicating the loan amount, and the funds used, the amount collected on repayment and the payment history.

(c) Documentation on how the grantees me the national objective.

(d) Contractor evaluations: documentation evaluating contractor's qualifications, performance history and compliance with federal, state and City guidelines regarding equal opportunity ownership, participation and employment.

§ 42-287 Repealer; transferal of functions, personnel and property.

The Office of Planning and Neighborhood Development, the Department of Economic Development, the Department of Housing and Community Development, and the Department of Planning and Development are abolished and the functions, personnel, and property thereof are transferred to the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services, as created by this article. Whenever in any local law, ordinance, Charter provision or other applicable statute, rule or regulation reference is made to the "Office of Planning and Neighborhood Development," Department of Economic Development," "Department of Housing and Community Development," or the "Department of Planning and Development," such reference shall be deemed to have been made to the "Department of Neighborhood and Community Services." Additionally, personnel of the Community Development Agency and the Department of Buildings and Regulatory Compliance are similarly hereby transferred to the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services.