[HISTORY: Adopted by the Council of the City
of Schenectady 6-1-1971 as part of L.L. No. 4-1971; amended 6-2-1986 by L.L. No. 3-1986. Subsequent amendments
noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Weights and measures; trade practices — See Ch. 260.
[Amended 4-3-1989 by Ord. No. 89-43]
There is hereby established an Office of Consumer
Protection in the Department of Law of the City of Schenectady.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 109-2, Office
and equipment for Director, was repealed 4-3-1989 by Ord. No. 89-43.
Former § 109-3, Oath of office and bond requirements of
Director, was repealed 5-11-1992 by Ord. No. 92-18. Former § 109-4,
Police powers of Director, was repealed 4-3-1989 by Ord. No. 89-43.
[Amended 4-3-1989 by Ord. No. 89-43]
The Office of Consumer Protection, subject to
appropriations made therefor by the Council of the City of Schenectady,
shall have power to:
A.
Receive and investigate complaints and initiate its
own investigations of frauds or unfair dealings against consumers.
B.
Represent the interests of consumers before administrative
and regulatory agencies and legislative groups.
C.
Assist, advise and cooperate with local, state and
federal agencies and officials to protect and promote the interests
of the City of Schenectady consumer public.
D.
Conduct investigations, research, studies and analyses
of matters affecting the interest of the City of Schenectady consumers.
E.
Study the operation of state and local laws for consumer
protection and recommend amendments of such laws for the protection
of consumers.
F.
Report to the appropriate law enforcement agencies
any information concerning violations of consumer protection laws.
G.
Assist, develop and conduct programs of consumer education
and information through publications and other informational and educational
material prepared for dissemination to the consumer public of the
City of Schenectady in order to increase the competence of consumers
and to raise the general standards of living.
H.
Undertake activities to encourage local business and
industry to maintain high standards of honesty, fair business practices
and public responsibility in the production, promotion and sale of
consumer goods and service.
I.
Cooperate with other agencies, public and private,
in the development of standards and quality grades for consumer goods
and service.
J.
Exercise and perform such other functions, powers
and duties as may be deemed necessary or appropriate to protect and
promote the welfare of the City of Schenectady consumers.
K.
Issue court appearance tickets for violations of this or any other chapter of the code of the City of Schenectady relating to consumer protection, including but limited to Chapter 128 relating to amusements. The Director of Consumer Protection, Investigators in the Office of Consumer Protection and such other personnel within the Department of Law as may be designated in writing by the Mayor are hereby designated and authorized to issue such tickets pursuant to Subdivision 4(a) of § 10 of the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York and Subdivision 3 of § 150.20 of the Criminal Procedure Law.
[Added 2-26-1996 by Ord. No. 96-17]
[Added 8-29-1994 by Ord. No. 94-28]
A.
The Office of Consumer Protection is authorized to
assess a civil penalty after holding a civil compromise hearing for
violations of all Schenectady City Code sections that it is empowered
to enforce, and said civil fine and compromise proceeding shall be
an alternative option to any other provided for penalties.
B.
The civil penalty shall not exceed one thousand dollars
($1,000.).
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 109-6, Applicability
of statutes, was repealed 4-3-1989 by Ord. No. 89-43.
