[Amended 9-28-2021 by L.L. No. 2-2022]
There will be a Commissioner of Public Works
and such other positions under the supervision of the Commissioner
of Public Works as approved by the Board of Managers. Appointments
to all such positions shall be made by the Mayor. The Commissioner
of Public Works shall be the head of the Department of Public Works.
In case of the absence or disability of the Commissioner or of a vacancy
in the office, the Mayor may appoint a Deputy Commissioner who shall
discharge the duties of the office until the Commissioner returns,
the disability ceases or the vacancy is filled.
The Commissioner, subject to the provisions
of law and legislative acts of the Common Council, has cognizance,
direction and control of the construction, maintenance, alteration,
repair, care, cleaning, paving, flagging, lighting and improving of
the streets, highways, sidewalks and public places of the City; of
the construction, alteration and repair of all City buildings, except
as herein otherwise provided, and of all docks and bridges belonging
to the City; of all public sewers and drains in the City; of the construction,
maintenance, extension, repair and care of the City water works; of
the care, superintendence and management and improvement of all parks
and grounds, and recreation piers belonging to the City. Except as
otherwise provided by law, the Commissioner shall have the supervision
of, control over and jurisdiction and authority to make all ordinary
repairs or improvements upon the streets, parks, sidewalks, crosswalks,
gutters, vaults, drains, culverts, bridges and public ways and places
of the City, including the cleaning of the same, and may employ such
laborers and teams and incur such expenditures as may be necessary
within the limits of the appropriations made therefor. It shall be
the Commissioner's duty to inspect the same with sufficient frequency
to ascertain their condition and cause the same to be kept free from
obstructions and in good condition and repair and reasonably safe
for public use. The Commissioner shall also have general supervision
and control of all work performed under any contract of the City for
local or other improvements to be performed within or upon any of
the public streets, parks, ways and places or with reference to the
public works and ways within the jurisdiction of the Commissioner's
Department, including the lighting, sprinkling, watering or flushing
of the streets or public places and shall cause the same to be performed
in full compliance with the provisions of any contract therefor. Except
as otherwise provided by law or legislative act of the Common Council,
the Commissioner of Public Works has, over the streets and public
places within the City, all the jurisdiction and is charged with all
the duties of town superintendents of highways within the towns of
the state. The Commissioner of Public Works shall have the supervision,
care, management and control of the Water Works Department and water
works system of the City.
