N.Y. Rapid Transit Law § 30: General powers of board of transportation

§ 30. General powers of board of transportation. The board of

transportation is empowered to operate any railroad acquired, owned,

constructed, or provided by such city in accordance with the provisions

of law. The board of transportation shall also be empowered to purchase

all necessary materials and supplies for such operation and maintenance,

and, generally, to exercise all requisite and necessary authority to

manage and direct the operation and maintenance of such road for the

convenience and safety of the public, provided, however, that, except as

otherwise provided in section seventeen of this chapter, any contract

for the purchase of such materials and supplies or work or labor to be

performed, the estimated cost of which exceeds the sum of twenty-five

hundred dollars shall be made by the said board only upon public letting

founded on sealed bids, except in a case where the board, by resolution,

declares the existence of an emergency or the existence of other

circumstances making competitive bidding impracticable. Notice of the

invitation for such bidding stating the date and place of the receipt

and opening of bids shall be published in the city record in five

successive issues immediately preceding such opening. The board may

reject all such bids and readvertise for new bids if it shall deem it

for the public interest so to do; if not, it shall award the contract to

the lowest responsible bidder unless the board, by unanimous vote, shall

determine that it is for the public interest that a bid other than that

of the lowest responsible bidder shall be accepted.