N.Y. Second Class Cities Law § 91: Powers and duties of commissioner

§ 91. Powers and duties of commissioner. The commissioner, subject to

the provisions of law and ordinances 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

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 waterworks; of the care, superintendence and

management and improvement of all parks and grounds, public baths and

recreation piers belonging to the city. Except as otherwise provided by

law, the commissioner shall have 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, sprinkling, laying of dust with substances other than water,

watering and flushing 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 his 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

his department, including the lighting, sprinkling, laying of dust with

substances other than water, 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 ordinance 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 commissioners of highways within the towns of the state.