This Act is a public act of which the court
shall take judicial notice and shall be liberally construed so as
to carry into effect the object and purposes thereof and shall be
known and cited by the short title of "Rensselaer City Charter."
The City of Rensselaer in the County of Rensselaer
is bounded and described as follows: Beginning at a point in the west
line of Rensselaer County, due west of the point next hereinafter
mentioned, and running thence east to an iron pin driven in the middle
of the bed of Dead Creek at its mouth, running thence south 76°
30 minutes, east five hundred and fifty-nine and six-tenths feet to
an iron pin driven into the ground on the east side of the road; thence
north seventy-four degrees thirty-five minutes east twenty-three hundred
and forty-five and two-tenths feet to an iron pin driven into the
ground in the west line of the land of the Boston and Albany Railroad
Company; thence north seventeen degrees forty-two minutes east forty-seven
hundred and seventy-one and seven-tenths feet along the west line
of the Boston and Albany Railroad property to an iron pin driven into
the bed of the creek; thence south sixty-five degrees thirty-one minutes
east seven hundred and one and four-tenths feet to an iron pin driven
into the ground at the Sulphur Spring; thence south eighty-three degrees
of fifty-two minutes east seventeen hundred and forty-three and four-tenths
feet to an iron pin driven into the ground near an elm tree at the
junction of two roads in front of Irwin's house; thence north two
degrees three-tenths of a minute west fifteen hundred and seventy-seven
and three-tenths feet to an iron pin driven into the ground near Aiken's
hill: thence north thirty-four degrees east thirty-one hundred and
thirty-two and six-tenths feet to a willow tree in Partition Street,
into which a nail is driven; thence north sixteen degrees thirty-two
minutes east two thousand and six and three-tenths feet to a white
oak tree back of W. O. Howard's barn; thence north thirty-four degrees
forty-two minutes east eighteen hundred and thirty-seven and eight-tenths
feet to a chestnut tree at the edge of a bank east of the state rifle
range; thence south fifty-four degrees thirty-two minutes east three
hundred and twenty and seven-tenths feet to an iron pin driven into
the ground at a fence corner; thence north fifty-one degrees thirteen
minutes east nine hundred and eighty-two and four-tenths feet to an
oak tree in the fence line southeast of the butt in the state rifle
range; thence north seventy-six degrees twenty-seven minutes east
six hundred and ninety-five and two-tenths feet to an iron pin driven
into the ground at a fence corner; thence north thirty-one degrees
and twenty-eight minutes east seven hundred and fourteen and five-tenths
feet to an iron pin in a creek; thence south fifty-eight degrees fifteen
minutes east forty-nine hundred and thirty-four and three-tenths feet
to an iron pin in a field; thence north eight degrees forty-one minutes
east twenty-two hundred and forty-two and five-tenths feet to a large
elm tree; thence north thirty degrees thirty-seven minutes west eighteen
hundred and seventeen and four-tenths feet to an iron pin in a fence
line; thence north forty-eight degrees fourteen minutes west forty-nine
hundred and eighty and one-tenth feet to a beacon in the Hudson River;
thence by shortest course to the west line of Rensselaer County; thence
down and along said west line to the place of the beginning.
[1]
Editor's Note: In addition to the boundary
description set forth in this section, L.L. No. 2-1991, adopted 2-20-1991,
provided for the annexation of certain territory, to be included in
Ninth Ward. The full text of the local law, including the full description
of the annexed territory, is on file in the office of the City Clerk.
[Amended by L.L. No. 1-1977; L.L. No. 2-1993; 4-3-2013 by L.L. No. 1-2013]
The said city shall be divided into six wards, bounded respectively
as follows:
First Ward. All that part of the said City of Rensselaer
bounded as follows: Beginning at a point in the southerly line of
the City of Rensselaer at the Hudson River; thence easterly and along
the southerly line of the City of Rensselaer to a point; thence northerly
and along the easterly line of the City of Rensselaer to a point where
said city line turns easterly; thence along said line to a point which
point is the intersection of the east end of Aiken Avenue and the
east end of High Street; thence northerly and along the easterly city
line of the City of Rensselaer to the center line of Third Avenue;
thence westerly and along the center line of Third Avenue to the centerline
of Thomas Street; thence northerly along the centerline of Thomas
Street to its terminus; thence westerly to the centerline of Cottage
Hill Street; thence southerly along the centerline of Cottage Hill
Street to its point of intersection with the northerly line of lots
fronting onto Third Avenue, extended easterly; thence westerly along
said northerly line extended easterly and along the northerly line
of lots fronting onto Third Avenue to the centerline of Adams Street;
thence westerly along the centerline of Adams Street to the center
line of East Street; thence northerly along the center line of East
Street to the center line of Partition Street; thence westerly along
the center line of Partition Street and along the westerly extended
line of Partition Street to the Hudson River; thence southerly and
along the Hudson River to the point and place of beginning.
Second Ward. All that part of the said City of
Rensselaer bounded as follows: Beginning at a point in the easterly
city line of Rensselaer at its intersection with the center line of
Third Avenue; thence westerly and along the center line of Third Avenue
to the centerline of Thomas Street; thence northerly along the centerline
of Thomas Street to its terminus; thence westerly to the centerline
of Cottage Hill Street; thence southerly along the centerline of Cottage
Hill Street to its point of intersection with the northerly line of
lots fronting onto Third Avenue, extended easterly; thence westerly
along said northerly line extended easterly and along the northerly
line of lots fronting onto Third Avenue to the centerline of Adams
Street; thence westerly along the centerline of Adams Street to the
center line of East Street; thence northerly along the center line
of East Street to the center line of Partition Street; thence westerly
along the center line of Partition Street and along the westerly extended
line of Partition Street to the Hudson River; thence northerly and
along the Hudson River to its intersection of the westerly extended
line of the center of Pine Street; thence easterly along the extended
line of Pine Street to the center line of Broadway; thence southerly
along the centerline of Broadway to the centerline of Glen Street;
thence easterly along the centerline of Glen Street to the centerline
of Third Street; thence southerly along the centerline of Third Street
to the centerline of John Street; thence easterly along the centerline
of John Street and along the easterly extended line of John Street
to the easterly line of the City of Rensselaer; thence southerly along
the easterly line of the City of Rensselaer to the point and place
of beginning.
Third Ward. All that part of the said City of Rensselaer
bounded as follows: Beginning at the easterly city line of Rensselaer
at its intersection with the easterly extended line of John Street;
thence westerly along the easterly extended line of John Street and
along the centerline of John Street to the centerline of Third Street;
thence northerly along the centerline of Third Street to the centerline
of Glen Street; thence westerly along the centerline of Glen Street
to the centerline of Broadway; thence northerly along the centerline
of Broadway to the centerline of Pine Street; thence westerly along
the westerly extended line of Pine Street to the Hudson River; thence
northerly and along the Hudson River to its intersection of the westerly
extended line of Central Avenue; thence easterly along the westerly
extended line of Central Avenue to the centerline of Forbes Avenue;
thence southerly along the centerline of Forbes Avenue to the centerline
of Tracy Street; thence easterly along the centerline of Tracy Street
to the centerline of First Street; thence northerly along the centerline
of First Street to the centerline of Central Avenue; the easterly
along the centerline of Central Avenue to the centerline of Second
Street; thence southerly along the centerline of Second Street to
the westerly extended line of Fowler Avenue; thence easterly along
the westerly extended line of Fowler Avenue, along the centerline
of Fowler Avenue, and along the easterly extended line of Fowler Avenue
to the easterly line of the City of Rensselaer; thence southerly along
the easterly line of the City of Rensselaer to the point and place
of beginning.
Fourth Ward. All that part of the said City of
Rensselaer bounded as follows: Beginning at the easterly city line
of Rensselaer at its intersection with the easterly extended line
of Fowler Avenue; thence westerly along the easterly extended line
of Fowler Avenue and along the centerline of Fowler Avenue to the
centerline of Second Street; thence northerly along the centerline
of Second Street to the centerline of Central Avenue; thence easterly
along the centerline of Central Avenue to the centerline of First
Street; thence southerly along the centerline of First Street to the
centerline of Tracy Street; thence westerly along the centerline of
Tracy Street to the centerline of Central Avenue; thence westerly
along the westerly extended line of Central Avenue to the Hudson River;
thence northerly and along the Hudson River to the northerly city
line of City of Rensselaer; thence easterly along the northerly line
of the City of Rensselaer to the centerline of the railroad tracks;
thence southwesterly along the centerline of the railroad tracks to
the center of Interstate Route 90; thence southeasterly along the
center of Interstate Route 90 to the centerline of Washington Avenue;
thence westerly along the centerline of Washington Avenue to the centerline
of Eighth Street; thence southerly along the centerline of Eighth
Street and the southerly extended line of Eighth Street to the centerline
of Central Avenue; thence southerly to a corner point in the easterly
line of the City of Rensselaer; thence southerly along the easterly
line of the City of Rensselaer to the point and place of beginning.
Fifth Ward. All that part of the said City of Rensselaer
bounded as follows: Beginning at the centerline of Central Avenue
at its intersection with the southerly extended line of Eighth Street;
thence northerly along the southerly extended line of Eighth Street
and the centerline of Eighth Street to the centerline of Washington
Avenue; thence easterly along the centerline of Washington Avenue
to the center of Interstate Route 90; thence northwesterly along the
center of Interstate Route 90 to the centerline of the railroad tracks;
thence northeasterly along the centerline of the railroad tracks to
the westerly extension of a National Grid overhead power line; thence
southeasterly and easterly along said westerly extension and along
the National Grid overhead power line to its intersection with the
northerly extended line of Elmhurst Avenue; thence southerly along
the northerly extended line of Elmhurst Avenue and the centerline
Elmhurst Avenue to the centerline of Highland Avenue; thence easterly
along the centerline of Highland Avenue to the centerline of Lakeview
Avenue; thence southerly along the centerline Lakeview Avenue to the
centerline of Washington Avenue; thence easterly along the centerline
of Washington Avenue to the easterly line of the City of Rensselaer;
thence southerly along the easterly line of the City of Rensselaer;
thence southerly and westerly as the city line winds through the City
of Rensselaer to a corner point in easterly line of the City of Rensselaer;
thence northerly to the point and place of beginning.
Sixth Ward. All that part of the said City of Rensselaer
bounded as follows: Beginning at a point in the easterly line of the
City of Rensselaer at its intersection with the centerline of Washington
Avenue; thence westerly along the centerline of Washington Avenue
to the centerline of Lakeview Avenue; thence northerly along the centerline
Lakeview Avenue to the centerline of Highland Avenue; thence westerly
along the centerline of Highland Avenue to the centerline of Elmhurst
Avenue; thence northerly along the centerline Elmhurst Avenue and
along the northerly extended line of Elmhurst Avenue to a National
Grid overhead power line; thence westerly and northwesterly along
the National Grid overhead power line and along the westerly extension
thereof to the centerline of the railroad tracks; thence northeasterly
along the centerline of the railroad tracks to the northerly line
of the City of Rensselaer; thence easterly along the city line as
it winds through the City of Rensselaer to a point; thence southerly
along the city line to the point and place of beginning.
[1]
Editor's Note: In addition to the boundary
description set forth in this section, L.L. No. 2-1991, adopted 2-20-1991,
provided for the annexation of certain territory, to be included in
Ninth Ward. The full text of the local law, including the full description
of the annexed territory, is on file in the office of the City Clerk.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 4, Supervisory
districts, was deleted by L.L. No. 3-1990.
[Amended by L. 1943, c. 710; L.L. No. 3-1990]
The citizens of the State of New York, from
time to time inhabitants of the City of Rensselaer as hereinbefore
defined and set forth, shall be and continue to be a municipal corporation
in perpetuity under the corporate name of the "City of Rensselaer,"
and the same shall in that name be a body politic and corporate in
fact in law with power of perpetual succession.
a.
Grant of general powers. The city is hereby granted
power to regulate, manage and control its property and local affairs
and is granted all the rights, privileges and jurisdiction necessary
for carrying such power into execution. No enumeration of powers in
this or any other law shall operate to restrict the meaning of this
general grant of power or to exclude other powers comprehended within
this general grant.
b.
Grant of specific powers. Subject to the Constitution
and general laws of this state, this city is empowered to:
1.
Contract and be contracted with and to institute,
maintain and defend any action or proceeding in any court.
2.
Take, purchase, hold and lease real and personal property,
within or without the limits of the city, and to acquire by condemnation
real and personal property within the limits of the city for any public
or municipal purpose and to sell and convey the same, but the rights
of the city in and to its waterfront, ferries, bridges, wharf property,
land under water, public buildings, wharfs, docks, streets, avenues,
parks and all other public places, are hereby declared to be unalienable
except as herein otherwise provided.
3.
Take by gift, grant, bequest or devise and hold and
administer real and personal property within and without the limits
of the city, absolutely or in trust, for any public or municipal purpose,
upon such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the grantor
or donor and accepted by the city.
4.
Levy and collect taxes on real and personal property
for any public or municipal purpose.
5.
Pay or compromise claims equitably payable by the
city, though not constituting obligations legally binding upon it,
but it shall have no power to waive the defense of statute of limitations
or to grant extra compensation to any public officer, servant or contractor,
except as herein provided.
6.
Establish and maintain sinking funds for the liquidation
of principal and interest of any indebtedness.
7.
Lay out, establish, construct, maintain, abandon,
alter and discontinue streets, sewers and drainage systems, water
supply systems and lighting systems for lighting streets, public buildings
and public places and to lay out, establish, construct, maintain and
operate markets, parks, playgrounds and public places and, upon discontinuance
thereof, to sell and convey the same.
8.
Control and administer the waterfront and waterways
of the city and to establish, maintain, operate and regulate docks,
piers, wharves, warehouses and all adjuncts and facilities for navigation
and commerce and for the utilization of the waterfront and waterways
and adjacent property.
9.
Establish, construct, maintain, operate, alter and
discontinue bridges and tunnels and approaches thereto.
10.
Grant franchises or rights to use the streets, waterways,
waterfront and public ways and public places of the city.
11.
Construct and maintain public buildings, public works
and the public improvements, including local improvements, and assign
and levy upon the city at large or the property benefited thereby
the cost thereof in whole or in part.
12.
Prevent and extinguish fires and protect the inhabitants
of the city and property within the city from loss of damage by fire
or other casualty.
13.
Maintain, order and enforce the laws, protect property
and preserve and care for the safety, health, comfort and general
welfare of the inhabitants of the city and visitors thereto and for
any of such purposes to regulate and license occupations and business.
14.
Create, maintain and administer a system or systems
for the enumeration, identification and registration, or either, of
the inhabitants of the city and visitors thereto or such classes thereof
as may be deemed advisable.
15.
Establish and maintain institutions and instrumentalities
for the instruction, enlightenment, improvement and entertainment,
recreation and welfare of its inhabitants as it may deem appropriate
or necessary for the public interest and advantage.
16.
Regulate the manner of transacting the city's business
and affairs, and the report of, and accounting for, all transactions
of or concerning the city.
17.
Determine and regulate the number, mode of selection,
terms of employment, qualifications, powers and duties and compensation
of all employees of the city and the relations of all officers and
employees of the city to each other and to the city and to the inhabitants,
not herein otherwise fixed, determined and regulated.
18.
Investigate and inquire into all matters of concern
to the city or its inhabitants and to require and enforce by subpoena
the attendance of witnesses at such investigations.
19.
Regulate by ordinance any matter within the powers
of the city and to provide for the enforcement of ordinances, by legal
proceedings to compel compliance therewith by penalties and imprisonment,
and punish violations therefor.
20.
Make, have, use and alter at pleasure a common seal.
21.
Have and exercise all other rights and privileges
conferred upon it by law or otherwise to carry out its corporate functions
and duties.
22.
Have and to exercise all the rights, privileges, functions,
immunities and powers now prescribed and exercised by it, under existing
and subsequent law and not inconsistent with the provisions of this
Act.
The fiscal year of the city shall commence with
the first day of August in each year; the official year of the city
shall commence with the first day of January in each year. The term
"streets," as used in this Act, includes highways, avenues, alleys,
lanes and roads; the term "resolution," as used in this Act, includes
all orders, rules, regulations and bylaws other than ordinances and
local laws; the word "person," as used in this Act, includes all persons,
firms, companies, corporations and associations; the word "his," as
used in this Act, shall, in all proper cases, be held to include and
be coextensive with the word "her," "it" and "their"; the word "work"
shall be held to include and be coextensive with "improvements" and
"repairs"; the word "materials" shall be held to include and be coextensive
with "supplies," "stationery," "books," "furniture" and "repairs to
furniture"; the word "assessment" shall, in all proper cases, be held
to include and be coextensive with "tax"; the word "tax" shall, in
all proper cases, be held to include and be coextensive with "city
tax," "school tax," or "state and county tax," or "assessment or reassessment
for local improvements"; "local improvements" includes the construction
of curbs, sidewalks and the opening, extending, widening and grading
of streets; "officers" includes all persons elected to office by the
electors of the city or any division thereof, the heads of departments,
the members of all boards and commissions appointed by the Mayor or
Common Council; the word "commission" includes board, department or
officer and, in proper cases, Common Council; the words "the board,"
"the department" or "the commissioner" used in any title mean the
board, department, or commissioner whose duties and powers are prescribed
in such title. The singular noun shall be held to include and be coextensive
with the plural. The word "city" shall mean the City of Rensselaer.
The term "real property," as used in this Act, includes all land,
land under water, the water of any pond or stream, all easements and
hereditaments, corporeal and incorporeal, and every estate, interest
and right, legal and equitable, in lands, streets or water or any
privilege or easement therein, including terms for years and liens
thereon by way of judgment, mortgage or otherwise, and all claims
for damages to such real property.
"Notice." When a notice is required to be given
to a commission or body, service of such notice upon the clerk or
chairman thereof shall be sufficient. [Amended by L.L. No. 3-1990]
