The City shall have power:
1. 
To take, purchase, hold, lease, sell and convey such real and personal property as the purposes of the corporation may require.
2. 
To take by gift, grant, bequest and devise and hold real and personal estate absolutely or in trust for any public use including that of education, art, ornament, health, charity or amusement, for parks or gardens, or for the use or erection of statues, monuments, buildings or structures, upon such terms or conditions as may be prescribed by the grantor or donor and accepted by said corporation and to provide for the proper administration of the same.
3. 
To make, have and use, and from time to time to alter a common seal.
4. 
To contract and be contracted with, to sue and be sued, to complain and defend and to institute, prosecute, maintain and defend any action or proceeding in any court.
5. 
To require of any officer or employee of the City a bond or undertaking for the faithful performance of his duty; to determine the amount, form and sufficiency of the sureties thereof; and in its discretion to pay the premium thereon, if any.
6. 
To lay out, establish, construct, maintain, continue, operate, alter, extend and discontinue sewer and drainage systems and water supply systems; and to continue to lay out, establish, construct, contribute to, maintain, manage and operate public buildings, markets, parks, playgrounds, libraries and public places, and upon the discontinuance thereof to sell and convey the same, subject to the limitations and restrictions provided in this chapter.
7. 
To provide for constructing, operating and maintaining in, along and under the public streets, highways, parks, squares and public places and in, along and under any real estate owned by the City, or acquired for the purpose, conduits or ducts for electrical wires and cables and to permit the installation therein upon uniform rates, terms, rentals and conditions, which shall be approved by the Board of Estimate and Contract, of electrical wires and cables, owned, used or operated by any corporation authorized and empowered to construct, own, use or maintain a line or lines of electric telegraph, telephone, or signal system within the City.
8. 
To provide for the planting and rearing and for protecting and preserving shade and ornamental trees in the streets and public grounds, and to prohibit the injury, defacement or destruction of such trees.
9. 
To sell and supply water from the water system of the City to any corporation or individual outside of the City and to lay and construct necessary pipes and conduits for delivery of the same to such corporation or individual.
10. 
To license any and all kinds of businesses carried on within the City.
11. 
To have and exercise all of the rights, privileges and jurisdiction essential to a proper exercise of its corporate functions, including all that may be necessarily incident to, or may be fairly implied from, the powers specifically conferred upon such corporation.
12. 
To have and exercise all of the rights, privileges, functions and powers now prescribed and exercised by it under existing laws and not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter.
[Added by L.L. No. 3-1971]
In any case in which the City of Mount Vernon shall institute a proceeding for the condemnation of real property or an interest therein for City purposes, the title in fee simple to the real property or right to and in such interest therein shall vest in the City upon the qualification of the Commissioners appointed in such condemnation proceeding by filing the oaths of the Commissioners in the office of the Clerk of the County of Westchester, and the City may thereupon or at any time thereafter enter upon and take possession of such property or area, and the same may be used and occupied by the City, its officers, agents and employees. Interest upon any award made for the acquisition of real property or an interest therein, computed from the date of the qualification of the Commissioners, shall be added to the award and be paid therewith.