As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
BOARD
The Board of Trustees of the Department of Parks, Recreation
and Conservation.
COMMISSIONER
The Commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Conservation.
DEPARTMENT
The Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation.
PARK or PARKS
Includes all public parks, beaches, wetlands, playgrounds, athletic fields, recreation centers, marinas, golf courses, open spaces and areas publicly owned and acquired for the conservation of natural resources and the enjoyment thereof by the residents of the County of Suffolk, including all buildings, structures, equipment and appurtenances located thereon, also entrances and approaches thereto and streets or roads in or through such park or parks and parts thereof, but not including any town, village, County or state highway, and such other rights and appurtenances as the Department shall utilize for its purposes, whether the same is now or hereafter owned or acquired in fee or otherwise by the County or under the care and control of the County by lease or otherwise for park, recreation and conservation purposes, not including canals, canal locks and waterways, channels and other County-owned or -leased facilities placed under the jurisdiction of the Department of Public Works as provided in Article
VIII of this Charter.
[Amended 7-24-1967 by L.L. No. 4-1967; 6-23-1969 by L.L. No.
10-1969; 2-27-1973 by L.L. No. 7-1973; 3-12-1974 by L.L. No.
11-1974]
A. The Commissioner shall be the head of the Department and shall have
and exercise, subject to the provisions of the preceding section,
all the administrative powers necessary for the operation of the Department,
including those powers vested in a county recreation commission by
the provisions of the General Municipal Law, not inconsistent with
this article, as well as other powers and duties as are provided by
applicable law in relation to the administration of the Department,
and such duties as are required by the County Executive and the County
Legislature. The Commissioner shall appoint a Deputy Commissioner
and may appoint an additional Deputy Commissioner, who shall possess
the powers, perform the duties and act generally for and in place
of the Commissioner. Within the budgetary appropriations therefor,
he shall appoint, supervise, discipline and remove employees of the
Department and assign and reassign powers and duties to such employees.
B. The Commissioner shall have the power, from moneys appropriated and
property designated for that purpose by the County Legislature, to
make available for use as a public park or parks, as defined in this
article, all such real estate, easements and rights which are or may
come under his jurisdiction.
C. The Commissioner shall have the power to promote, demonstrate and
organize constructive recreational activities cooperating with and
supplementing the recreational services of the towns and villages
throughout the County, to provide recreational leadership training
and to establish recreational facilities and programs.
D. The Commissioner shall have charge and supervision of the maintenance
and operation of all County parks, including appurtenances thereto.
[Amended 3-14-1972 by L.L. No. 5-1972]
The Department of Public Works shall render engineering services
to the Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation and shall
prepare to let authorized contracts for the improvement of parks and
the construction of park facilities and shall supervise the improvement
and construction of parks as provided in this article of this Charter,
but not including engineering and architects' services and the letting
of contracts for and the supervision of the construction of buildings
in parks, which shall be under the supervision of the Department of
Buildings and Grounds. All maintenance, custodial services and repairs to park
facilities shall be done by the Department of Parks, Recreation and
Conservation.
The Board from time to time shall recommend to the County Legislature
the adoption of such rules, regulations and ordinances as may be necessary
for the proper regulation of the parks.