[Adopted 3-7-1967 by L.L. No. 5-1967; effective 3-22-1967]
[Amended 1-8-1974 by L.L. No. 2-1974, effective 1-14-1974; 3-14-2023 by L.L. No. 22-2023, effective 4-4-2023]
There shall be in the Town of Hempstead a Department of Planning and Economic Development. The executive officer of such Department shall be the Commissioner of Planning and Economic Development, who shall be appointed by the Town Board for the term fixed by law at such salary as may, from time to time, be fixed by the said Town Board. The Commissioner of Planning and Economic Development shall be appointed on the basis of administrative experience and qualifications for the duties of such office. There may be Deputy Commissioners to the Commissioner of Planning and Economic Development. The Deputy Commissioners, individually, shall have the authority to act for and in place of the Commissioner of Planning and Economic Development in all regards. The Commissioner shall designate, in writing, the order in which the deputies shall act, in case of the Commissioner's absence, inability to work, or vacancy. The Commissioner shall have the power to appoint and remove all subordinate officers and other employees and to assign them to their respective duties. The Commissioner shall be in the unclassified service of the civil service. The position of Deputy Commissioner shall, pursuant to the statutory authority contained in the Municipal Home Rule Law and the Civil Service Law, be in the exempt class.
[Amended 1-8-1974 by L.L. No. 2-1974, effective 1-14-1974]
There shall be within the Department of Planning and Economic Development the Planning Division and the Research Division, together with such other and further divisions as may, from time to time, hereafter be deemed necessary and be established by the Town Board. Each of said Divisions shall be supervised by an administrative official, who shall be a Deputy Commissioner of Planning and Economic Development for such division.
The Department of Planning and Economic Development shall have the following powers and duties, to be exercised under the general supervision of the Commissioner by the divisions indicated:
A. 
Planning Division. To prepare and submit for Town Board consideration reports and recommendations based upon analysis made of information gathered and furnished by the Research Division, and to perform such other planning activities with respect to any and all services, facilities, programs and other matters which may be in any manner related to land use, circulation and community facilities and other planning functions as prescribed by law or otherwise beneficial to town government in promoting environmental amenity and the economic and social well-being of the town, its residents, taxpayers and commercial community.
B. 
Research Division. To conduct a continuing research program with respect to changing conditions within the town; to review and analyze all legislation of higher governmental authority which may affect the purposes for which this Department is created or which may provide financial assistance with respect to programs or projects of a type as might be undertaken by the town or on behalf of any of its improvement districts; to review and analyze all studies and reports of public and quasi-public agencies involved in regional, metropolitan or bicounty planning: to maintain up-to-date statistical tabulations with respect to such matters as would be beneficial for general planning purposes and to develop new and unique statistical material for planning purposes employing data processing equipment and total information system techniques.
A. 
The Planning Division of the Department of Public Works, presently existing, is hereby transferred in its entirety, including all property, equipment and budgetary appropriations, to the Department of Planning and Economic Development. The employees of such division shall be continued as employees in the Department of Planning and Economic Development, with the same classification, pensions and retirement rights and privileges as they had immediately prior to such transfer; provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall be construed to deprive the Town Board of any power it now has with respect to any such employees.
B. 
The Town Board may from time to time employ such additional persons, including such special, technical, fiscal and legal consultants as may be necessary or desirable to the performance of the duties imposed upon the Department of Planning and Economic Development.
All costs and expenses incurred by the Department or its officers, agents or employees on behalf of a special improvement district or special town project shall be charged against such district or project and paid from the funds duly appropriate for such district or project.
Nothing herein contained shall be construed to delegate or transfer any power of the Town Board contained in Sections 61 or 64 or Articles 12, 14, 15 and 16 of the Town Law of the State of New York, or any other powers which may be lawfully exercised by said Town Board or the Supervisor.