There shall be in the Town of Hempstead a Department of Drug
and Alcohol Addiction, the executive head of such Department shall
be the Director of the Department of Drug and Alcohol Addiction, who
shall be appointed by the Town Board, for a term fixed by law, at
such salary as may from time to time be fixed by said Town Board.
The Director of the Department of Drug and Alcohol Addiction shall
be appointed on the basis of his administrative experience. The Director
shall have the power and authority to appoint and remove a First and
Second Deputy Director who individually, and in the order named, shall
have all of the rights, powers, obligations and responsibilities of
the Director, and the authority to act in his place and stead. The
Director shall have the power to appoint and remove all other subordinate
officers and other employees and to assign them to their respective
duties. The Deputy Directors, in the order named, in the absence of
the Director or his inability to act, shall have the rights, obligations
and duties of the Director.
There shall be within the Department of Drug and Alcohol Addiction
the following divisions:
A. Administrative: to have general supervision of intradepartmental
matters, including supervision of personnel and maintenance of personnel
records; maintenance of accounting and departmental records, including
budget control and statistical analysis of over-all direction; and
coordination of divisional activities, accounting and departmental
records shall be maintained as required by the Town Comptroller.
B. Planning: to develop a comprehensive program for a direct assault
upon the public health problems resulting from the excessive use of
alcohol and use of addictive drugs in its many forms; to develop and
implement a comprehensive program for the education and control of
narcotics addiction and excessive use of alcohol and the impairment
of health incidental to the use thereof, and utilizing modern methods
for the education of addicted persons and research into the causes
and means of prevention of alcoholism and drug addiction.
The Department of Drug and Alcohol Addiction shall have the
following powers and duties:
A. Develop and administer effective policies and programs for the prevention
and control of alcoholism and drug abuse and addiction, and the education
of parents and their families as to the dangers and risks incidental
to the use of alcohol and drugs; and make appropriate recommendations
to the Supervisor and the Town Board.
B. Receive and expend grants from the state, federal or county governments
or from private individuals, corporations or associations for the
purpose of actively implementing the stated purpose of this article,
the cost of services and expenses of the Department shall not exceed
the appropriation that may be made therefor by the Town Board and
the grants referred to above.
C. Supplement and aid in coordinating the activities of public and private
agencies devoted in whole or in part to the prevention of alcoholism
and drug abuse and addiction, and serve as a consultant to such agencies.
D. Develop programs, personnel and facilities, in conformity with and
in coordination with all other agencies on all levels having an interest
in the field, including, without limitation, the Mental Health Board,
the Board of Health, Nassau County Medical Center, the Police Department
and the Department of Probation.
E. Perform research and develop a body of current information, statistics,
records and data with regard to alcoholism and drug abuse and addiction
within the Town of Hempstead.
F. Develop and coordinate education programs and stimulate town-wide
efforts to control alcoholism and drug abuse and addiction. The Department
is authorized to examine and to evaluate all existing and future activities,
operations and programs conducted by all interested agencies in the
area of alcoholism and drug abuse and addiction and serve as a clearing
house for all such agencies in regard to their programs of education
relating to alcoholism and drug abuse and addiction and the prevention
thereof.
G. Plan and direct the production of printed educational materials.
H. Develop and schedule visual presentations and exhibits.
I. Cooperate with community groups in the development and implementation
of narcotic education programs and alcoholism.
J. Distribute printed material, films, film strips.
K. Operate a "hotline service."
L. Give to local community groups the following services: teachers,
guest speakers and trainers.
M. Help in the coordination of the operations of local community groups.
N. Submit an annual report to the Supervisor and the Town Board.
O. Perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Supervisor and
the Town Board.