[Amended 12-17-2024 by L.L. No. 1-2025]
A. 
There shall be a Department of Public Works headed by a Commissioner of Public Works who shall be appointed on the basis of their experience and qualifications for office by the County Executive to serve at their pleasure, subject to the confirmation by the County Legislature.
B. 
Powers and duties. Except as otherwise provided in this Charter, the Administrative Code or state law, the Commissioner of Public Works shall:
(1) 
Have all powers and duties of a county engineer and a county superintendent of highways, pursuant to the Highway Law or other applicable law;
(2) 
Have such powers and duties in relation to County facilities for drainage, flood control, sanitation, sewage, or water supply as may be prescribed by the County Legislature;
(3) 
Furnish engineering and other services to the County Legislature, County Executive, the Department of Planning and other County departments as authorized;
(4) 
Have charge of and have the duty of performing such other functions concerning County real and personal property, public works and other matters as the County Executive and Legislature may, from time to time, direct;
(5) 
Have charge and supervision of routine maintenance and repair of equipment, storage buildings and facilities used by the department, including highway substations, and all parking areas serving these facilities;
(6) 
Have charge and supervision of the design, construction and alteration of the County buildings, parking fields and lots, drives, walks, preserves, beaches, and other public structures and facilities under the jurisdiction of the County;
(7) 
Have charge and supervision of maintenance, repair and alteration of buildings owned or leased by the County, parking fields and lots, drives, walks, preserves, beaches and other public structures and facilities under the jurisdiction of the County, including custodial care; and
(8) 
Except as otherwise provided in this Charter and subject to the requirements of state law, have the authority, direction and control over the Department of Public Works, including the power to appoint and remove all officers and employees of the department.
C. 
Reports. On or before March 1 of each year, the Commissioner of Public Works shall make an annual report to the County Legislature and County Executive for the immediately preceding calendar year, covering generally the work of the department. The Commissioner shall make such other reports at such times as may be required by the County Legislature, County Executive or any applicable law. Copies of all reports shall be filed with the Clerk of the County Legislature and the County Executive.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Charter § C-63.
A. 
The Commissioner of Public Works shall have the power to appoint one or more Deputy Commissioners of Public Works within the limits of appropriations therefor. Every appointment of a Deputy shall be in writing, filed and recorded in the Office of the County Clerk and Clerk of the Legislature.
B. 
The term of Office of any Deputy appointed hereunder shall coincide with that of the Commissioner of Public Works, provided that any such appointment may be revoked at any time by the Commissioner of Public Works by written revocation filed with the County Clerk. Positions of Deputy Commissioner may be in the exempt class of the civil service; or in the alternative, the deputy may also be an additional title which may be designated by the Commissioner for a department staff member.
C. 
Deputy Commissioners of Public Works shall perform such duties pertaining to the Office of Public Works as the Commissioner of Public Works may direct and shall act generally for and in place of the Commissioner and perform such other and further duties as the Commissioner may assign and direct.
D. 
If there be but one Deputy Commissioner of Public Works, he or she shall be the First Deputy Commissioner of Public Works. If more than one Deputy Commissioner of Public Works is appointed, the County Commissioner of Public Works shall designate one of them as First Deputy Commissioner of Public Works in a writing filed in the Office of the County Clerk and the Clerk of the Legislature.
E. 
The Commissioner of Public Works may, with the approval of the County Legislature, set up and establish appropriate divisions of the Department of Public Works as well as the responsibilities thereof and name a Deputy to head any such division.
A. 
Subject to approval by the County Executive, the Commissioner of Public Works shall specify in writing, and in order of succession, the Deputy Commissioner or Deputy Commissioners and/or other assistants who shall be Acting Commissioner of Public Works in the event of his or her absence from the County or inability to perform and exercise the powers and duties of his or her office. This specification shall be filed with the County Clerk and the Clerk of the Legislature and may be revoked at any time by the Commissioner filing an approved new written designation and order of succession.
B. 
The designated Deputy Commissioner of Public Works shall be Acting Commissioner of Public Works in the event of the Commissioner's absence from the County or inability to perform and exercise the powers and duties of the office for no more than 30 days. If the absence or inability of the Commissioner of Public Works shall extend for over 30 days or in the event there is no designated deputy, an Acting Commissioner of Public Works shall be appointed by the County Executive, subject to the County Legislature's confirmation, for a period not to exceed a total of 180 days in addition to the initial thirty-day period, or for the entire two-hundred-ten-day period as appropriate. If the inability of the Commissioner of Public Works shall extend over 210 days, the County Executive, subject to County Legislature confirmation, shall appoint a Commissioner of Public Works. An Acting Commissioner of Public Works shall file his or her designation and oath of office as such with the County Clerk.
C. 
An Acting Commissioner of Public Works shall have all the powers and duties of the Commissioner during the period of his or her designation and until his or her successor shall be appointed and qualified under this section or until a new Commissioner of Public Works is appointed and qualified pursuant to law.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Charter § C-64.
There shall be an Engineering Division within the Department of Public Works staffed by licensed mechanical and structural engineers, responsible to the Commissioner of Public Works and under his or her supervision, charged with planning, supervision and oversight of construction and rehabilitation projects for all County highways, structures, water, sewer and flood control projects and other County facilities.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Charter § C-65.
There shall be an Administration Division within the Department of Public Works, the head of which may be either a Deputy or Controller who acts as an assistant to the Commissioner of Public Works and supervises the management of department fiscal affairs. This position is also responsible for the preparation of the annual departmental budget and in the formulation of capital project improvement programs. The work is performed under the general direction of the Commissioner of Public Works with considerable leeway allowed for the exercise of independent judgment and initiative in work methods. Supervision is exercised over departmental administrative-support staff. He or she shall do related work as required.
There shall be a Highways and Bridges Division within the Department of Public Works, the head of which may be either a Deputy or Highways and Bridges Field Operations Manager who acts as an assistant to the Commissioner of Public Works and supervises and directs the County road, bridge and park maintenance, repair and construction operations. This position is also responsible for providing analysis of departmental needs, interdepartmental activities and the overall scheduling of projects. The work is performed under the general direction of the Commissioner of Public Works with considerable leeway allowed for the exercise of independent judgment and initiative in work methods. Supervision is exercised over all field personnel engaged in road, bridge and park maintenance, repair and construction. He or she shall do related work as required.
There shall be a Building and Grounds Division within the Department of Public Works, the head of which may be either a Deputy or Buildings and Grounds Administrative Manager who acts as an assistant to the Commissioner of Public Works and supervises the operations of the Buildings and Grounds division. This position is also responsible for providing analysis of departmental needs, interdepartmental activities and the overall scheduling of projects. The work is performed under the general direction of the Commissioner of Public works with considerable leeway allowed for the exercise of independent judgment and initiative in work methods. Supervision is exercised over a large staff of maintenance, custodial and office personnel. He or she shall do related work as required
The County Legislature shall have the power, by local legislation, to establish such rules and regulations as may be necessary to provide for use by the public of facilities under the jurisdiction of the Department of Public Works and to provide for the enforcement thereof.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Charter § C-66.