There shall be a Department of Public Works headed by a Commissioner of Public Works appointed by the County Executive, subject to confirmation by the County Legislature. The Commissioner of Public Works shall be qualified by training and experience for his or her position. The provisions of any law, rule or regulation which require that a public officer be a resident of the political subdivision or municipal corporation of the state for which he or she shall be chosen or within which his or her official functions are required to be exercised, shall not prevent a person from holding the office of the Commissioner of Public Works of the County of Putnam, so long as such person resides within 50 linear miles from the Office of the Commissioner of Public Works at the Putnam County Department of Public Works, when appointed and continuously throughout his or her appointment. He or she shall serve at the pleasure of the County Executive. Within appropriations therefor, he or she shall appoint a staff to implement the duties of this office as detailed in §
9.02 of this Charter.
Except as otherwise provided in this Charter, the Commissioner
of Public Works shall:
(a) Have all the powers and duties of a County Engineer and County Superintendent
of Highways pursuant to the Highway Law, Town Law or other applicable
laws;
(b) Have charge and supervision of the design, construction, improvement,
maintenance, repair, cleaning and lighting of all highways, roads,
streets, bridges and grade separation structures under jurisdiction
of the County;
(c) Have charge and supervision of the design, construction and alteration
of County buildings, parking areas, drives, walks, docks, parks and
such other structures and facilities in the nature of public works
under the jurisdiction of the County;
(d) Have charge and supervision of the maintenance and repair of all
County buildings to include custodial care of such buildings;
(e) Have charge and supervision of the maintenance and operations of
County parks and preserves;
(f) Administer all programs and projects conducted by the Soil and Water
Conservation District.
The Commissioner of Public Works shall appoint a Deputy Commissioner
of Public Works who shall act generally for and in the place of the
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 office. The provisions of any law, rule or regulation which require
that a public officer be a resident of the political subdivision or
municipal corporation of the state for which he or she shall be chosen
or within which his or her official functions are required to be exercised,
shall not prevent a person from holding the office of the Deputy Commissioner
of Public Works of the County of Putnam, so long as such person resides
within 50 linear miles from the Office of the Commissioner of Public
Works at the Putnam County Department of Public Works, when appointed
and continuously throughout his or her appointment.
The Deputy Commissioner of Public Works shall have the powers
and shall perform all duties of the Commissioner of Public Works only
in the event that the Commissioner of Public Works is absent or unable
to perform and exercise the powers and duties of such office.
The Commissioner of Public Works may also appoint additional
deputies who shall have the powers and who shall perform all the duties
of the Commissioner of Public Works only in the event that both the
Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Public Works are absent or
unable to perform and exercise the powers and duties of such office.
Such additional deputies shall be designated in writing and in order
of succession by the Commissioner of Public Works and shall be filed
with the County Executive and with the Clerk of the County Legislature.
Such designations may be revoked at any time by the Commissioner of
Public Works by filing a new written designation and order of succession.