There shall be a Department of Highways and Facilities headed by a Commissioner of Highways and Facilities appointed by the County Executive, subject to confirmation by the County Legislature. The Commissioner of Highways and Facilities 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 Highways and Facilities of the County of Putnam, so long as such person resides within fifty linear miles from the Office of the Commissioner of Highways and Facilities at the Putnam County Department of Highways and Facilities, 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.
[Amended 3-6-2018 by L.L.
No. 7-2018]
Except as otherwise provided in this Charter, the Commissioner
of Highways and Facilities 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 Highways and Facilities shall appoint a
Deputy Commissioner of Highways and Facilities who shall act generally
for and in the place of the Commissioner of Highways and Facilities
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 Highways and Facilities of the County of Putnam, so long as such
person resides within fifty linear miles from the Office of the Commissioner
of Highways and Facilities at the Putnam County Department of Highways
and Facilities, when appointed and continuously throughout his or
her appointment.
The Deputy Commissioner of Highways and Facilities shall have
the powers and shall perform all duties of the Commissioner of Highways
and Facilities only in the event that the Commissioner of Highways
and Facilities is absent or unable to perform and exercise the powers
and duties of such office.
The Commissioner of Highways and Facilities may also appoint
additional deputies who shall have the powers and who shall perform
all the duties of the Commissioner of Highways and Facilities only
in the event that both the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of
Highways and Facilities 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 Highways and Facilities 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 Highways and Facilities
by filing a new written designation and order of succession.