[Enacted by Local Law No. 1-1939 (April 19, 1939); amended by L. 1953, c. 878, § 193; Local Law No. 7-1962 (July 11, 1962); Local Law No. 1-1964 (January 8, 1964); Local Law No. 3-1970 (June 8, 1970); Local Law No. 6-1971 (December 13, 1971); Local Law No. 6-1972 (December 11, 1972); Local Law No. 3-1974 (November 21, 1974); Local Law No. 5-1976 (December 7, 1976); Local Law No. 3-1985 (April 16, 1985); Local Law No. 10-1997 (July 16, 1997); Local Law No. 2-1998 (January 20, 1998); Local Law No. 1-2004 (March 16, 2004); Local Law No. 4-2021 (November 16, 2021).]
The administrative departments of the city shall be those of Finance, Law, Public Works, Police, Fire, Personnel, Development, Buildings, and Parks and Recreation. There may be divisions of such departments called "bureaus." The heads of such departments shall be appointed by the City Manager, shall hold office at the City Manager's pleasure and are vested with authority, direction and control over their respective departments. Heads of departments shall appoint and may remove such deputies who are authorized to act generally for and in place of their principals, a department secretary, bureau heads, assistants or other employees not otherwise herein prescribed as they may deem necessary, provided that their salaries and wages have been fixed by the Council. No person, except laborers employed on per diem basis, shall be appointed or employed by a department head without first obtaining budget approval.