[Amended 5-22-2000 by L.L. No. 6-2000, effective 7-1-2000; 6-13-2000 by L.L. No. 8-2000, effective 7-1-2000; 6-13-2000 by L.L. No. 10-2000, effective 7-1-2000; 12-26-2000 by L.L. No. 1-2001, effective 1-9-2001; 6-19-2003 by L.L. No. 7-2003, effective 6-26-2003; 10-18-2005 by L.L. No. 4-2005, effective 11-3-2005; 4-4-2006 by L.L. No. 12-2006, effective 4-18-2006]
The commissioner of community services and recreational programming shall be the head of the department of community services and recreational programming
The mayor shall appoint, subject to confirmation by the common council, and may at pleasure, remove the commissioner of community services and recreational programming
The commissioner of community services and recreational programming shall be a person who has either:
(a) 
A college degree and demonstrated executive, supervisory and administrative ability with at least five years experience in government or human or community services; or
(b) 
An equivalent combination of training, education and experience sufficient to indicate ability to perform the duties of the office.
The commissioner shall have all the powers and shall exercise all the duties hereinafter conferred upon the divisions of the department; shall administer, correlate and coordinate all the functions of said divisions; shall provide facilities for the research, referral, planning and evaluating of any of the projects within the purposes of the department; and shall prepare or have prepared by the appropriate divisions applications for county, state and federal grants.
[Added 6-22-2010 by L.L. No. 6-2010, effective 7-6-2010]
There shall be a Deputy Commissioner of Community Services and Recreational Programming who shall act for and generally in place of the Commissioner of Community Services and Recreational Programming and shall possess the same qualifications as those required for said Commissioner. The Deputy Commissioner shall be appointed by the Commissioner of Community Services and Recreational Programming and shall be removable at the pleasure of the Commissioner.
[Added 6-22-2010 by L.L. No. 6-2010, effective 7-6-2010]
The Deputy Commissioner of Community Services and Recreational Programming shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as may be assigned to him by the Commissioner of Community Services and Recreational Programming.
The directors of the divisions in this article shall direct and administer the affairs of the division; shall discharge and perform all duties needed or necessary to effectuate the purposes of each division and such other duties conferred by this article, ordinance, general or special law; and shall be deputies of the commissioner of community services and recreational programming and shall be authorized to act generally for and in place of the commissioner. All directors shall be appointed by the commissioner upon consultation with the mayor and may be removed at the pleasure of the commissioner.
There shall be in the department the following divisions:
(a) 
Division for senior services.
(b) 
Division for substance abuse services.
(c) 
Division of Workforce Employment and Training.
(d) 
Division for Youth.
(e) 
Division of Recreational Programming.
Division for Senior Services
The head of the division for senior services shall be the director for senior services.
The director shall make studies and recommend to the mayor, the common council, the commissioner of community services and recreational programming and other governmental or private agencies, the institution or coordination of recreational programs and projects or other programs or projects for persons over sixty years of age which will promote (a) the social and emotional adjustment of such persons by making it possible for them to find companionship and create an environment that is favorable to continuing growth and give them a sense of personal stability and security; (b) the rehabilitation of personal efficiency of elder individuals by making it possible for them to make maximum use of their time and of capacities least impaired; and community usefulness by creating a feeling of adequacy and accomplishment through activity
The director shall do all acts or things necessary, including the coordination and administration of such programs, to effectuate the above purposes, and shall adopt such rules and regulations as he or she may deem appropriate.
Division for Substance Abuse Services
The head of the division of substance abuse services shall be the director of substance abuse services.
The director shall coordinate and administer any and all programs developed by the city within its powers and such other programs howsoever authorized or initiated, to control the use of addictive substances; to educate the public of the effect and danger of such use; and to rehabilitate persons addicted or likely to be addicted thereto.
There is hereby created a committee in the division of substance abuse services to be designated as the committee of substance abuse services, the members of which shall be appointed by the mayor for staggered terms of four years each.
The committee shall make recommendations to the mayor, the common council, the commissioner of community services, the director of drug abuse services and other governmental or private agencies regarding:
(1) 
Institution of programs to control the use and abuse of addictive substances;
(2) 
Education of the public about the effects and the dangers of the use and abuse of addictive substances;
(3) 
Treatment and rehabilitation of persons using and abusing addictive substances; and
(4) 
Further study of the impact of the use and abuse of addictive substances upon individuals and society.
Division of Workforce Employment and Training
The head of the office of employment and training shall be the director of workforce employment and training.
There is hereby created in this division a council to be designated as the workforce employment and training council.
The council shall prepare and recommend programs to the mayor, the common council, the commissioner of community services and the director of workforce employment and training, to:
(a) 
Provide for the development and creation of job opportunities within Erie and Niagara counties and the training, education and other services needed to enable individuals to secure and retain employment at their maximum capacity;
(b) 
Provide unemployed and underemployed persons with transitional employment in jobs providing needed public services because of substantial unemployment and, wherever feasible, related employment and training services to enable such persons to move into employment or training within Erie and Niagara counties;
(c) 
Provide additional employment services for youth, rehabilitated offenders, persons of limited English speaking ability, older workers and other persons residing in the city of Buffalo who have particular disadvantages in the labor market in Erie and Niagara counties. The council shall do all acts or things necessary to effectuate the above purposes, and shall adopt such rules and regulations as it deems appropriate.
The council shall consist of not less than five members, and shall be appointed by the mayor for a period of four years. However, the members of the council discharging duties within the powers of the present bodies shall serve until their terms expire and shall be eligible for reappointment. Any appointment made to fill a vacancy caused by the death, resignation or removal of a member shall be made for the balance of the member's term. The mayor shall designate the chairperson of the council from among its members and may from time to time change such designation. A member may be removed by the mayor for reasons stated in writing, after an opportunity to be heard. The mayor may from time to time increase the membership of the council from five to a maximum of twenty-eight members, at least four of whom shall be members of the common council. The members shall serve without compensation. A majority of the members shall be residents of the city. Any members who are not residents of the city shall reside either in Erie county or in Niagara county.
A member shall be deemed to have resigned his or her office for failure to attend three regularly scheduled meetings, unless he or she has filed with the chairperson written reasons for his or her absence approved by a majority of the membership.
Meetings shall be held upon the call of the commissioner of community services, the director, the chairperson, or as specified in a written declaration by a majority of the members of the council.
Division for Youth
The head of the Division for Youth shall be the Director for Youth. The director shall coordinate and supplement the activities and programs of public, private and religious agencies within the City of Buffalo, devoted in whole or in part to the welfare and protection of youth; cooperate with such agencies in developing effective programs for the prevention of delinquency, crime and neglect among youth; and collect data and statistics, and conduct studies relating to activities of youth.
The Commissioner in conjunction with the Director for Youth shall be responsible for developing and administering a youth employment and training program. The Commissioner and Director shall also be responsible for soliciting public and private funding with the objective of obtaining additional resources to promote youth employment and training programming, in summer and/or other times of the year if feasible, to:
(a) 
Provide for the development and creation of job opportunities, internships and job training for youth in the public and private sectors;
(b) 
Assist in preparing youth in acquiring life skills and in working interactively within established systems; and
(c) 
Enable youth to make more informed decisions in considering higher educational opportunities and career planning.
Division of Recreational Programming
The head of the division for recreational programming shall be the Director of Recreational Programming. The Commissioner in conjunction with the Director of Recreational Programming shall be responsible for developing and coordinating inter- community recreational activities in cooperation with other governmental recreation programs, community based organizations, and other public and private human service agencies. The purpose of the division Recreational Programming is to maximize and bolster recreational opportunities for youth and young adults in the region. The Commissioner and Director of Recreational Programming shall pursue public and private funding in order to achieve the goals and objectives of developing collaborative and effective recreational programming.