[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.
(e) Division of Recreational Programming.
Division for Senior Services
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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
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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
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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.
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
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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.