The City shall have power:
1. To
take, purchase, hold, lease, sell and convey such real and personal
property as the purposes of the corporation may require.
2. To
take by gift, grant, bequest and devise and hold real and personal
estate absolutely or in trust for any public use including that of
education, art, ornament, health, charity or amusement, for parks
or gardens, or for the use or erection of statues, monuments, buildings
or structures, upon such terms or conditions as may be prescribed
by the grantor or donor and accepted by said corporation and to provide
for the proper administration of the same.
3. To
make, have and use, and from time to time to alter a common seal.
4. To
contract and be contracted with, to sue and be sued, to complain and
defend and to institute, prosecute, maintain and defend any action
or proceeding in any court.
5. To
require of any officer or employee of the City a bond or undertaking
for the faithful performance of his duty; to determine the amount,
form and sufficiency of the sureties thereof; and in its discretion
to pay the premium thereon, if any.
6. To
lay out, establish, construct, maintain, continue, operate, alter,
extend and discontinue sewer and drainage systems and water supply
systems; and to continue to lay out, establish, construct, contribute
to, maintain, manage and operate public buildings, markets, parks,
playgrounds, libraries and public places, and upon the discontinuance
thereof to sell and convey the same, subject to the limitations and
restrictions provided in this chapter.
7. To
provide for constructing, operating and maintaining in, along and
under the public streets, highways, parks, squares and public places
and in, along and under any real estate owned by the City, or acquired
for the purpose, conduits or ducts for electrical wires and cables
and to permit the installation therein upon uniform rates, terms,
rentals and conditions, which shall be approved by the Board of Estimate
and Contract, of electrical wires and cables, owned, used or operated
by any corporation authorized and empowered to construct, own, use
or maintain a line or lines of electric telegraph, telephone, or signal
system within the City.
8. To
provide for the planting and rearing and for protecting and preserving
shade and ornamental trees in the streets and public grounds, and
to prohibit the injury, defacement or destruction of such trees.
9. To
sell and supply water from the water system of the City to any corporation
or individual outside of the City and to lay and construct necessary
pipes and conduits for delivery of the same to such corporation or
individual.
10. To license any and all kinds of businesses carried on within the
City.
11. To have and exercise all of the rights, privileges and jurisdiction
essential to a proper exercise of its corporate functions, including
all that may be necessarily incident to, or may be fairly implied
from, the powers specifically conferred upon such corporation.
12. To have and exercise all of the rights, privileges, functions and
powers now prescribed and exercised by it under existing laws and
not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter.
[Added by L.L. No. 3-1971]
In any case in which the City of Mount Vernon shall institute
a proceeding for the condemnation of real property or an interest
therein for City purposes, the title in fee simple to the real property
or right to and in such interest therein shall vest in the City upon
the qualification of the Commissioners appointed in such condemnation
proceeding by filing the oaths of the Commissioners in the office
of the Clerk of the County of Westchester, and the City may thereupon
or at any time thereafter enter upon and take possession of such property
or area, and the same may be used and occupied by the City, its officers,
agents and employees. Interest upon any award made for the acquisition
of real property or an interest therein, computed from the date of
the qualification of the Commissioners, shall be added to the award
and be paid therewith.