The Office of Licensing shall have all the powers and perform all the duties conferred upon it or the Office of Consumer Protection by Chapters 20 through 42 of the Yonkers City Code.
A.
The head of the Office of Licensing shall be the Consumer Protection
Officer, as defined in the Yonkers City Code, also known as the Director,
and shall have all of the powers and duties conferred upon him or
her by law, including enforcement of laws in relation to weights and
measures.
B.
The Consumer Protection Officer shall plan, make recommendations,
conduct research and develop programs for consumer education and protection,
and facilitate the exchange and dissemination of information relating
to consumer protection in consultation with City departments and agencies,
federal and state officials, commercial and business interests, private
groups and others working in this field.
C.
The Consumer Protection Officer shall enforce all laws relating to
the advertising, labeling, packaging for sale and the sale of all
commodities, goods, wares and services, insofar as he or she may have
cognizance thereof; in addition he or she shall receive and evaluate
complaints and initiate his or her own investigation relating to these
matters and take appropriate action, including referral to a federal
or state agency. In the interest of consumer protection, the Consumer
Protection Officer shall make recommendations to the City Council
for legislative action by the City Council.
D.
The Consumer Protection Officer, in the performance of said functions,
shall be authorized to hold public and private hearings, administer
oaths, take testimony, serve subpoenas and receive evidence, and to
promulgate, amend and modify procedures and practices governing such
proceedings, and to promulgate, amend and modify rules and regulations
necessary to carry out the powers and duties of the Office of Licensing.
There shall be a Citizens' Advisory Council which shall advise
the Consumer Protection Officer on general goals for the development
of programs, undertake studies and reports, and foster cooperation
among city, state and federal agencies and private groups. The Citizens'
Advisory Council shall consist of the Consumer Protection Officer,
ex officio, and twelve (12) members to be appointed by the Mayor with
the approval of the City Council and to serve for three (3) years,
except that of the twelve (12) members first appointed, four (4) for
a term of two (2) years and four (4) for a term of one (1) year. One
(1) of these twelve (12) shall be appointed Chairman annually by the
Mayor. The members of the Council shall serve without compensation
but shall be reimbursed for expenses necessarily incurred in the performance
of their duties.
