[HISTORY: Comes from L.L. No. 90-1972, adopted 9-12-1972, effective 9-19-1972.]
[Amended 3-14-2023 by L.L. No. 22-2023, effective 4-4-2023]
There shall be in the Town of Hempstead a Department of Engineering. The executive head of such Department shall be the Commissioner of Engineering, who shall be appointed by the Town Board for a term fixed by the Town Board, or at the pleasure of the Town Board, at such salary as may from time to time be fixed by said Town Board. The Commissioner of Engineering shall be appointed on the basis of administrative experience and shall be a professional engineer duly licensed by the State of New York. There may be Deputy Commissioners to the Commissioner of Engineering. The Deputy Commissioners, individually, shall have the authority to act for and in place of the Commissioner of Engineering in all regards. The Commissioner shall designate, in writing, the order in which the deputies shall act, in case of the Commissioner's absence, inability to work, or vacancy. The Commissioner shall have the power to appoint and remove all subordinate officers and other employees and to assign them to their respective duties. The Commissioner shall be in the unclassified service of the civil service. The position of Deputy Commissioner shall, pursuant to the statutory authority contained in the Municipal Home Rule Law and the Civil Service Law, be in the exempt class.
There shall be within the Department of Engineering the following divisions:
A. 
Administrative. To have general supervision of intradepartmental matters, including supervision of personnel and maintenance of personnel records, maintenance of accounting and departmental records, including budget control and statistical analysis of overall direction and coordination of divisional activities.
B. 
General Engineering. To plan and design parking fields, town structures, buildings and any other special projects; to prepare contract specifications and supervise general construction inspection of same; to prepare all acquisition maps, keep zoning maps up to date, check all property descriptions in proposed town documents; perform such other and further duties as may be assigned by the Commissioner.
C. 
Drainage and Highway Engineering. To plan and design new highways, improvements to existing highways, new or improved stormwater drainage systems; to prepare contract specifications and supervise general construction inspection of same; to have general supervision of surveying, construction inspection and material testing laboratory personnel; perform such other and further duties as may be assigned by the Commissioner.
D. 
Parks Engineering. To plan and design new parks and recreation areas, improvements or alterations to existing facilities; to prepare contract specifications and supervise general construction of same; perform such other and further duties as may be assigned by the Commissioner.
A. 
The Department of Engineering shall perform the duties of the Town Engineer with all of the responsibilities, obligations and powers as provided in the Town Law and General Municipal Law.
B. 
The Department of Engineering shall provide professional engineering and inspectional services for the Town of Hempstead and shall also make surveys, maps, plans, estimates and drawings relating to streets, houses and buildings, including the naming and numbering thereof, as well as provide for street signs and the lighting of roads, highways, public grounds and other town projects, inclusive of, but not limited to, land development, subdivision, site improvements and grade limitations; shall prepare preliminary estimates and specifications for buildings, bridges, culverts, recharge basins, ditches and other structures; shall prepare plot subdivision and municipal drainage maps; shall coordinate construction work with other municipal agencies and maintain contacts with the general public; and shall make hydrologic maps, charts and reports. The Department of Engineering shall also provide consultation, administration and inspectional services as required with respect to the laws of the State of New York and the Town of Hempstead and further provide professional engineering services for those special districts not having engineering services, subject to consent and approval of the Town Board; also shall review plans for major improvements and expansion of special improvement districts, subject to consent and approval of the Town Board; and shall perform such other and further duties as may be conferred or imposed by the Town Board or by any other general or local law.
[Amended 12-1-1981 by L.L. No. 103-1981, effective 12-7-1981]
C. 
Typical duties.
(1) 
Consult with engineers, architects and administrative officials pertaining to highway and drainage construction.
(2) 
Supervise the preparation of correspondence relating to contracts for construction, complaints, dealings with other municipalities and other related matters.
(3) 
Supervise all engineering, technical and clerical personnel within the Department and all the work that requires consultation with other divisions of the Department and other governmental agencies.
(4) 
Conduct periodic and final inspections of all construction projects under the jurisdiction of the Department.
(5) 
Supervise and coordinate the work on various projects with consulting engineers under contract with the town and review their plans and specifications.
(6) 
Consult with Town Attorney's office on all pertinent matters affecting the Department and provide professional engineering testimony in litigation actions against the town.
(7) 
Supervise the preparation of statistical and special reports pertinent to the operation of the Department.
A. 
The Engineering Division of the Department of Public Works, presently existing, is hereby transferred in its entirety, including all property, equipment and budgetary appropriations, to the Department of Engineering. The employees of such former division shall be continued as employees in the Department of Engineering with the same classifications, pensions and retirement rights and privileges as they had immediately prior to such transfer.
B. 
The Commissioner, only when specifically authorized so to do by the Town Board, may from time to time employ such additional persons, including technical consultants, as may be necessary in the discharge of his duties.