There shall be a Department of Public Works under the direction
of a Commissioner of Public Works, who shall be appointed by the County
Executive subject to confirmation by the County Legislature. He/She
shall be appointed on the basis of his/her professional experience
and other qualifications for the responsibilities of his/her office.
He/She shall be directly responsible to, and serve at the pleasure
of, the County Executive.
[Amended 12-7-1992 by L.L. No. 8-1992; 12-6-1993 by L.L. No. 7-1993]
Except as may otherwise be provided in this Charter, the Commissioner
shall:
(a) Be responsible for the construction, maintenance, supervision, repair,
alteration, demolition and custodial care of all County buildings,
highways, bridges, parking fields, drives, docks, marinas, preserves,
beaches, erosion projects, walks and other facilities in the nature
of public works within County jurisdiction or where contractually
or otherwise appropriate and lawful; except insofar as such facilities
are used for recreation or conservation purposes;
(b) Possess such powers and duties with respect to drainage, flood control,
watersheds, sanitation, sewerage and water supply as may be prescribed
by local law;
(c) Supervise and maintain custodial care and control over all buildings
and other County-owned facilities located upon or used in connection
with the County Airport;
(d) Supervise and maintain all runways and other facilities located at
the County Airport which are subject to control by federal and state
aviation agencies;
(e) Be responsible for the operation, supervision, maintenance, construction,
repair, alteration and demolition of all County parks and recreational
facilities;
(f) Promote the use of recreational facilities within the County;
(g) Promote and organize recreational activities within the County in
coordination with, and supplemental to, the recreational programs
and services of the various local governments and districts within
the County;
(h) Have all the powers and perform all the duties conferred or imposed
by law upon a commissioner of public works, a county engineer, and
a county superintendent of highways, and perform such other and related
duties required by the County Executive or County Legislature.
The Commissioner of Public Works shall have the power to appoint
such Deputy Commissioners, assistants and employees of his/her department
as shall be authorized by the County Legislature. All such appointees
shall be directly responsible to, and serve at the pleasure of, the
Commissioner, except as otherwise provided by this Charter, the Administrative
Code or applicable law.
The Commissioner of Public Works, subject to approval by the
County Executive, shall designate in writing, and in order of succession,
the Deputy Commissioners and assistants who shall be Acting Commissioner
of Public Works in the event of his/her absence from the County or
inability to perform and exercise the powers and duties of his/her
office. Such designation shall be filed with the County Clerk and
the Clerk of the County Legislature and may be revoked at any time
by the Commissioner filing a new written designation and order of
succession. The Acting Commissioner of Public Works shall have all
the powers and perform all the duties of the Commissioner.
[Added 4-11-1994 by L.L.
No. 3-1994]
There shall be within the Department of Public Works a Parks,
Recreation and Conservation Board consisting of seven members, three
of whom shall be appointed by the Chair of the County Legislature,
and four of whom shall be appointed by the County Executive. Such
appointments shall be subject to confirmation by the County Legislature.
All members shall reside within the County of Dutchess and not more
than four shall be enrolled in the same political party at any time.
Members of the Board shall serve without compensation, except that
the County Legislature may authorize reimbursement for expenses actually
incurred by the Board in the performance of its functions. Of the
initially appointed members, one shall be appointed by the Chair of
the County Legislature for a term of one year, two shall be appointed
by the Chair of the County Legislature for a term of two years, two
shall be appointed by the County Executive for a term of three years
and two shall be appointed by the County Executive for a term of four
years. Their successors shall be appointed for terms of four years.
The Board shall select its own Chair and otherwise organize and reorganize
itself in such manner and at such times as it may deem appropriate.
Vacancies in membership occurring other than by expiration of terms
shall be filled by appointment by the Chair of the County Legislature
or the County Executive, as appropriate, for the unexpired term, subject
to confirmation by the County Legislature.
[Added 4-11-1994 by L.L.
No. 3-1994]
Within appropriations authorized therefor, the Parks, Recreation
and Conservation Board shall undertake such studies, conduct such
research, surveys and investigations and render such advice with respect
to recreational activities and conservation programs and practices
within the County, including their planning, promotion, organization,
maintenance and discontinuance, and including also the acquisition
of land, the establishment, development, maintenance, repair, alteration
and destruction of recreational and conservation facilities and the
promulgation of related rules and regulations, as may be requested
from time to time by the County Executive, the County Legislature,
the Commissioner of Public Works, or the Director of Parks, or as
it may deem appropriate.