There shall be and is hereby created and established in the City of Albany a department known as the "Department of General Services."
[Adopted 8-21-1995 by L.L. No. 9-1995[1]]
There shall be appointed by the Mayor, a Commissioner of General Services who shall be the head of the Department of General Services and carry out the functions and duties thereof.
[Amended 1-23-1997 by L.L. No. 1-1997; 1-5-2009 by Ord. No. 72.122.08]
A.
The Commissioner of General Services shall hold office at the pleasure of the Mayor.
B.
The Commissioner shall appoint, to serve at his pleasure, Assistant Commissioner(s) and such other subordinates as may be authorized by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment.
C.
In case of the absence or disability of the Commissioner or of a vacancy in office, the most senior Assistant Commissioner shall discharge the duties of the office until the Commissioner returns, the disability ceases or the vacancy is filled by Mayoral appointment.
[Amended 1-23-1997 by L.L. No. 1-1997; 9-24-1998 by L.L. No. 3-1998; 4-21-2025 by L.L. No. 3-2025 (J-2024)]
A.
The Department of General Services shall be comprised of all functions of the former Department of Public Works, Department of Parks and Recreation, and Mayor's Office of Special Events. All personnel and property of the Department of Public Works, Department of Parks and Recreation, and Mayor's Office of Special Events are hereby transferred to the Department of General Services. The Department shall generally be responsible for the routine maintenance and repair of all City streets, sidewalks and parks, sewers, pumping stations and drainage facilities, refuse and recyclable collection, including landfills and other forms of disposal, together with such other and further assigned functions and duties reasonably related thereto. The Commissioner shall maintain, administer and oversee the management of the City's fleet of vehicles (except fire apparatus) and shall be responsible for the administration of the City's special events and celebrations.
B.
The Commissioner, in the course of their duties related to the maintenance of all City streets, shall coordinate with the Commissioner of Engineering on promulgating street cleaning rules to be publicly accessible online and in-person. Such street cleaning rules shall consist of the institution of alternate side parking limits for the purpose of street cleaning and such limits shall be as instituted pursuant to § 359-21.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 42-102, Division of Engineering, was repealed 4-21-2025 by L.L. No. 3-2025 (J-2024).
The Commissioner shall administer and oversee a Division of Parks Maintenance within the Department of General Services. The functions of the Division of Parks Maintenance shall include but not be limited to:
A.
Direct, supervise, care for and manage the parks of the City.
B.
Acquire, construct, install and maintain recreational facilities, equipment and other recreational property of the City.
C.
Care of the shade trees of the City.
D.
Establish by regulation the schedule of fees for use of parks and recreational facilities.
E.
Grant, upon approval of the Common Council, concessions to be operated within the parks and other recreational facilities.
F.
Adopt rules and regulations not inconsistent with law or the City Charter for the regulation of the public parks and other facilities of the City of Albany and for protection, safety and welfare of the public.
[Amended 1-23-1997 by L.L. No. 1-1997; 9-24-1998 by L.L. No. 3-1998; 4-21-2025 by L.L. No. 3-2025 (J-2024)]
The Department of Public Works, Mayor's Office of Special Events and Department of Parks and Recreation are hereby abolished and the functions, personnel and property thereof hereby transferred to the Department of General Services as created herein. Whenever in any local law, ordinance, Charter provision or other applicable statute, rule or regulation reference is made to the "Department of Parks and Recreation," such reference shall be deemed to have been made to the Department of General Services.