[HISTORY: Adopted by the Rochester City Council 11-25-1941. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Amended 3-9-1943; 4-27-1943; 11-10-1992 by Ord. No. 92-403]
A. 
The Director of Finance is hereby authorized to invest any available moneys from the Local Improvement Fund, the several sinking funds, the Mt. Hope Cemetery and Riverside Cemetery repair funds, the Mt. Hope Cemetery and Riverside Cemetery contract funds and the Police and Fire Pension Fund of the City of Rochester in United States government securities and securities of the State of New York, the counties of the State of New York and the cities of the State of New York having a population of 50,000 or over, which securities shall be legal under the New York State Banking Law for the investment of savings banks and trust funds and also in securities of any town or district in the County of Monroe.
B. 
The Director of Finance is also authorized to invest any available moneys from the Local Improvement Fund and the several sinking funds of the City of Rochester in notes, certificates of indebtedness and securities of the City of Rochester, heretofore or hereafter authorized to be issued by the Council, and the Director of Finance is further authorized to enter a bid on the sale of such notes, certificates of indebtedness and securities at a rate not to exceed the rate of 6% interest for the purchase of such notes, certificates of indebtedness and securities by the City of Rochester, from the funds hereinabove indicated.
C. 
The Director of Finance is also authorized to invest any surplus funds derived from market revenues or water revenues in securities of the United States government or the City of Rochester having a maturity of not more than one year.
[Amended 11-10-1992 by Ord. No. 92-403]
A. 
The Director of Finance is hereby authorized to sell securities owned by the City of Rochester at a price not less than one point less than the price for which they were purchased, including securities registered in the following titles: Mt. Hope Cemetery, Rochester, New York, Repair and Sinking Fund; City of Rochester, Mt. Hope Perpetual Contract Fund, Rochester, New York; City of Rochester, Commissioners of Mt. Hope Perpetual Contract Fund, Rochester, New York; City of Rochester, New York, Police Pension Fund; City of Rochester, New York, Building and Site Fund; Director of Finance of the City of Rochester, New York, in trust for School Building and Site Sinking Fund; Sewage Disposal Sinking Fund of Rochester, New York; City of Rochester, New York, Water Sinking Fund; Rochester Waterworks Sinking Fund, Rochester, New York; Water Sinking Fund of the City of Rochester, New York; Rochester Waterworks Sinking Fund, Rochester, New York, and also to sell securities owned by the City of Rochester or held in trust for any sinking fund of the City of Rochester at a price not less than one point less than the price for which they were purchased.
B. 
The Director of Finance is hereby authorized to endorse and authenticate for transfer any and all securities so sold and to execute all instruments of transfer necessary or required in connection with the sale thereof.
[Amended 7-9-1963; 12-14-1965; 4-28-1970 by Ord. No. 70-198; 4-22-1975 by Ord. No. 75-139; 4-22-1975 by Ord. No. 75-140; 9-24-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-309]
It is hereby declared to be impracticable to obtain by competitive contract the services of a financial and transfer agent for the City of Rochester in the City of New York, and the Director of Purchasing is hereby authorized to obtain without competitive bidding the services of the Manufacturer's Hanover Trust Company of New York, heretofore designated as transfer agent by the Council, to render services as the City's financial and transfer agent at a cost not to exceed $6,500 a year.
[Amended 11-12-1985 by Ord. No. 85-480; 11-10-1992 by Ord. No. 92-403]
The Mayor, Director of Finance and Treasurer severally are hereby authorized to guarantee the validity of any coupon belonging to any bond issued by the City of Rochester, New York, when such coupon has been inadvertently mutilated, such guaranty to be expressed by the words "Mutilated through error, Validity Guaranteed" to be written across the face of the coupon or on the reverse side thereof by one of the officials above indicated.
[Added 9-20-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-266]
A. 
As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
OPIOID COMPENSATION
Funds granted to the City pursuant to the settlement of or verdict or judgment in an opioid litigation.
OPIOID LITIGATION
Any action or claim brought by the City, the County of Monroe, or the New York State Attorney General against manufacturers, distributors, or pharmacies that have sold or distributed opioids in the City of Rochester and alleging that such manufacturers', distributors', or pharmacies' conduct constitute or have constituted a public nuisance or other tort.
B. 
A special revenue fund, the Opioid Compensation Fund, is hereby established for the deposit of all opioid compensation collected by the City. The Opioid Compensation Fund shall consist of two accounts:
(1) 
The restricted account, for opioid compensation that is restricted to certain approved uses set forth in the terms of the settlement, verdict, award determination or other document authorizing the payment of opioid compensation. Such approved uses may include, but are not limited to, programs and activities for preventing and treating opioid use disorder, for the care and recovery of those who suffer from opioid use disorder, and for the support and education of first responders, health care providers, and family members who care for them. The Director of Finance shall keep a record of the use restrictions for each payment of opioid compensation into the restricted account.
(2) 
The unrestricted account, for opioid compensation that is not restricted to specific uses.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 8-5, Emergency funds, last amended 11-12-1985 by Ord. No. 85-480, was repealed 11-10-1992 by Ord. No. 92-403.
The Special Local Improvement Fund heretofore created for the exclusive purpose of financing and paying so much of the cost and expenses of local improvements authorized subsequent to January 1, 1928, as may be required by the ordinance assessing the same to be raised by property owned by the City or the City at large is hereby merged and shall become a part of the Local Improvement Fund, continued pursuant to the provisions of Section 218 of the local law amending generally and supplementing an act constituting the Charter of the City of Rochester, adopted July 28, 1925.[1] All moneys in the Special Local Improvement Fund and all amounts collected by the City Treasurer upon assessments and charges for such local improvements, including all interest collected thereon, must be placed to the credit of the latter fund.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Charter § 6-41.
The General Local Improvement Fund heretofore created for the purpose of financing and paying so much of the cost and expense of local improvements authorized subsequent to January 1, 1928, as may be required by ordinance assessing the same to be raised by assessments upon property owned by the City or the City at large is hereby merged with and shall become a part of the Local Improvement Fund, continued pursuant to the provisions of Section 218 of the local law amending generally and supplementing an act constituting the Charter of the City of Rochester, adopted July 28, 1925.[1] The latter fund may also be used for the purpose of financing temporarily the entire cost and expense of all local improvements.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Charter § 6-41.
There is hereby continued the Special Local Improvement Fund to be used exclusively for the purpose of financing so much of the cost and expense of public works as is apportioned upon the property deemed benefited thereby and required to be collected in one installment and inserted in the annual tax rolls, the Council being authorized to create such fund by Section 218 of Local Law No. 4 of the year 1925, as amended by Local Law No. 28 of the year 1928.[1] Such Special Local Improvement Fund shall be known forconvenience as the "City Local Works Fund."
[1]
Editor's Note: See Charter § 6-41.
[Amended 11-12-1959; 9-28-1965; 12-14-1965 by Ord. No. 65-366; 8-11-1970 by Ord. No. 70-372; 11-14-1972 by Ord. No. 72-604; 2-6-1990 by Ord. No. 90-34; 7-14-1992 by Ord. No. 92-281; 11-9-1993 by Ord. No. 93-377; 4-13-1995 by Ord. No. 95-124; 3-17-1998 by Ord. No. 98-105; 5-16-2000 by Ord. No. 2000-149; 10-17-2000 by Ord. No. 2000-358; 11-15-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-364; 4-15-2008 by Ord. No. 2008-115; 7-20-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-241; 6-21-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-178; 11-17-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-348]
The following are designated as depositories of the City's money, and the City Treasurer may deposit moneys received by the City in such depositories up to the specified maximum amounts:
Depository Name
Maximum Amount
JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A.
$250,000,000
Bank of America
$175,000,000
Manufacturers & Traders Trust Company
$150,000,000
Key Bank
$150,000,000
Citizens Bank
$150,000,000
First Niagara Bank
$150,000,000
Five Star Bank
$30,000,000
Upstate National Bank
$3,750,000
[Added 5-14-1974 by Ord. No. 74-145]
A. 
All serial bonds hereafter issued pursuant to bond ordinances heretofore or hereafter adopted, notwithstanding the provision in such ordinances as to the execution of such bonds, shall be signed by the Director of Finance, who is hereby authorized to sign said bonds; and the City Clerk is hereby authorized to impress or imprint a facsimile of the corporate seal of the City to any serial bonds issued pursuant to any such ordinance and to attest such bonds. Each of the bonds issued pursuant to any such ordinance shall be further authenticated by a facsimile of the signature of the Mayor. Each interest coupon representing interest payable on such serial bonds shall be authenticated by a facsimile of the signature of the Director of Finance.
B. 
All bond anticipation notes, capital notes, revenue notes, budget notes and tax anticipation notes hereafter issued pursuant to ordinances heretofore or hereafter adopted, notwithstanding the provision of such ordinances as to execution of such notes, shall be signed by the Director of Finance or Deputy Director of Finance; and the City Clerk is hereby authorized to impress a facsimile of the corporate seal of the City to any notes issued pursuant to any such ordinances and to attest such notes.
C. 
All powers and duties delegated to the City Comptroller with respect to serial bonds, bond anticipation notes, capital notes, revenue notes, budget notes and tax anticipation notes, by ordinances heretofore adopted, shall be deemed to be delegated to the Director of Finance, the Chief Fiscal Officer of the City.
D. 
Notwithstanding any other method of execution provided for in this section or in any other ordinance or resolution, serial bonds, bond anticipation notes, revenue anticipation notes, tax anticipation notes, urban renewal notes or other obligations of the City, as defined in the Local Finance Law of New York, may be executed by the use of facsimile signatures of the authorized City officials, provided that if all such signatures appear in facsimile, then such obligations shall be authenticated by the City's fiscal agent designated in § 8-3 of the Municipal Code.
[Added 1-29-1985 by Ord. No. 85-42; amended 4-9-1991 by Ord. No. 91-133]
[Amended 2-23-1944; 11-12-1946; 9-28-1965; 11-10-1992 by Ord. No. 92-403; 2-14-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-22]
Checks for the withdrawal of funds from the accounts maintained by the City of Rochester in the depositories heretofore designated by the Council shall be signed by the Treasurer or the Deputy Treasurer, or an employee of the Treasurer designated by the Treasurer and approved by the Council for that purpose, and shall be countersigned by the Director of Finance or the Deputy Director of Finance; and the signature of each or any of said persons may be either in the original handwriting of each or any of said persons or may be a facsimile signature executed by mechanical means, a specimen of which shall be on file in the offices of the City Clerk or the City Treasurer and of the Director of Finance; and said depositories are hereby authorized to pay such clerks when so signed and countersigned, that is by being signed by the original signature of the Treasurer or the Deputy Treasurer, or such employee of the Treasurer, and countersigned by the original signature of the Director of Finance or the Deputy Director of Finance, or by bearing what purports to be the facsimile or mechanical signature herein authorized of the Treasurer, the Deputy Treasurer or such employee of the Treasurer, the Director of Finance, or the Deputy Director of Finance; and any authorization to sign checks heretofore granted to any officer is hereby rescinded; provided, however, that checks for the withdrawal of funds from the Emergency Relief Fund maintained by the City of Rochester in the Marine Midland Trust Company of Rochester shall be signed by the City Service Officer or the assistant designated by him or her and approved by the Council for that purpose.
[Amended 11-10-1992 by Ord. No. 92-403]
Vouchers for the payment of funds of the City of Rochester shall be signed either in the original handwriting of the officers authorized to certify the same or by a facsimile signature executed by mechanical means, a specimen of which shall be on file in the office of the City Clerk, the City Treasurer and the Director of Finance.
[Amended 9-11-1943; 2-8-1944; 11-13-1945; 11-12-1946; 9-23-1952; 10-13-1953; 6-8-1954; 6-25-1957; 4-28-1970 by Ord. No. 70-198; 4-22-1975 by Ord. No. 75-139; 4-22-1975 by Ord. No. 75-140; 11-12-1985 by Ord. No. 85-480; 2-2-1988 by Ord. No. 88-22; 9-24-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-309]
In addition to any other items that the Council may from time to time determine, it is hereby declared to be impracticable to obtain by competitive contract the following materials, supplies, equipment, services and work, and the Director of Purchasing is hereby authorized, in his or her discretion, to procure the same without competitive contract:
A. 
The engraving, printing and certifying of all bonds, notes or other obligations authorized by Council.
B. 
Attendance and service of such witnesses, experts, referees and stenographers deemed advisable by the Corporation Counsel for protection of the interests of the City in all actions, special proceedings and other legal matters, and their traveling expenses.
C. 
Appraisals of such real property as the Corporation Counsel, the Director of Real Estate or the Director of Purchasing may deem advisable.
D. 
Steam for heating City-owned buildings.
E. 
Such insurance on City-owned properties, activities or interests as, in the judgment of the Director of Finance, may be necessary.
F. 
Such official and fidelity bonds as are specified by the Council or, in the judgment of the Mayor, are required.
G. 
The printing of briefs, records on appeal and such other legal documents as deemed necessary by the Corporation Counsel in the interests of the City.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 8-13, Purchase of "child labor" goods prohibited, as amended 4-28-1970 by Ord. No. 70-198, was repealed 8-8-1972 by Ord. No. 72-423.
[Amended 12-28-1965 by Ord. No. 65-388; 4-28-1970 by Ord. No. 70-198; 8-8-1972 by Ord. No. 72-423; 4-22-1975 by Ord. No. 75-139; 4-22-1975 by Ord. No. 75-140; 9-24-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-309]
It is hereby declared to be impracticable to sell by competitive bidding the grease, tankage and other materials produced by or obtained in connection with the collection of garbage and the operation of the garbage disposal plant of the City of Rochester; and the Director of Purchasing is hereby authorized to sell said grease, tankage and other materials from time to time at the highest prices obtainable.
[Added 6-17-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-209; amended 3-14-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-50; 8-22-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-273; 11-14-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-357; 12-19-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-390; 3-17-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-67]
The City Treasurer is authorized to accept payments via the Internet for financial transactions approved by the Director of Finance. The Director of Finance shall establish the amount of any service charge which shall be applied to such transactions. Submission via the Internet shall not be the only means of acceptance of these payments. The method used to receive Internet payments, the time of receipt and effect of the payment, and confirmation thereof, shall be in accordance with § 5-b of the General Municipal Law. The Director of Finance shall file with the City Clerk and provide to the City Council by communication a record of all transactions accepted via the Internet and the convenience fees charged. Any amendments to the transactions accepted or the fees charged shall be filed with the City Clerk and communicated to the City Council at least 30 days prior to their effective date.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 8-15, Sales of real property at auction, as amended, was repealed 7-13-1993 by Ord. No. 93-241. See now Ch. 21, Real Estate.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 8-16, Sales of real property acquired in tax foreclosure or excess condemnation, as amended, was repealed 7-13-1993 by Ord. No. 93-241. See now Ch. 21, Real Estate.
The City Treasurer is hereby authorized in preparing tax searches to certify to all improvements for which an assessment is to be made against the property upon which the search is made, so far as the records of the Treasurer's office afford the necessary information with reference thereto. Such certification, however, shall not be made as to an improvement until the ordinance authorizing the improvements has been adopted.
The practice now employed in the Department of Finance of placing tracts or subdivision lot numbers on assessment and tax rolls, tax bills and tax searches shall be continued for the present.
[Added 11-23-1948; amended 11-10-1992 by Ord. No. 92-403]
The Director of Finance is authorized and directed to make available for distribution to taxpayers and to enclose with tax bills and water bills mailed to taxpayers printed information generally specifying the times, places and manner of payment of local taxes and water bills.
[Amended 11-10-1992 by Ord. No. 92-403]
The Council hereby directs the First Deputy Director of Finance to assume the duties of the Director of Finance with respect to the sale and countersignature of notes and to countersign any notes that may be issued during such times as there shall be a vacancy in the office of Director of Finance.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 8-21, Sale of real property and rights and easements therein acquired under tax foreclosure, by private sale, added 2-10-1942, as amended, was repealed 7-13-1993 by Ord. No. 93-241. See now Ch. 21, Real Estate.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 8-22, Temporary leases and licenses, added 5-11-1954, as amended, was repealed 7-13-1993 by Ord. No. 93-241. See now Ch. 21, Real Estate.
[Added 6-18-1991 by Ord. No. 91-258; amended 6-18-2002 by Ord. No. 2002-204]
For each check or other tendered payment submitted for payment of any tax, charge, fee, penalty or other sum owed to the City, which has been dishonored, a charge of $20 shall be imposed.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 8-23, Purchase contracts, added 9-13-1955, amended 4-28-1970 by Ord. No. 70-198, was repealed 8-8-1972 by Ord. No. 72-423.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 8-24, Distribution of Monroe County sales tax revenue, added 4-23-1963, as amended 11-10-1992 by Ord. No. 92-403, was repealed 6-15-1999 by Ord. No. 99-198.
[Added 4-8-1969 by Ord. No. 69-146;[1] amended 9-24-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-309]
The Director of Purchasing shall fix and establish the sale price of each City publication now published or to be published and offered for sale to the public, which price shall include the cost and expense of such service.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance supersedes any previous Council action related thereto and specifically rescinds Ord. Nos. 66-82, adopted 4-26-1966, and 68-40, adopted 2-27-1968.