City of Cohoes, NY Article I General Provisions

§ C1-1 Corporate powers.

The citizens of the State of New York, from time to time inhabitants of the territory comprised within the boundaries of the City of Cohoes, shall continue to be a municipal corporation in perpetuity under the corporate name of the "City of Cohoes," and the same shall in that name be a body politic and corporate in fact and in law, with power of perpetual succession. The City shall have power:

A. To take, purchase, hold, lease, sell and convey such real and personal property as the purpose of the corporation may require.

B. To take by gift, grant, bequest and devise and hold real and personal estate absolutely or in trust for any public use, including that of education, art, ornament, health, charity or amusement, for parks or gardens or for the use or erection of statues, monuments, buildings or structures, upon such terms or conditions as may be prescribed by the grantor or donor and accepted by said corporation, and to provide for the proper administration of the same.

C. To make, have and use and from time to time to alter a common seal.

D. To contract and be contracted with, to sue and be sued, to complain and defend and to institute, prosecute, maintain and defend any action or proceeding in any court.

E. To have and exercise all of the rights, privileges and jurisdiction essential to a proper exercise of its corporate functions, including all that may be necessarily incident to, or may be fairly implied from, the powers specifically conferred upon such corporation.

F. To have and exercise all the rights, privileges, functions and powers now prescribed and exercised by it under existing or subsequent laws and not inconsistent with the provisions of this Charter.

§ C1-2 Definitions; word usage.

A. As used in this Charter, the following terms have the meanings indicated:

EMPLOYEE

All persons other than an officer, as herein defined, whose salary is paid out of the City treasury.

FISCAL YEAR

The calendar year.

LOCAL IMPROVEMENT

Includes the construction of curbs, gutters, sidewalks, drains, culverts and sewers and the opening, extending, widening, grading and paving of streets and work deemed necessary and appropriate for skill levels within the City for the public good.

OFFICER

All persons elected to office by the electors of the City or any division thereof; the heads of departments; the members of all boards and commissions appointed by the Mayor and the City Clerk.

PERSON

A natural person, corporation, company, association, joint-stock association, estate, firm and copartnership.

REAL PROPERTY

Includes all lands, land under water, the water of any river, pond or stream, all easements and hereditaments, corporeal and incorporeal, and every estate, interest and right, legal and equitable, in land or water, or any privilege or easement therein, including terms for years and liens thereon by way of judgment, mortgage or otherwise and all claims for damages to such real property.

STREET

Includes avenues, roads, alleys, lanes, highways, boulevards, concourses, driveways, bridges, tunnels, subways, parkways and every kind of public road, square and place.

B. The words "the board," "the department," "the court," and "the commissioner," used in this Charter, mean the board, department, court or commissioner whose duties and powers are prescribed in this Charter.