N.Y. SCC Law § 91

§ 91. Powers and duties of commissioner. The commissioner, subject to\nthe provisions of law and ordinances of the common council, has\ncognizance, direction and control of the construction, maintenance,\nalteration, repair, care, cleaning, paving, flagging, lighting and\nimproving of the streets, highways, sidewalks and public places of the\ncity; of the construction, alteration and repair of all city buildings\nand of all docks and bridges belonging to the city; of all public sewers\nand drains in the city; of the construction, maintenance, extension,\nrepair and care of the city waterworks; of the care, superintendence and\nmanagement and improvement of all parks and grounds, public baths and\nrecreation piers belonging to the city. Except as otherwise provided by\nlaw, the commissioner shall have supervision of, control over and\njurisdiction and authority to make all ordinary repairs or improvements\nupon the streets, parks, sidewalks, crosswalks, gutters, vaults, drains,\nculverts, bridges and public ways and places of the city, including the\ncleaning, sprinkling, laying of dust with substances other than water,\nwatering and flushing of the same, and may employ such laborers and\nteams and incur such expenditures as may be necessary within the limits\nof the appropriations made therefor. It shall be his duty to inspect the\nsame with sufficient frequency to ascertain their condition and cause\nthe same to be kept free from obstructions and in good condition and\nrepair and reasonably safe for public use. The commissioner shall also\nhave general supervision and control of all work performed under any\ncontract of the city for local or other improvements to be performed\nwithin or upon any of the public streets, parks, ways and places, or\nwith reference to the public works and ways within the jurisdiction of\nhis department, including the lighting, sprinkling, laying of dust with\nsubstances other than water, watering or flushing of the streets or\npublic places, and shall cause the same to be performed in full\ncompliance with the provisions of any contract therefor. Except as\notherwise provided by law or ordinance of the common council, the\ncommissioner of public works has, over the streets and public places\nwithin the city, all the jurisdiction and is charged with all the duties\nof commissioners of highways within the towns of the state.\n