§ 91. Powers and duties of commissioner. The commissioner, subject to
the provisions of law and ordinances of the common council, has
cognizance, direction and control of the construction, maintenance,
alteration, repair, care, cleaning, paving, flagging, lighting and
improving of the streets, highways, sidewalks and public places of the
city; of the construction, alteration and repair of all city buildings
and of all docks and bridges belonging to the city; of all public sewers
and drains in the city; of the construction, maintenance, extension,
repair and care of the city waterworks; of the care, superintendence and
management and improvement of all parks and grounds, public baths and
recreation piers belonging to the city. Except as otherwise provided by
law, the commissioner shall have supervision of, control over and
jurisdiction and authority to make all ordinary repairs or improvements
upon the streets, parks, sidewalks, crosswalks, gutters, vaults, drains,
culverts, bridges and public ways and places of the city, including the
cleaning, sprinkling, laying of dust with substances other than water,
watering and flushing of the same, and may employ such laborers and
teams and incur such expenditures as may be necessary within the limits
of the appropriations made therefor. It shall be his duty to inspect the
same with sufficient frequency to ascertain their condition and cause
the same to be kept free from obstructions and in good condition and
repair and reasonably safe for public use. The commissioner shall also
have general supervision and control of all work performed under any
contract of the city for local or other improvements to be performed
within or upon any of the public streets, parks, ways and places, or
with reference to the public works and ways within the jurisdiction of
his department, including the lighting, sprinkling, laying of dust with
substances other than water, watering or flushing of the streets or
public places, and shall cause the same to be performed in full
compliance with the provisions of any contract therefor. Except as
otherwise provided by law or ordinance of the common council, the
commissioner of public works has, over the streets and public places
within the city, all the jurisdiction and is charged with all the duties
of commissioners of highways within the towns of the state.