§ 96. Superintendent of parks. Unless otherwise provided by law, the
commissioner of public works shall appoint, to hold office during his
pleasure, a superintendent of parks, who shall have, under the direction
of the commissioner, the supervision, care, management and control of
all the parks of the city and of such portions of the streets as pass
through or intersect the same, and of the shade trees of the city.
Subject to the direction of the commissioner and to the ordinances of
the common council, he shall prescribe the powers and duties of his
subordinates and shall, except as otherwise provided by law, superintend
the expenditure of all moneys appropriated for park purposes. He shall
keep an account of such expenditures and shall approve all claims
against the city on account thereof before submission to the comptroller
for audit. The superintendent, under the direction of the commissioner,
may make all ordinary repairs and improvements upon the parks and such
intersecting streets, may employ all laborers needed thereon, and fix
their wages, subject to the approval of the commissioner and the board
of estimate and apportionment. Except as otherwise provided by law, he
shall conduct, with the aid of the corporation counsel, all negotiations
and proceedings for the acquisition of lands for park purposes, when the
same shall have been authorized by ordinance of the common council and
approved by the board of estimate and apportionment. He shall make such
rules and regulations, not inconsistent with the ordinances of the
common council and laws of the state, as he shall deem proper for the
government, management and care of the parks and of the streets in and
through the same, and of such other streets, being approaches thereto,
as may be designated by ordinance of the common council as parkways, and
such rules and regulations, when approved by the common council, shall
have the force and effect of city ordinances. The superintendent shall
have such other powers and be charged with such other duties, not
inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter and the laws of the
state, as the commissioner may direct, or as the common council by
ordinance may define and prescribe.