2023 New York Laws › TWN - Town › Article 4 - Town Boards › 64 - General Powers of Town Boards.

§ 64. General powers of town boards. Subject to law and the provisions
  of this chapter, the town board of every town:
1.  Control  of  town  finances. Shall have the general management and
  control of the finances of the town and shall designate  in  the  manner
  provided by section ten of the general municipal law the depositaries in
  which  the  supervisor,  town  clerk,  tax  collector, tax receiver, and
  trustees of the freeholders and commonalty of a town shall  deposit  and
  secure all moneys coming into their hands by virtue of their offices.
1-a.  Petty  cash  fund. Notwithstanding the provisions of section one
  hundred eighteen of this chapter, may by resolution  establish  a  petty
  cash  fund for any town officer or head of a department or office in any
  town, for the payment, in advance of audit,  of  properly  itemized  and
  verified   or  certified  bills  for  materials,  supplies  or  services
  furnished to the town for the conduct of  its  affairs  and  upon  terms
  calling  for  payment  to  the  vendor  upon  the  delivery  of any such
  materials or supplies or the rendering of any  such  services,  provided
  that  moneys in any such fund also may be used for the purpose of making
  change when such is required in the performance of official duties.  The
  amount  of  the  petty cash fund established for a receiver of taxes and
  assessments in a town of the first class shall not exceed  one  thousand
  dollars and for any other officer or office or department head shall not
  exceed  five hundred dollars. Prior to making his return of unpaid taxes
  to the county treasurer, a collector of taxes in a town  of  the  second
  class  shall  reimburse  the supervisor for the amount of the petty cash
  fund previously advanced to him. At the time of any  payment  from  such
  fund,  the  officer  for  which  the  fund was established shall require
  delivery to him of a bill in form sufficient for audit by the town board
  as required by law. At each meeting of the town  board  a  list  of  all
  expenditures  made  from  each  such  fund since the last meeting of the
  board, together with the bills supporting such  expenditures,  shall  be
  presented  to  the  town board for audit and the town board shall direct
  the supervisor to reimburse each petty cash fund  from  the  appropriate
  budgetary  item or items, in an amount equal to the totals of such bills
  which it shall so audit and allow, except that,  in  any  such  town  in
  which  there  is a town comptroller, such list of expenditures, together
  with such bills shall be presented to said town comptroller for audit no
  later than the last day of  each  month  and  the  supervisor  shall  so
  reimburse  each  petty cash fund in an amount equal to the total of such
  bills which the town comptroller shall so audit and allow. Any  of  such
  bills  or  any  portion of any of such bills which the town board or the
  town comptroller, as the case may be, shall refuse to  audit  and  allow
  shall  be  the  personal liability of the officer for which the fund was
  established and he shall promptly reimburse his petty cash fund  in  the
  amount of such disallowances. If such reimbursement has not been made by
  the time of the first payment of salary to such officer after the action
  of  the  town  board  or  the  town  comptroller, as the case may be, in
  disallowing an amount so expended, such amount shall  be  withheld  from
  his  salary  payment  and,  if necessary, subsequent salary payments and
  paid into the appropriate petty cash fund until an amount equal  to  the
  amount  so  disallowed has been repaid to such petty cash fund. Any bond
  or undertaking filed by any town officer or department  or  office  head
  shall  be  available  to the town for recovery of any losses incurred by
  reason of the operation of the petty cash fund established for him.
2. Acquisition and conveyance of real property. May acquire by  lease,
  purchase, in the manner provided by law, or by acquisition in the manner
  provided  by  the  eminent  domain  procedure  law,  any lands or rights
  therein, either within or outside the town boundaries, required for  any
  public  purpose,  and  may, upon the adoption of a resolution, convey or

  lease real property in the name of the town, which resolution  shall  be
  subject  to  a  permissive  referendum.  If  the  property  or rights be
  acquired by acquisition, the town board may subject to the provisions of
  the  eminent  domain  procedure law at once enter into possession of the
  real property or rights described when the judgment shall have been made
  and entered, and the town shall thereupon stand charged and  responsible
  for  the  prompt  payment of the amount which may ultimately be awarded.
  Lands or rights required for a district purpose shall be acquired by the
  town board in the name of the district, and the cost thereof shall be  a
  charge  upon and assessed against such district. Such district lands and
  rights may be sold or leased  in  the  manner  provided  in  subdivision
  twelve of section one hundred ninety-eight of this chapter.
2-a.  Acquisition  and  sale of personal property. May take, purchase,
  lease, sell and dispose of personal property as the purposes of the town
  may require, except as otherwise provided by law.
3. Management, custody and control of town property.  Shall  have  the
  management,  custody  and  control  of  all  town  lands,  buildings and
  property of the town and keep them in good repair and may cause the same
  to be insured against loss or damage by fire or other hazard.
4. Indemnity insurance. May contract at the expense of  the  town  for
  insurance  indemnifying  the town against any loss arising from injuries
  to persons or property.
5. Vacancies. Whenever a vacancy shall occur  or  exist  in  any  town
  office, the town board or a majority of the members thereof, may appoint
  a  qualified  person  to fill the vacancy. If the appointment be made to
  fill a vacancy in an appointive office, the person  so  appointed  shall
  hold  office for the remainder of the unexpired term. If the appointment
  be made to fill a vacancy in an elective office, the person so appointed
  shall hold office until the  commencement  of  the  calendar  year  next
  succeeding the first annual election at which the vacancy may be filled.
  A  person, otherwise qualified, who is a member of the town board at the
  time the vacancy occurs may be appointed to fill  the  vacancy  provided
  that he shall have resigned prior to such appointment.
5-a.  Removal of fire and health hazards and weeds. The town board may
  require the owners of land to cut, trim or remove from the land owned by
  them brush, grass, rubbish, or weeds, or to spray  poisonous  shrubs  or
  weeds  on  such  land,  and  upon  default  may cause such grass, brush,
  rubbish or weeds to be cut, trimmed or removed and such poisonous shrubs
  or weeds to be sprayed by  the  town  and  the  total  expense  of  such
  cutting, trimming, removal or spraying may be assessed by the town board
  on  the  real  property  on  which  such brush, grass, rubbish, weeds or
  poisonous shrubs or weeds were found, and the expense so assessed  shall
  constitute  a lien and charge on the real property on which it is levied
  until paid or otherwise satisfied or discharged and shall  be  collected
  in  the  same  manner and at the same time as other town charges. If the
  owner of said lands is a non-resident, a  notice  to  so  cut,  trim  or
  remove  such  brush,  grass, rubbish or weeds or to spray such poisonous
  shrubs or weeds mailed to such owner addressed to his last known address
  shall be sufficient service thereof. The provisions of this  subdivision
  shall  not  apply  within  the  property  lines  of any lands or highway
  easements  owned  by  another   municipal   corporation   or   political
  subdivision of the state.
6.  Award and execution of town contracts. May award contracts for any
  of the purposes authorized by law and the same shall be executed by  the
  supervisor in the name of the town after approval by the town board.
7.  Franchises. Except as otherwise provided by law, may grant rights,
  franchises,  permissions  or  consents  for  the  use  of  the  streets,
  highways,  and  public  places or any part thereof or the space above or

  under them or any of them, for any specific purpose  authorized  by  law
  upon  such  terms  and  conditions  as  it may deem proper and as may be
  permitted by law. No such franchise,  permission  or  consent  shall  be
  granted  without a public hearing, notice of which shall be given by the
  publication of a notice thereof in the official paper at least ten  days
  before the meeting.
8.  Gifts to town. May take by gift, grant, bequest or devise and hold
  real and personal property absolutely or in trust for parks or  gardens,
  or  for  the erection of statues, monuments, buildings or structures, or
  for any public use, upon such terms or conditions as may  be  prescribed
  by  the  grantor or donor and accepted by said town, and provide for the
  proper administration of the same.
9. Naming and numbering  streets,  and  providing  street  signs.  May
  designate  by  name  and  number  the  streets,  avenues,  lots,  public
  buildings and places, and may cause a map of the town to be prepared and
  filed in the office  of  the  town  clerk,  and  purchase,  install  and
  maintain  street signs showing the names of streets and avenues therein.
  Such names may also be  changed  and  altered  as  the  town  board  may
  determine.  Whenever  the  town board shall change the name or number of
  any street, avenue, public building  or  place,  the  town  clerk  shall
  within  ten  days  thereafter  notify  the  board  of  assessors and the
  planning board, if any, of  said  town,  the  county  clerk  and  county
  engineer  of  the  county  in  which  said  town  is  located,  and  the
  post-office department of the United States thereof.
10. Street profiles. The town board may provide for the  establishment
  of  the profiles and grades of any accepted street, avenue or highway in
  the town and upon the completion thereof shall  cause  the  same  to  be
  filed  in  the  office  of  the  town clerk and of the superintendent of
  highways of the town.
10-a. Permits for filling or diversion of streams. The town board  may
  provide  for  control  over  the  filling  or  diversion  of streams and
  watercourses, except when authorized by a state or  federal  agency,  by
  requiring  that  any  person,  firm or corporation shall secure a permit
  from  the  town  board  before  filling  or  diverting  any  stream   or
  watercourse  from  its  natural  course.  The  town  board  may  in  its
  discretion deny a permit if it determines that the proposed  filling  or
  diversion is detrimental to the drainage or welfare of the town.
10-b.  Temporary blocking of town streets, highways and roads. After a
  public hearing on at least  five  days  notice,  may  adopt  regulations
  setting  forth terms and conditions for issuance of a permit by the town
  superintendent of highways or commissioner of public  works  to  hold  a
  neighborhood block party, celebration or event on a town street, highway
  or  road. Prior to the time for commencing of such party, celebration or
  event and for the duration thereof, the permit  issuing  official  shall
  cause  the  street  or  portion  thereof to be blocked to motor vehicles
  except authorized emergency  or  hazard  vehicles,  as  defined  in  the
  vehicle  and  traffic  law  and  to  provide  detour signs for vehicular
  traffic.
11. Official newspaper. May designate as the  official  paper  of  the
  town any newspaper regularly published in the town if such newspaper has
  been  entered  as  second  class  mail  matter.  If no such newspaper is
  published in the town, and in any town of  the  second  class  having  a
  population  in  excess of sixty thousand according to the latest federal
  census if there is no newspaper published in such  town  having  general
  circulation   therein,  the  town  board  may  designate  any  newspaper
  published in the county if such newspaper has general circulation in the
  town or if no newspaper is published in the county  entered  in  a  post
  office within five miles from the town, any other newspaper published in

  a  city, town or village in an adjoining county and having a circulation
  in the town.  If no official paper has been designated, the  town  board
  may  authorize  the  publication of a notice, resolution or ordinance in
  any newspaper which could be designated as the official newspaper of the
  town  or,  if  there be no newspaper which is regularly published in the
  town and entered as  second  class  mail  matter,  the  town  board  may
  authorize such publication in any newspaper published and having general
  circulation   in   the  town.  Such  authorization  shall  be  deemed  a
  designation of such newspaper as the official paper of the town for  the
  purpose  of  such  publication.  Additional  newspapers published in the
  English language may be designated for the publication of such  notices,
  resolutions   and   ordinances   at   the  option  of  the  town  board.
  Notwithstanding any provisions of this subdivision to the contrary,  any
  publication  may  be  designated as the official paper of the town which
  was designated and publishing notice as an  official  newspaper  of  the
  town  prior  to  the  year nineteen hundred forty and continued to be so
  designated and publishing for at least thirty years after such year.
11-a. Drainage facilities. Upon the adoption of a resolution, the town
  board of any town may, for the purpose of drainage and  to  protect  the
  property  within  the  town  from  floods,  freshets,  and  high waters,
  construct drains, culverts, ditches, sluices, and other channels for the
  passage of water, and may deepen, straighten, alter, pipe, or  otherwise
  improve  any  of  the  lakes,  ponds, streams, ditches, drains, or water
  courses in any part or section of the town in order to prevent the  same
  from  overflowing,  and  provide that the same carry off such additional
  water as may be brought to the same by other public improvements in  the
  towns; and for such purposes the town board of any town may acquire real
  property  or  an interest therein by purchase, dedication, gift, devise,
  or by condemnation in the manner provided by law for acquisition of real
  property for highway or town road purposes. If an expenditure for any of
  such purposes is to be paid by taxes levied for the fiscal year in which
  such expenditure is to be made, the adoption of  a  resolution  therefor
  shall be subject to a permissive referendum.
11-b. Publication of minutes of town board meetings. The town board of
  any  town  may  publish  the  minutes of its proceedings in the official
  newspaper, or if no official  newspaper  has  been  designated,  in  any
  newspaper having general circulation in the town.
11-c.  Central  fire  alarm system. In any town, all the area of which
  outside of any village or villages is included in fire  districts,  fire
  alarm  districts  and  fire  protection  districts,  the  town board may
  provide for and establish a central fire alarm system in such town,  and
  may  purchase  or  lease,  install,  construct  and  maintain  necessary
  equipment for the operation of such central fire alarm system; provided,
  that no town board shall exercise the power  and  authority  granted  by
  this  subdivision,  unless  prior  thereto  the  governing board of each
  village within such town shall by appropriate action have signified  its
  consent  thereto,  and  if  the  governing board in any village does not
  consent thereto, the  central  fire  alarm  system  shall  exclude  said
  village  and the cost thereof will be assessed against the real property
  of the town outside said village.
12. Appropriations for Independence day, Memorial  day,  Columbus  day
  and  Veterans day. Any town may appropriate annually such sums as it may
  deem appropriate for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the proper
  observance of Independence day, Memorial or Decoration day, Columbus day
  and Veterans day in such proportion as it may determine. Any town of the
  first  class,  or,  any  town  having  a  population  of  five  thousand
  inhabitants  or more, excepting any such town having a population of two
  hundred twenty-five thousand  inhabitants  or  more,  according  to  the

  latest  federal census, in which one or more posts, camps or chapters of
  the Grand Army of the Republic, the United  Spanish  War  Veterans,  the
  Veterans  of Foreign Wars, the Jewish War Veterans of the United States,
  Inc., the Catholic War Veterans, Inc., the Italian American War Veterans
  of  the  United  States,  Incorporated,  the  Polish  Legion of American
  Veterans, Inc., the Marine Corps  League,  the  Military  Order  of  the
  Purple Heart, Inc., the American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans,
  AMVETS,  American  Veterans of World War II, Masonic War Veterans of the
  State of New York, Inc., Veterans of World War I of the United States of
  America  Department  of  New  York,  Inc.,  China-Burma-India   Veterans
  Association,  Inc., Polish-American Veterans of World War II, Amsterdam,
  N. Y., Inc., Polish-American Veterans of World War II,  Schenectady,  N.
  Y., Inc., the Sons of Union Veterans, Vietnam Veterans of America, World
  War Veterans Club of Lindenhurst, Inc. or the Eastern Paralyzed Veterans
  Association  exists,  may  appropriate  annually an amount not to exceed
  five thousand dollars for such purpose, and any town having a population
  of two hundred twenty-five thousand inhabitants or  more,  according  to
  the  latest  federal  census,  in which one or more such posts, camps or
  chapters exists may annually appropriate an amount not  to  exceed  five
  thousand  dollars  for such purpose, and any town which has a population
  of five hundred thousand inhabitants or more, according  to  the  latest
  federal  census,  in  which  one  or  more such posts, camps or chapters
  exists may annually appropriate an amount not  to  exceed  ten  thousand
  dollars  for  such  purpose.  Any  moneys  appropriated  pursuant to the
  provisions of this subdivision shall be a general  town  charge,  except
  that in any town having a population of two hundred twenty-five thousand
  inhabitants  or more there shall be a charge on that portion of the town
  outside of any  village  therein  and  shall  be  assessed,  levied  and
  collected  from real property outside of any such village. Such sum when
  collected shall be paid to the supervisor of such town and be  disbursed
  by  him  in  such  manner as the town board of such town may direct upon
  vouchers properly receipted and audited by the town board of such  town;
  except that in any town in which there may be a post, camp or chapter of
  the  Grand  Army  of  the Republic, the United Spanish War Veterans, the
  Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Jewish War Veterans of the United  States,
  Inc., the Catholic War Veterans, Inc., the Italian American War Veterans
  of  the  United  States,  Incorporated,  the  Polish  Legion of American
  Veterans, Inc., the Marine Corps  League,  the  Military  Order  of  the
  Purple Heart, Inc., the American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans,
  AMVETS,  American  Veterans of World War II, Masonic War Veterans of the
  State of New York, Inc., Veterans of World War I of the United States of
  America  Department  of  New  York,  Inc.,  China-Burma-India   Veterans
  Association,  Inc., Polish-American Veterans of World War II, Amsterdam,
  N. Y., Inc., Polish-American Veterans of World War II,  Schenectady,  N.
  Y., Inc., the Sons of Union Veterans, Vietnam Veterans of America, World
  War Veterans Club of Lindenhurst, Inc. or the Eastern Paralyzed Veterans
  Association, in any such town, the commanders and quartermasters of such
  posts,  camp  or  chapter  may  direct  the  manner  and  extent of such
  observance and the supervisor shall pay the expenses  thereof  upon  the
  order  or orders of the commander or quartermaster of such post, camp or
  chapter, which orders shall be his vouchers for  such  payment,  and  in
  case there may be two or more posts, camps or chapters of the Grand Army
  of  the  Republic,  the  United  Spanish  War  Veterans, the Veterans of
  Foreign Wars, the Jewish War Veterans of the United  States,  Inc.,  the
  Catholic  War  Veterans,  Inc., the Italian American War Veterans of the
  United States, Incorporated, the Polish  Legion  of  American  Veterans,
  Inc.,  the  Marine Corps League, the Military Order of the Purple Heart,
  Inc., the American  Legion,  the  Disabled  American  Veterans,  AMVETS,

  American  Veterans of World War II, Masonic War Veterans of the State of
  New York, Inc., Veterans of World War I of the United States of  America
  Department  of  New  York, Inc., China-Burma-India Veterans Association,
  Inc.,  Polish-American Veterans of World War II, Amsterdam, N. Y., Inc.,
  Polish-American Veterans of World War II, Schenectady, N. Y., Inc.,  the
  Sons  of Union Veterans, Vietnam Veterans of America, World War Veterans
  Club of Lindenhurst, Inc. or the Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association,
  in any such town, the commanders and quartermasters of such posts, camps
  or chapters by concurrent action, shall direct the  supervisor  of  such
  town  what proportion of such moneys so raised shall be expended by each
  of such posts, camps or chapters which proportion shall be paid by  such
  supervisor  upon  the order or orders of the commander and quartermaster
  of each of such posts. In case there is a post, camp  or  chapter  in  a
  town  adjoining  a  town  in  which no post, camp or chapter is located,
  whose membership includes at least three residents of such  town  having
  no  post,  camp  or  chapter,  the post, camp or chapter shall appoint a
  committee of not less than three of its members who are residents of the
  said adjoining town in which the post, camp or chapter is  not  located,
  and  the supervisor of said town shall pay the expenses of observance of
  Independence day, Memorial or Decoration day and Veterans day  upon  the
  order  or  orders  of said committee or a majority thereof, which orders
  shall be his vouchers for such payment.
12-a. The town board of any town adjoining or contiguous to  any  camp
  established  and  operating  for the training of persons in the military
  service of the United States may establish a recreation  center  in  the
  town and may appropriate a sum not exceeding one thousand dollars in any
  year  for the rental, equipment and maintenance of rooms. Any resolution
  authorizing the appropriation of town funds for such purposes  shall  be
  subject  to a permissive referendum as provided in article seven of this
  chapter.
13. Appropriations for rooms for patriotic organizations. In any  town
  in  which there may, now or hereafter, be one or more posts of the Grand
  Army of the Republic, the United Spanish War Veterans, the  Veterans  of
  Foreign  Wars,  the  Jewish  War  Veterans  of  the United States, Inc.,
  Disabled American Veterans, the Catholic War Veterans, Inc., the Italian
  American War Veterans of the United  States,  Incorporated,  the  Polish
  Legion of American Veterans, Inc., the Marine Corps League, the Military
  Order  of the Purple Heart, Inc., AMVETS, American Veterans of World War
  II, Masonic War Veterans of the State of New  York,  Inc.,  Veterans  of
  World  War  I  of  the  United States of America Department of New York,
  Inc.,  China-Burma-India  Veterans  Association,  Inc.,  Polish-American
  Veterans  of  World  War  II,  Amsterdam,  N.Y.,  Inc.,  Polish-American
  Veterans of World War II, Schenectady, N.Y., Inc.,  World  War  Veterans
  Club  of  Lindenhurst,  Inc., the American Legion, the Eastern Paralyzed
  Veterans Association, the Vietnam Veterans of America, the Army and Navy
  Union of the United  States,  the  American  Gold  Star  Mothers,  Inc.,
  Regular  Veterans  Association,  Inc.,  the  369th Veterans Association,
  Inc., the Tri-County Council of Vietnam Veterans, the National  Congress
  of Puerto Rican Veterans, the Fleet Reserve Association, the Navy Seabee
  Veterans  of  America,  the Korean War Veterans Association, the Women's
  Army Corps Veterans Association, the 82nd Airborne Division Association,
  the Empire State Chapter No. 120 of the  Retired  Enlisted  Association,
  the  National Amputation Foundation, or the Navy Club of the U.S.A., the
  town board may appropriate a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars  for
  each  post  in  any  year  for the purpose of assisting in defraying the
  rental or maintenance of rooms for holding  meetings  of  such  post  or
  posts,  or  both. If there be a post in a town adjoining a town in which
  no post is located, whose membership includes at least five residents of

  such town having no post, the town board of such town having no post may
  vote any sum of money, not exceeding one hundred twenty-five dollars  in
  any  year,  for  the  purpose  of  assisting  in defraying the rental or
  maintenance of rooms in such adjoining town as meeting places of each of
  the  posts  hereinbefore  enumerated.  Claims for such rental or rentals
  shall be made by the organizations interested, and shall be submitted to
  the town board for audit in the same manner and  at  the  same  time  as
  other claims against the town.
14.  Publicity  fund.  a.  Upon the adoption of a resolution, the town
  board of any town may establish a publicity fund to be expended for  the
  purpose of advertising the advantages of such town as a summer or winter
  resort,   or   for  commemoration  programs  of  historical  events,  or
  otherwise, including the necessary and legitimate expense of securing  a
  designation  of  such  town  as  the place for holding the convention or
  meeting of any organization or society and for such additional  purposes
  as may tend to promote the general, commercial and industrial welfare of
  the  town. Such an appropriation shall not exceed the sum of twenty-five
  thousand dollars annually provided, however, that the town board of  any
  town  (1)  upon  the  adoption  of a resolution, subject to a permissive
  referendum, may appropriate an amount in excess of twenty-five  thousand
  dollars  for such publicity fund. Provided, however, that the town board
  of a  town  with  a  population  of  fifty  thousand  or  less  may  not
  appropriate  more than fifty thousand dollars to a publicity fund unless
  such town board adopts a resolution appropriating  funds  in  excess  of
  fifty  thousand  dollars  and  such resolution is subject to a mandatory
  referendum. The amount appropriated shall continue to be so appropriated
  until the adoption of a resolution, subject to a permissive  referendum,
  to discontinue the same.
b.  Notwithstanding  the  provisions  of this subdivision, the town of
  Webb in the county of Herkimer,  may,  upon  adoption  of  a  resolution
  subject to a permissive referendum, appropriate a sum in excess of three
  thousand dollars but not in excess of one hundred fifty thousand dollars
  to  its  publicity  fund  and  may continue to make such appropriations,
  until the adoption  of  a  resolution,  also  subject  to  a  permissive
  referendum, to discontinue the same.
c. The amount so appropriated when collected shall be paid over to the
  supervisor  for  the  payment of claims incurred and after duly itemized
  and verified vouchers therefor have been audited by the town board.
14-a. Wherever it is provided in this chapter that a notice or a  copy
  of  a notice be posted on the sign-board of the town maintained pursuant
  to subdivision six of section thirty of this chapter, the town board may
  direct the same to be posted in addition in such other place  or  places
  within  or  without  the  territory affected as it may deem to be in the
  public interest but failure to accomplish such additional posting  shall
  not affect the validity of the proceedings.
15.  Appropriation for construction of conning towers. If requested by
  the conservation department, the town board of any town, not within  the
  forest  preserve, may appropriate a sum of money for the construction of
  a conning tower, to be constructed by the conservation department and to
  be used as a look-out in aid of the suppression of forest fires, but the
  whole amount appropriated in any one year shall not exceed five  hundred
  dollars. The money so appropriated when collected, shall be disbursed by
  the supervisor on the order of the conservation department.
15-a.  Purchase  of equipment for prevention of forest fires. Any town
  may appropriate not exceeding the sum of one thousand dollars in any one
  year without the vote of a town election for the purpose  of  purchasing
  equipment  for  the prevention of forest fires within the town. Any such

  equipment shall be under the  direction  and  supervision  of  the  town
  board.
16.  Traffic  control,  signals  and standards. Any town may purchase,
  lease, install and maintain  traffic  signals  and  standards,  for  the
  control  of  traffic upon streets and highways outside the limits of any
  incorporated village or city, and the town board may authorize the  town
  superintendent  to  purchase or lease such traffic signals and standards
  and materials necessary for the installation and  use  thereof,  without
  prior  approval  of  the board in an amount to be fixed by the board not
  exceeding one thousand dollars in any one year. The cost of erection and
  maintenance of such signals and standards shall be a town charge.
17. Citizens advisory committee  on  capital  improvements.  The  town
  board  of any town having a population of five thousand or more as shown
  by the latest federal census, by resolution may appoint a  committee  of
  citizens  to  act  in  an  advisory  capacity  to  the town board on the
  planning, construction, reconstruction, undertaking  or  acquisition  of
  capital  improvements. The members of such committee shall serve without
  compensation and it shall be the duty  of  such  advisory  committee  to
  meet, consult and advise with the officers named in the resolution. Such
  advisory  committee  shall  have no powers other than advisory. The town
  board may authorize the  payment  of  the  just  and  reasonable  actual
  expenses of the members of such advisory committee.
17-a. Historic places. The town board may provide for the preservation
  and  protection  of  places,  buildings,  works of art and other objects
  having a special character or aesthetic interest or value and  also  may
  provide  for appropriate and reasonable control of the use or appearance
  of neighborhood private property within public view. Any such  measures,
  if  adopted  in  the  exercise  of police power, shall be reasonable and
  appropriate to the purpose, or  if  constituting  a  taking  of  private
  property,  shall  provide  for  due  compensation, which may include the
  limitation or remission of taxes.
17-b. Cultural development. To promote the cultural development of the
  residents of the community, the town board may  appropriate  and  expend
  funds  for  promotion of literary, graphic, dramatic and performing arts
  by way of demonstrations, performances  and  exhibits  of  art  and  art
  forms.
18.   Control  of  white  pine  blister  rust.  If  requested  by  the
  conservation department, any town may appropriate a  sum  not  exceeding
  one  thousand  dollars in any one year for the eradication or control of
  white pine blister rust. When such an appropriation has been  made,  the
  town  clerk  shall  deliver  to  the  supervisor and to the conservation
  department a certified copy of the resolution making the  appropriation.
  The  supervisor  shall  present a certified copy thereof to the board of
  supervisors and the amount thereof shall  be  levied  upon  the  taxable
  property of the town in the same manner as other town charges are levied
  and  when collected shall be paid to the supervisor. When such funds are
  available, the supervisor shall, in  writing,  notify  the  conservation
  department  of  the  fact and thereafter the conservation department may
  provide for the disbursement thereof in such manner  as  it  shall  deem
  necessary for eradication and control.
18-a.  Appropriation  for  deer food. If requested by the conservation
  department, any town may appropriate a sum not in excess of two  hundred
  fifty  dollars  in  any  one year to provide food for wild deer at times
  when such deer are unable to obtain natural food. Distribution  of  such
  food shall be under the supervision of the conservation department.
18-b.  Any town, where there is an infestation of the golden nematode,
  may appropriate a sum not exceeding five thousand dollars  ($5,000),  in
  any one year for the eradication or control of the golden nematode. When

  such  appropriation  has  been made, the town clerk shall deliver to the
  supervisor and to the state department  of  agriculture  and  markets  a
  certified   copy   of  the  resolution  making  the  appropriation.  The
  supervisor  shall  present  a  certified  copy  thereof  to the board of
  supervisors and the amount thereof shall  be  levied  upon  the  taxable
  property  of  the  town  in  the  same  manner as other town charges are
  levied, and when collected shall be paid to the  supervisor.  When  such
  funds  are available, the supervisor shall, in writing, notify the state
  department  of  agriculture  and  markets  and  thereafter   the   state
  department  of  agriculture and markets may provide for the disbursement
  thereof in such manner as it shall deem necessary  for  eradication  and
  control.
19.  Contracts  for lighting of certain improved highways and bridges.
  Any town may contract for the lighting of such improved  state  highways
  and  county  roads,  as defined in section three of the highway law, and
  for lighting the bridges on  such  highways,  in  the  town  outside  of
  incorporated  villages, as the town board deems necessary for the safety
  or convenience of the public. The  contract  for  any  such  purpose  or
  purposes  shall  be  upon  such  terms  and  for such time or period not
  exceeding ten years as the board deems proper or expedient.
19-a. Appropriation for public health. The town board of any town, the
  local board of health of which has been lawfully abolished, may, in lieu
  of employing a public health nurse or public health nurses in the manner
  authorized by section twenty-b of the public health law,  contract  with
  any  non-profit  institution  or  agency, wholly or partly under private
  control, organized to furnish visiting nursing or public health services
  and agree to pay fees specified in the said contract for  such  services
  furnished   to  inhabitants  of  the  town  for  which  the  contracting
  institution  or  agency  shall  not  otherwise  receive  payment.   Such
  contracts  shall provide that the contracting institution or agency will
  comply with any rules promulgated by  the  county  health  commissioner.
  Such  town  boards  are authorized and empowered to appropriate the sums
  required to be paid to such institutions and agencies under the terms of
  such contracts and to raise the amount thereof by taxation.
19-b. Town medical and dental center. May create, establish, construct
  and reconstruct, repair, operate, equip and maintain a suitable building
  for a town medical and/or dental  center  or  facility  that  meets  the
  requirements of the public health law and the sanitary code of the state
  of  New  York  and  to  acquire by purchase, lease, gift or condemnation
  necessary lands therefor. Two or more adjoining towns may combine in the
  establishment of such a center and the portion of expense chargeable  to
  each town shall be fixed by agreement of the respective town boards.
19-c.  Psychiatric  rehabilitation programs for mentally ill, mentally
  defective, epileptic and emotionally disordered persons. May contract on
  an annual basis with the county in which the town is located to  furnish
  and  operate  psychiatric  rehabilitation  programs  in the town for the
  county. Any such contract shall be subject to the prior approval of  the
  commissioner  of  mental  hygiene. Notwithstanding the provisions of any
  other law, a  county,  acting  through  its  mental  health  board,  may
  contract  with  a town within the county for the furnishing of community
  mental  health  services  authorized  by  the  community  mental  health
  services  act, as set forth in article eleven of the mental hygiene law,
  to be rendered by the town for the county to residents of the town.
19-d. Contracts for physician services. Notwithstanding the provisions
  of any law to the contrary, the town board of any town may  contract  on
  an annual basis for the services of a licensed physician, whether or not
  he resides within such town, to render medical care and treatment to the
  inhabitants thereof and upon such terms and conditions as the town board

  may   prescribe.   Such  town  board  is  authorized  and  empowered  to
  appropriate the sums required  to  be  paid  under  the  terms  of  such
  contract and to raise the amount thereof by taxation.
A  town board desiring to contract for the services authorized in this
  subdivision is further  authorized  and  empowered  to  appropriate  and
  expend  a  sum,  not in excess of five thousand dollars, to be raised by
  taxation, for the purposes of advertisement of  any  proposed  contract,
  the terms and conditions thereof or incidental thereto, and solicitation
  of offers of acceptance from any qualified physician. Such advertisement
  and  solicitation  may  be  accomplished  in  any manner the board deems
  appropriate.
19-e. Psychiatric clinics. Any town  may  appropriate  a  sum  not  in
  excess  of ten thousand dollars in any one year for a psychiatric clinic
  for use in the clinic's annual  budget,  provided  said  corporation  is
  organized  under  the not-for-profit corporation law and approved by and
  under the jurisdiction of the department of  mental  hygiene  and  which
  provides  psychiatric  and  psychological  counselling  and  therapy for
  children under the supervision of qualified personnel for the  residents
  of the town.
20. Band concerts. Any town may provide for public band concerts to be
  held at any place within the town annually between the first day of June
  and the fifteenth day of September.
20-a.  Dumping  facilities.  May contract with any village which has a
  dumping ground for the use of such dumping ground by persons  living  in
  such  town  for  the disposal of their garbage, ashes, rubbish and other
  waste matter. The term of any such contract shall not exceed  ten  years
  and  the  consideration  for  such  use  shall  be  paid in equal annual
  installments. Notwithstanding the  provisions  of  any  other  law,  the
  governing  board of any village having a dumping ground shall have power
  to enter into any such contract on behalf of the village.
20-b.  Combustible  liquids.  The  town  board  may  provide  for  the
  regulation  of  underground  areas  used  for the storage of combustible
  liquids.
21. Town physician. May establish the office of town physician in  any
  town  in  which  there is not a practicing physician, fix the salary and
  appoint a duly qualified and licensed physician upon condition  that  he
  shall reside in the town. Two or more adjoining towns may combine in the
  employment  of  such a physician who shall reside in one of the towns so
  combining. In such case the portion of the  salary  chargeable  to  each
  town shall be fixed by agreement of the respective town boards.
21-a. Establishment of department of public works in certain towns. 1.
  The  town  board  of any town of the first class or of any town having a
  population of ten thousand or  more  as  shown  by  the  latest  federal
  census,  and in which town the office of town superintendent of highways
  is  an  appointive  office,  may  adopt  a  resolution  establishing   a
  department  of  public  works,  and  may appoint and fix the salary of a
  commissioner of public works, who shall be the  administrative  head  of
  the department.
2. The commissioner of public works shall be appointed on the basis of
  his  administrative  experience and qualifications for the duties of the
  office. Such commissioner of public works shall hold  office  until  the
  first  day  of January next succeeding the first bi-annual town election
  held after his appointment and thereafter such  commissioner  of  public
  works shall hold office for the term of two years.
2-a.  The town board of any town in Suffolk county in which the office
  of the town superintendent of highways  is  an  elective  or  appointive
  office  may adopt a resolution establishing a department of public works

  and providing that the town superintendent  of  highways  shall  be  the
  administrative head thereof.
3.  Upon  the  establishment of a department of public works, as above
  provided, the town board by appropriate resolution may transfer to  said
  department  the  functions  of  one or more of the departments, bureaus,
  improvement districts and services that are now or  may  hereafter  come
  under  the  jurisdiction of the town board, and such other duties in the
  nature of public works as may be prescribed by law or the town board may
  determine, not inconsistent with law. All costs and expenses incurred by
  the department or its officers, agents and  employees  on  behalf  of  a
  special improvement district, shall be charged against such district and
  paid from the funds duly appropriated for the purpose of such district.
4.  Whenever  such town board shall transfer to a department of public
  works any department, bureau, improvement district or service as in this
  section provided, the employees of such department, bureau,  improvement
  district or service shall be continued as employees in the department of
  public  works,  with  the  same  classification, pensions and retirement
  rights and privileges as they had immediately prior  to  such  transfer,
  provided,  however, that nothing herein contained shall deprive the town
  board of any power it now has with respect to any such employees.
5. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to delegate or transfer
  any power of the town board contained in sections sixty-one,  sixty-four
  and articles twelve, fourteen and fifteen of this chapter.
22. Certain expenditures town charges. Except as otherwise provided by
  law,  any expense actually and necessarily incurred by the town pursuant
  to the provisions of subdivisions twelve through twenty-one inclusive of
  this section shall be a town charge and  the  amount  thereof  shall  be
  assessed  and levied upon the taxable property of the town and collected
  in the same manner as  other  town  charges  are  assessed,  levied  and
  collected.
23.  General  powers. Shall have and exercise all the powers conferred
  upon the town and such additional powers as shall be necessarily implied
  therefrom.
24. Shall have the power to impose a fifteen per cent admission tax at
  all pari-mutuel tracks in such town, where such track is leased  from  a
  tax exempt organization.
25.  Use  of agricultural assessment for improvement district charges.
  May adopt a resolution authorizing the application of  the  agricultural
  assessment   established  pursuant  to  article  twenty-five-AA  of  the
  agriculture and markets law to the  special  assessment  or  special  ad
  valorem  levy  made  on  behalf  of  an ambulance, water, lighting, fire
  protection, sewer, or sanitation district on  land  located  within  the
  ambulance,  water,  lighting,  fire  protection,  sewer,  or  sanitation
  district and benefitting from such agricultural assessment.  A  copy  of
  this  resolution  shall be delivered to the assessor or assessors of the
  town and shall be effective on the assessment roll prepared on the basis
  of the next taxable status date following  its  adoption.  A  resolution
  repealing  this  authorization  shall  similarly  be  delivered  to  the
  assessor or assessors  of  the  town  and  shall  be  effective  on  the
  assessment  roll  prepared  on the basis of the next taxable status date
  following its adoption.