There shall be a department for the aging, the head of which shall be the commissioner for the aging.
Section 2401. Deputies.
The commissioner may appoint and at pleasure remove a deputy commissioner.
Section 2402. Powers and duties.
The department shall have the following powers and duties:
a. to stimulate community interest in the problems of the aging;
b. to promote public awareness of resources available for the aging, and to refer the public to appropriate departments and agencies of the city, state and federal governments for advice, assistance and available services in connection with particular problems;
c. to cooperate with and assist local neighborhoods in the development of programs and the establishment of local offices;
d. to serve as a clearing house for information relating to the needs of the aging;
e. to disburse available city, state and federal funds to programs throughout the city and, when practical, coordinate such funds with available funding from the private sector;
f. to promulgate rules and regulations for the operation of facilities, services and programs under its jurisdiction; and
g. to maintain, operate and control such programs and facilities as may be necessary or required for the proper administration of the department.
Section 2403. Advisory council.
a. There shall be in the department an advisory council consisting of thirty-one members at least sixteen of whom shall be recipients of services rendered to the elderly. These members shall include representatives from the areas of social service, health care, the academic community and local neighborhoods.
b. It shall be the duty of the council to advise the commissioner and make recommendations. The council shall submit an annual report of its activities to the mayor.
c. The members of the council shall be appointed by the mayor. Ten of said members, two residents from each of the five boroughs of the city, shall be recommended for appointment by a majority vote of the city council members of the respective boroughs.
d. The terms of office of the thirty-one members of the council first appointed shall be as follows: eleven appointees, five of whom shall be recommended for appointment by the city council members of the respective boroughs, one from each borough, shall serve for a term ending the thirty-first day of March, nineteen hundred eighty-one; ten appointees shall serve for a term ending the thirty-first day of March, nineteen hundred eighty-two; and ten appointees, five of whom shall be recommended for appointment by the city council members of the respective boroughs, one from each borough, shall serve for a term ending the thirty-first day of March, nineteen hundred eighty-three. Upon the expiration of such terms, the terms of office of their successors shall be three years. Vacancies occurring otherwise than by expiration of term shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as regular appointments.
e. The mayor shall designate one of the members of the council to be chairman and one to be vice-chairman.
f. The members of the council shall serve without compensation.