Section 16-126. Snow removal; employees and equipment

a. In case of a
  snowfall or other  emergency,  the  commissioner  may  employ  and  hire
  temporarily  as many persons, vehicles, machinery and equipment as shall
  be rendered necessary by such emergency,  forthwith  reporting,  in  the
  case  of a snowfall, the number of such persons, vehicles, machinery and
  equipment and in the case of any other emergency such  action  with  the
  full  particulars thereof to the mayor, but in the case of a snowfall no
  such person, vehicles, machinery or  equipment  shall  be  so  hired  or
  employed  for  a  longer  period  than seven days and in the case of any
  other emergency for a longer period than three days.
    b. All such employees shall be employed directly by the department and
  not through contractors or other persons, unless the commissioner  shall
  determine  that  this requirement must for proper action in a particular
  instance be dispensed with.
    c. The services of any person employed, and of vehicles, machinery and
  equipment hired pursuant to this section, shall be paid for in full  and
  directly  by  the  department, at such times as may be prescribed by the
  commissioner.
    d. In all emergency work performed by laborers in the removal of  snow
  where  workers  are  engaged by the hour or day by a contractor employed
  for the  purpose,  such  work  shall  be  paid  for  directly  to  those
  individuals employed on it, in the currency of the United States and not
  by  check  or  ticket.  Every  contractor engaged in the removal of snow
  shall be required to stipulate with the commissioner or others empowered
  to enter into contracts for that purpose, as the case may be, to observe
  the provisions of this subdivision, a violation of which shall be deemed
  to abrogate any such contract.