Section 498-A. Powers and duties of mayors or managers of certain cities

Notwithstanding any  other  provision  of  this  article,  whenever  the
  charter  of  any  city,  or  any special or local law, provides that the
  mayor or manager of such city  is  the  chief  law  enforcement  officer
  thereof,  then  and in that event such mayor or manager, as the case may
  be, shall have, exercise and perform all the powers and duties otherwise
  prescribed by  this  article  to  be  exercised  and  performed  by  the
  governing  body  of  such  city  except those prescribed by section four
  hundred seventy-eight hereof, and in any such case, the term  "governing
  body  of a municipality" as used in this article shall be deemed to mean
  and include the mayor or manager of any such city.