Section 1101. Deputies

a.  Any  head of a department established by this
  charter may appoint and, at pleasure, remove so many deputies as may  be
  provided  for  by law and determine their relative rank, and may appoint
  and, at pleasure, remove a secretary to the department  if  so  provided
  and,  except  as  otherwise  provided by law, shall assign to them their
  duties and  may  by  instrument  in  writing  filed  in  the  department
  designate  any  deputy to possess any of the powers and exercise such of
  the duties of the head of the department and for such  times  and  under
  such conditions as such head of a department may specify.
    b.  During a vacancy in the office of the head of an administration or
  a department established by this  charter,  or  whenever  by  reason  of
  illness  or  absence from the city such official shall be prevented from
  attending to the duties of office, the highest ranking deputy not absent
  or under disability shall act as  the  head  of  the  administration  or
  department.
    c. The head of each mayoral department, including each such department
  within  an  administration, shall designate a deputy commissioner of the
  department or a senior officer reporting directly to  the  head  of  the
  department  who  shall  be responsible for the personnel, management and
  budget administration functions of  the  department  and  for  financial
  planning and management in the areas of payroll, purchasing, vouchering,
  accounting and related areas assigned by the head of the department.