Section 323. Local health officer; compensation and expenses

1. Every
  local board of health shall fix the compensation  of  the  local  health
  officer,  which  in  the  case  of  the  health officer of a city, town,
  village and consolidated health district having a  population  of  eight
  thousand or less, shall not be less than the equivalent of fifteen cents
  per  annum  per  inhabitant,  including  Indians on reservations, of the
  city, town, village or consolidated health district,  according  to  the
  latest  federal  or  state  census  or enumeration; and in a city, town,
  village and consolidated health district having  a  population  of  more
  than  eight  thousand, shall not be less than twelve hundred dollars per
  annum.
    2. In addition to his compensation as provided herein,  the  board  of
  health  shall  allow  the  actual  and reasonable expenses of the health
  officer (a) in the performance of his official duties, (b) in going  to,
  attending  and returning from the annual health conference or equivalent
  meeting held yearly within the state (c)  in  going  to,  attending  and
  returning  from conferences called by the commissioner or his authorized
  representative and  (d)  in  going  to,  attending  and  returning  from
  conferences called by the state district health officer of the district.
  The  board  of  health,  in  lieu  of allowing the actual and reasonable
  expenses for travel of said health officer, may determine by  resolution
  to allow him an amount not to exceed eight cents per mile for the use of
  his  own  automobile  for each mile actually and necessarily traveled by
  him in the performance of the duties of his  office  and  in  going  to,
  attending and returning from any of such conferences.
    4.  (a) The regular compensation of a health officer appointed jointly
  by two or more local boards of health for two or more towns or  villages
  shall  be  fixed  jointly  by  such  boards  in  such  sum as they shall
  determine in accordance with the provisions of this  section,  and  such
  compensation,  together  with  the expenses of the health officer in the
  performance  of  his  duties  and  in  attending  the  annual   sanitary
  conference  or  equivalent  meeting  and conferences called by the state
  district health officer, shall be allowed by the local boards of  health
  and  paid by the municipalities in the proportions to each as shall have
  been determined in the resolutions or ordinances authorizing  the  joint
  appointment of the health officer.
    (b)  The resolution or ordinance of the towns and villages authorizing
  the local boards of health of said towns or villages to appoint a health
  officer for the said towns or villages pursuant to subdivision three  of
  section three hundred twenty of this chapter, shall state the proportion
  of  compensation  and expenses of the health officer for which each such
  town or village shall be responsible.
    5. The provisions of this section relating to  the  care  of  venereal
  diseases  shall  not apply to municipalities where a satisfactory clinic
  is reasonably available.