Section 96. Superintendent of parks

Unless otherwise provided by law, the
  commissioner of public works shall appoint, to hold  office  during  his
  pleasure, a superintendent of parks, who shall have, under the direction
  of  the  commissioner,  the supervision, care, management and control of
  all the parks of the city and of such portions of the  streets  as  pass
  through  or  intersect  the  same,  and  of the shade trees of the city.
  Subject to the direction of the commissioner and to  the  ordinances  of
  the  common  council,  he  shall  prescribe the powers and duties of his
  subordinates and shall, except as otherwise provided by law, superintend
  the expenditure of all moneys appropriated for park purposes.  He  shall
  keep  an  account  of  such  expenditures  and  shall approve all claims
  against the city on account thereof before submission to the comptroller
  for audit. The superintendent, under the direction of the  commissioner,
  may  make  all ordinary repairs and improvements upon the parks and such
  intersecting streets, may employ all laborers needed  thereon,  and  fix
  their  wages,  subject to the approval of the commissioner and the board
  of estimate and apportionment. Except as otherwise provided by  law,  he
  shall conduct, with the aid of the corporation counsel, all negotiations
  and proceedings for the acquisition of lands for park purposes, when the
  same  shall  have been authorized by ordinance of the common council and
  approved by the board of estimate and apportionment.  He shall make such
  rules and regulations, not  inconsistent  with  the  ordinances  of  the
  common  council  and  laws of the state, as he shall deem proper for the
  government, management and care of the parks and of the streets  in  and
  through  the  same, and of such other streets, being approaches thereto,
  as may be designated by ordinance of the common council as parkways, and
  such rules and regulations, when approved by the common  council,  shall
  have  the  force and effect of city ordinances. The superintendent shall
  have such other powers and  be  charged  with  such  other  duties,  not
  inconsistent  with  the  provisions  of this chapter and the laws of the
  state, as the commissioner may direct,  or  as  the  common  council  by
  ordinance may define and prescribe.