Section 77. City commissioners of public welfare; appointment of staff

1.
  There shall be a city commissioner of public welfare in each city public
  welfare  district,  who  shall administer the public assistance and care
  for which the city public welfare district is responsible.
    2.   The officer appointed, in accordance  with  section  one  hundred
  sixteen  of  this chapter, to administer public assistance and care in a
  city which is constituted a city public welfare district, shall have the
  powers and perform  the  duties  of  the  city  commissioner  of  public
  welfare.
    3.    When  the duties of a city commissioner are by the provisions of
  special or local law relating to the city  assigned  to  more  than  one
  department  of  the  city government, the administrative officer of each
  such department shall have such of the powers and perform  such  of  the
  duties  of a city commissioner as may be applicable to the work assigned
  to such department, and all the provisions of this chapter shall  be  so
  interpreted.
    4.    The  city  commissioner  of  public welfare shall appoint deputy
  commissioners, assistants and employees authorized  by  the  legislative
  body  of  the city and shall direct their work.  When authorized by such
  legislative body such city commissioner may appoint attorneys to perform
  duties other than those assigned to  the  corporation  counsel  or  city
  attorney.    However,  if  such  city  commissioner shall approve and if
  authorized by such legislative body, such attorneys may, in addition  to
  performing  the  duties  assigned  to them by such city commissioner, be
  deputized by the corporation counsel or city attorney to perform  duties
  on  his  behalf  in  connection with the work of the welfare department.
  The city commissioner shall appoint physicians to visit sick persons  in
  their homes when authorized by the legislative body of such city.