Section 194. Powers and duties of commissioners of public welfare in relation to public homes

Commissioners of public welfare shall
    1. be responsible for the management of the home and for the  care  of
  its inmates,
    2. have control of the admission and discharge of inmates of the home,
    3.  within  the  limits  of  the  appropriations made for the purpose,
  appoint qualified physicians, matrons, nurses, officers  and  employees,
  and vest in them such powers as he may deem necessary for the management
  of the home,
    3-a.  have  the authority, in the event the home includes an infirmary
  for the care of chronically sick  patients,  to  enter  into  contracts,
  subject  to  the  written  approval  of the department, with any medical
  school or non-profit hospital, organized pursuant to  the  laws  of  the
  state  of  New  York, whereby such medical school or non-profit hospital
  shall agree to provide and supervise all or part of the professional and
  related  staff  necessary  for  the  operation  of  the  infirmary.  The
  personnel  so  provided  by  such  medical school or non-profit hospital
  shall not be deemed to be employees of the public welfare district.
    4. purchase all furniture, implements, food, materials  and  equipment
  necessary  for  the  upkeep of the home and for the care of the needy in
  the home, unless such powers have been vested in some  other  purchasing
  agency,
    5. classify the inmates of the home, and provide the type of care best
  fitted to their needs and carry out the recommendations of the attending
  physician in regard to their care,
    6.  establish  rules for the administration of the public home and for
  the conduct and employment of the inmates thereof; but such rules  shall
  not be valid unless approved in writing by the department,
    7.  as  far  as practicable provide suitable employment for any inmate
  whom the attending physician pronounces able  to  work,  assigning  such
  inmates  to  such  labor  in connection with the farm and garden, or the
  care and upkeep of the buildings or other suitable tasks in  the  public
  home  as  they  may  be  deemed  capable  of  performing,  and providing
  occupational and other diversions as may be for the  best  interests  of
  the inmates,
    8.  when  in  their  individual  judgment  and  discretion  it appears
  advisable,  for  purposes  of  rehabilitation,  to   provide   incentive
  compensation  to  an  inmate,  in  any  amount  or amounts totalling ten
  dollars or less per month, for work assigned and performed in  or  about
  the  public  home,  farm  and garden; but the payment of any such reward
  shall not be deemed, for the purposes of any law,  to  make  the  inmate
  receiving  the  same  an employee of the public home or of the county or
  city maintaining such home,
    8-a. deposit as prescribed in section eighty-seven  of  this  chapter,
  any and all moneys received by him for the use of a particular inmate or
  inmates of the public home.
    9.   when  an  appropriation  is  made  for  the  purpose,  appoint  a
  superintendent of the public home who shall reside thereat and  exercise
  such  of  the powers and carry out such of the duties above mentioned in
  connection  with  the  public  home  as  the  commissioner  may  direct;
  provided,  however,  that  the  legislative  body  of the county or city
  within which a public welfare  district  is  located  may,  if  adequate
  supervisory   personnel   are   on   duty   at  all  times,  permit  the
  superintendent to reside off the premises of the public home,
    10. reside at  the  public  home  unless  a  superintendent  has  been
  appointed   as   above  provided;  provided,  however,  that  the  local
  legislative body of the county or city within  which  a  public  welfare
  district  is  located may, if adequate supervisory personnel are on duty

  at all times, permit the commissioner to reside off the premises of  the
  public home.