N.Y. Pub. Health Law § 366

§ 366. Certain cities; commissioner of health and health officer;\npowers and duties. 1. The commissioner of health or the health officer\nin cities having a population of less than one hundred seventy-five\nthousand shall:\n (a) exercise all the powers and be charged with all the duties now or\nhereafter conferred upon or required of local boards of health or local\nhealth officers by the laws of this state so far as the same pertain to\ncities, except as limited or extended by the provisions of this article;\nand,\n (b) possess such powers and perform such duties as may be prescribed\nby ordinance of the common council or similar legislative authority by\nthis chapter or otherwise by law.\n