N.Y. Town Law § 53-a

§ 53-a. Department heads. The town board shall appoint the head of any\ndepartment of the government of the town established or created in\naccordance with the provisions of this article. Such department heads\nshall be principal executive officers of their respective departments\nand their offices shall be in the unclassified service, and unless their\ntitles are otherwise designated by the town board, they shall be known\nas directors. Salaries of department heads shall be determined in the\nsame manner as is provided in the annual budget for the salaries of\nother town officers, provided, however, that where the duties of a\ndepartment head are increased, altered or diminished by local law and to\nthe extent funds are available therefor, appropriate adjustment may be\nmade in such local law in the salary of such department head.\n