City Council:
AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE POSITION
OF CHIEF OF DATA AND INNOVATION OFFICER
WITHIN THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR AND
AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER AND
APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS
Whereas, in correspondence dated September 9, 2026, the Mayor formally requested authorization for the City Council to establish and authorize the position of Chief of Data and Innovation Officer within the Office of the Mayor; and
Whereas, municipal government is increasingly dependent upon the effective use of data, technology, innovation, cross-departmental collaboration, and measurable performance to address complex challenges and improve the delivery of municipal services; and
Whereas, the City of Mount Vernon recognizes the need to strengthen its organizational capacity through modernization, performance management, innovation, and resident-centered government; and
Whereas, the Chief of Data and Innovation Officer will serve as a strategic partner to the Mayor and City leadership in identifying opportunities to improve government operations, strengthen accountability, enhance service delivery, and develop measurable solutions to complex municipal challenges; and
Whereas, the Chief of Data and Innovation Officer will establish and support a citywide framework for the effective use of data and performance information to identify priorities, evaluate existing approaches, coordinate cross-departmental initiatives, and continuously improve outcomes for residents; and
Whereas, the establishment of this position will transition and institutionalize work currently being performed through a grant-funded position and bring such function under the Office of the Mayor to create a sustainable organizational structure for data, innovation, modernization, and performance management; and
Whereas, the Chief of Data and Innovation Officer will complement, and not replace, the expertise and responsibilities of existing City departments and will provide connective capacity to support departments in improving processes, workflows, and interdepartmental coordination; and
Whereas, the Chief of Data and Innovation Officer will support the establishment of consistent data and performance management practices, the development of measurable performance indicators and executive reporting tools, and the advancement of resident-centered approaches to municipal service delivery; and
Whereas, the position will coordinate high-priority, cross-departmental initiatives and assist in building organizational capacity in project management, process improvement, data literacy, and performance measurement; and
Whereas, the Chief of Data and Innovation Officer will assist the City in developing strategic partnerships and identifying external resources, including grants, technical assistance, research partnerships, and government innovation initiatives; and
Whereas, the position will strengthen the City’s ability to leverage emerging opportunities in government modernization, technology, data, economic development, community engagement, and public-sector innovation, while connecting innovation directly to implementation, accountability, and measurable results; and
Whereas, the Administration has requested the establishment of the position with the following classification and organizational structure:
• Position: Chief of Data and Innovation Officer
• Department: Office of the Mayor
• Reports To: Mayor / Designated Senior Executive
• Status: Full-Time
• Grade: 15
• Schedule: Monday-Friday; Executive Schedule
• Location: City of Mount Vernon, New York; and
Whereas, the Administration has requested authorization to transfer and/or appropriate Twenty-Six Thousand Seven Hundred Thirty-Eight Dollars and Sixty Cents ($26,738.60) from A.3120.101 - Police Department Salary to A.210.101 - Mayor's Office Salary to support the establishment and funding of the position; and
Whereas, the Administration has further represented that the position is anticipated to be fully funded in 2027 through additional State aid announced by Governor Kathy Hochul, subject to the enactment, appropriation, and receipt of such State funding; and
Whereas, the City Council finds that establishing the position of Chief of Data and Innovation Officer is in the best interests of the City and will strengthen the City’s long-term organizational capacity, improve service delivery, increase accountability, and enhance the City's ability to respond effectively to an increasingly data-driven and rapidly changing municipal environment; now, therefore, be it
Section 1. Establishment of Position. The City Council of the City of Mount Vernon hereby establishes and authorizes the position of Chief of Data and Innovation Officer within the Office of the Mayor.
Section 2. Position Classification. The position established pursuant to Section 1 shall have the following classification:
Position: Chief of Data and Innovation Officer
Department: Office of the Mayor
Reports To: Mayor / Designated Senior Executive
Status: Full-Time
Grade: 15
Schedule: Monday-Friday; Executive Schedule
Location: City of Mount Vernon, New York
Section 3. Duties and Responsibilities. The Chief of Data and Innovation Officer shall be responsible for supporting the Mayor and City departments in advancing government modernization, data-informed decision-making, performance management, innovation, process improvement, and resident-centered service delivery.
The duties and responsibilities of the position shall include, but shall not be limited to:
1. Developing and supporting citywide data and performance management practices;
2. Identifying opportunities to improve municipal processes, workflows, efficiency, and inter-departmental coordination;
3. Developing measurable performance indicators and executive reporting tools;
4. Coordinating high-priority and cross-departmental initiatives;
5. Supporting resident-centered approaches to municipal service delivery;
6. Building organizational capacity in project management, process improvement, data literacy, and performance measurement;
7. Identifying and developing strategic partnerships and external resources, including grants, technical assistance, research partnerships, and innovation initiatives; and
8. Supporting the City's efforts to leverage technology, data, economic development, community engagement, and other government modernization opportunities.
Section 4. Transition of Grant-Funded Function. The City Council hereby recognizes and authorizes the transition of the functions currently being performed through a grant-funded position into a permanent organizational function within the Office of the Mayor, subject to applicable grant requirements, personnel procedures, budgetary requirements, and all applicable provisions of law.
Section 5. Budget Transfer and Appropriation. The City Council hereby authorizes the transfer and/or appropriation of $26,738.60 from A.3120.101 - Police Department Salary to A.210.101 - Mayor's Office Salary for the purpose of supporting the salary and related costs associated with the establishment of the Chief of Data and Innovation Officer position.
The Comptroller is hereby authorized and directed to make such budgetary transfers, appropriations, and accounting adjustments as may be necessary to effectuate this Ordinance, subject to applicable City budget procedures and fiscal controls.
Section 6. Future State Funding. The Administration anticipates that the position shall be fully funded in 2027 through additional State aid announced by Governor Kathy Hochul, subject to the availability, appropriation, receipt, and applicable restrictions of such State funding.
Nothing herein shall be construed as creating an obligation of the City beyond funds lawfully appropriated and available for such purpose.
Section 7. Job Description. The Chief of Data and Innovation Officer Job Description, including the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and leadership competencies associated with the position, is hereby incorporated by reference and shall serve as the basis for the position's classification and administration, subject to applicable Civil Service requirements and amendments as may be authorized by law.
Section 8. Authorization of City Officials. The Mayor, Comptroller, Commissioner of Human Resources, and all other appropriate City officials are hereby authorized and directed to take all actions and execute all documents necessary to implement the establishment of the position and the budgetary actions authorized herein.
Section 9. Compliance with Law. The establishment and filling of the position authorized herein shall be subject to all applicable provisions of the New York State Civil Service Law, City Charter, collective bargaining agreements, personnel rules, budget requirements, and other applicable federal, State, and local laws, rules, and regulations.
Section 10. Severability. If any provision of this Ordinance or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is adjudged invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions or applications of this Ordinance.
Section 11. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by the City Council and subsequent approval by the Board of Estimate and Contract.