N.Y. General Municipal Law § 239-n*2: Intergovernmental relations councils

* § 239-n. Intergovernmental relations councils. 1. Any county outside

the city of New York, city, town, village, school district, board of

cooperative educational services, or fire district or any combination

thereof, may create by agreement an intergovernmental relations council

to strengthen local governments and to promote efficient and economical

provision of local governmental services within or by such participating

municipalities, and to that end such council shall have power to:

a. Make surveys and studies and conduct research programs to aid in

the solution of local governmental problems and in efforts to improve

administration and services.

b. Provide for the distribution of information resulting from such

surveys, studies and programs.

c. Consult and cooperate with appropriate state, municipal and public

or private agencies in matters affecting municipal government.

d. Devise practical ways and means for obtaining greater economy and

efficiency in the planning and provision of municipal services and make

recommendations in accordance therewith.

e. Promote the general commercial, industrial and cultural welfare of

the participating municipalities.

f. Otherwise promote strong and effective local government, public

health, safety, morals and general welfare by means of local and

intercommunity planning or performance of municipal services.

g. Employ such persons and adopt such rules and regulations as shall

be necessary and proper to effectuate the purposes of this section.

h. Provide a forum for local governments to explore and develop areas

for municipal cooperative activities pursuant to article five-G of this

chapter.

i. Operate as a purchasing consortium, where authorized by

participating municipalities, for the purpose of obtaining economies

through joint bidding and purchasing.

j. Purchase and make available to participating municipalities, where

authorized by participating municipalities, goods and equipment,

including but not limited to computer hardware and software.

k. Gather and make available information on surplus goods and

equipment for sale or lease.

2. The members of an intergovernmental relations council shall adopt

by-laws to govern its activities and shall elect from their own number a

chairman and secretary and other necessary officers to serve for such

period as the members shall decide.

3. The board of supervisors of a county, the appropriate officials of

a city, the governing body of a school district, board of cooperative

educational services or fire district, the board of trustees of a

village, or the town board of a town, is hereby authorized to include

annually in the budget and raise by taxation in such county, city,

school district, village or town a sum to meet all or an appropriate

share of the actual and necessary expenses of establishing, maintaining

and continuing such intergovernmental relations council.

* NB There are 2 § 239-n's