N.Y. Municipal Home Rule § 50: Legislative intent

§ 50. Legislative intent. 1. It is the intention of the legislature by

this chapter to provide for carrying into effect provisions of article

nine of the constitution and the statute of local governments and to

enable local governments to adopt and amend local laws for the purpose

of fully and completely exercising the powers granted to them under the

terms and spirit of such article.

2. There is hereby reserved to the board of supervisors of every

county not wholly included in a city, the board of aldermen, common

council, council, commission or other board or body of every city, the

town board of every town and the board of trustees of every village all

the rights, privileges, powers and jurisdiction now conferred on it by

law until such rights, privileges, powers or jurisdiction shall be

abolished, transferred or changed by law.

3. It is not the intention of the legislature hereby to abolish or

curtail any rights, privileges, powers or jurisdiction heretofore

conferred upon or delegated to any local government or to any board,

body or officer thereof, unless a contrary intention is clearly manifest

from the express provisions of this chapter or by necessary intendment

therefrom, or to restrict the powers of the legislature to pass laws

regulating matters other than the property, affairs or government of

local governments as distinguished from matters relating to their

property, affairs or government.