N.Y. Second Class Cities Law § 20: Charges against city officers

§ 20. Charges against city officers. Whenever it is provided herein,

or otherwise by law, that an officer of the city shall hold office

during good behavior or shall be removed only upon charges, such charges

shall be for disability for service or neglect or dereliction of

official duty or incompetency or incapacity to perform his official

duties or some delinquency materially affecting his general character or

fitness for the office, unless otherwise specifically provided by law.

Where the charges are for disability for service, the examination shall

be one of inquiry only and the decision made in a proper case, may be

for honorable discharge from service. In all other cases the examination

shall be a trial, conducted under such reasonable rules and regulations

as shall be prescribed by the officer, officers, board or body before

whom the trial is held. Whenever an elective city officer shall be or

become permanently disabled, or permanently incapacitated and is thereby

rendered incapable of performing his official duties during the

remainder of his term of office, such officer may be removed upon

charges and after hearing, in the same manner as is provided herein or

otherwise by law, for the removal of appointive officers of the city.