N.Y. Second Class Cities Law § 34: Powers

§ 34. Powers. The common council shall determine the rules of its own

proceedings and be the judge of the election, returns and qualifications

of its members. Its meetings shall be public and its records open to

public inspection, and a majority of all its members shall constitute a

quorum to do business. The common council may compel the attendance of

absent members at any meeting properly called, and may punish or expel a

member for disorderly conduct, for a violation of its rules or for

official misconduct, or declare his seat vacant by reason of absence,

provided such absence has continued for the space of two months; but no

expulsion shall take place and no vacancy on account of absence be

declared except by the vote of three-fourths of all the members of the

common council, nor until the delinquent member has had an opportunity

to be heard in his defense. All appointments or designations made by the

common council shall be determined upon a vote taken by a roll call of

its members, and a statement of the choice of each member or the yeas

and nays, if any, shall be entered upon the journal.