New York Consolidated Laws, Estates, Powers and Trusts Law - EPT § 1-2.20 Lifetime trust

(1) The registered voters of a city of the second class may vote to discontinue organization as a city of the second class and organize as a village.  The issue may be placed before the voters by a resolution adopted by the city council or by petition signed by one-fourth of the registered voters of such city.

(2) The petitions shall conform to section 32-628.  The Secretary of State shall design the form to be used for the petitions.  Petition signers and petition circulators shall conform to the requirements of sections 32-629 and 32-630.  The city council shall submit the petitions to the election commissioner or county clerk for signature verification pursuant to section 32-631.  The required number of signatures shall be one-fourth of the number of voters registered in the city at the last statewide general election.  The election commissioner or county clerk shall notify the city council within thirty days after receiving the petitions from the city council whether the required number of signatures has been gathered.  The city shall reimburse the county for any costs incurred by the election commissioner or county clerk.

(3) If the city council determines that the petitions are in proper form and signed by the necessary number of registered voters or after adoption of the resolution by the city council, the city council shall submit the question to the voters of whether to discontinue organization as a city of the second class and organize as a village at a special election pursuant to section 32-559 or at the same time as a local or statewide primary or general election held in the city of the second class.  The form of ballot shall be For organization as a village, and Against organization as a village, and at the same election the voters shall vote for five trustees for the village.  If a majority of the votes cast are For organization as a village, then such city shall within sixty days after such election become a village and be governed under the laws of this state applicable to a village unless at some future election such village votes to reorganize as a city of the second class in the manner provided in section 17-306.01.