New York Consolidated Laws, General Municipal Law - GMU § 701. Definitions

1. “Annexation.”  An alteration of the boundaries of a county, city, town or village which has the effect of adding territory to it.  Such term shall not include the creation or dissolution of a county, city, town or village, or the consolidation of two or more counties, two or more cities, two or more towns or two or more villages, respectively, or the diminution of the area of a village pursuant to section 18-1804 of the village law.

2. “Governing board.”  The board of supervisors, board of aldermen, common council, council, commission, town board, board of trustees or other elective board or body of a local government now or hereafter vested by state statute, charter or other law with jurisdiction to initiate and enact ordinances or local laws, whether or not such ordinances or local laws require the approval of any other official or body to become effective.

3. “Local government.”  A city, a town, a village, or a county not wholly included within a city where a boundary of the county would be affected by a proposed annexation of territory.