New York Consolidated Laws, Municipal Home Rule Law - MHR § 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.