N.Y. Gen. Mun. Law § 751

§ 751. Commencing the proceeding. 1. Two or more local government\nentities, whether within the same county or different counties, may be\nconsolidated into a single local government entity if each of the local\ngovernment entities is contiguous to at least one of the other\nconsolidating local government entities and if together the local\ngovernment entities would form a consolidated local government entity of\na kind or class that is authorized under the laws of the state of New\nYork. The requirement that local government entities be contiguous to\nconsolidate does not apply to entities other than towns and villages.\n 2. Consolidation proceedings may be commenced by either:\n (a) a joint resolution by the governing body or bodies of the local\ngovernment entities to be consolidated endorsing a proposed joint\nconsolidation agreement; or\n (b) elector initiative.\n