* § 239-n. Intergovernmental relations councils. 1. Any county outside the city of New York, city, town, village, school district, board of cooperative educational services, or fire district or any combination thereof, may create by agreement an intergovernmental relations council to strengthen local governments and to promote efficient and economical provision of local governmental services within or by such participating municipalities, and to that end such council shall have power to:

a. Make surveys and studies and conduct research programs to aid in the solution of local governmental problems and in efforts to improve administration and services.

b. Provide for the distribution of information resulting from such surveys, studies and programs.

c. Consult and cooperate with appropriate state, municipal and public or private agencies in matters affecting municipal government.

d. Devise practical ways and means for obtaining greater economy and efficiency in the planning and provision of municipal services and make recommendations in accordance therewith.

e. Promote the general commercial, industrial and cultural welfare of the participating municipalities.

f. Otherwise promote strong and effective local government, public health, safety, morals and general welfare by means of local and intercommunity planning or performance of municipal services.

g. Employ such persons and adopt such rules and regulations as shall be necessary and proper to effectuate the purposes of this section.

h. Provide a forum for local governments to explore and develop areas for municipal cooperative activities pursuant to article five-G of this chapter.

i. Operate as a purchasing consortium, where authorized by participating municipalities, for the purpose of obtaining economies through joint bidding and purchasing.

j. Purchase and make available to participating municipalities, where authorized by participating municipalities, goods and equipment, including but not limited to computer hardware and software.

k. Gather and make available information on surplus goods and equipment for sale or lease.

2. The members of an intergovernmental relations council shall adopt by-laws to govern its activities and shall elect from their own number a chairman and secretary and other necessary officers to serve for such period as the members shall decide.

3. The board of supervisors of a county, the appropriate officials of a city, the governing body of a school district, board of cooperative educational services or fire district, the board of trustees of a village, or the town board of a town, is hereby authorized to include annually in the budget and raise by taxation in such county, city, school district, village or town a sum to meet all or an appropriate share of the actual and necessary expenses of establishing, maintaining and continuing such intergovernmental relations council.

* NB There are 2 § 239-n's