It provided for municipal elections in January; for the election of a mayor for four years; for his recall at the end of two years if a majority of the registered voters so vote in the state election in November in the second year of his term; for the summary removal for cause by the mayor of any department head or other of his appointees; for a city council of one chamber of nine members, elected at large each for three years; for nomination by petition; for a permanent finance commission appointed by the governor; for the confirmation of the mayor's appointments by the state civil service commission; for the mayor's preparation of the annual budget (in which items may be reduced but not increased by the council), and for his absolute veto of appropriations except for school use.
The city council (Rath), first mentioned in 1190, had jurisdiction over both the episcopal and the new town.
Sydney is governed municipally by a city council.
The government is that of all cities of the second class in New York state, with an elective mayor and other important officers and a single-chambered city council.
The city council has 16 members, three elected at large and the others by wards, and there are boards of public service, public safety, public health and education.