N.Y. SCC Law § 31

§ 31. Members; president; organization of council. The aldermen of the\ncity shall constitute the common council thereof. The members of the\ncommon council shall meet in the room provided for the purpose on the\nsecond day of January after their election, or if that be Sunday, then\non the next day, and organize. The president shall preside at all\nmeetings and discharge such other duties as may be defined by ordinance\nof the common council and otherwise by law. The common council may at\nany regular meeting, elect one of its members president pro tempore to\nact during the temporary absence or disability of the president and who\nshall be the president of the common council in case of a permanent\nvacancy in that office. Until such permanent vacancy shall be filled,\nthe mayor shall preside over the meetings of the common council. Until\nsuch a vacancy is filled the common council shall transact no business\nexcept to adjourn from time to time. The president may vote like other\nmembers of the common council upon all resolutions and ordinances\nsubmitted to the body for its action in case of a tie vote, and when a\nmember of the common council is elected president, he shall be entitled\nto vote as a member of the common council. The president of the common\ncouncil shall have the power of commissioner of deeds.\n