A term used for the formation of such a local government is "township and municipal consolidation.
"[5] This form of local government is distinct from a municipality coterminous with a higher level of government, which is called a consolidated city-county or a variation of that term.
Such a municipality is known variously as a coterminous city[3] and a coterminous municipality,[1][2] and the township is called a coterminous township;[3] the term "consolidated city-township" does not appear in either the Township Code or the Municipal Code.
[7] It is never called a consolidated city-township because New York's cities, as opposed to its villages, exist outside of town areas.
[9] A referendum is held to decide whether residents prefer a village-style or town-style government, which will then function primarily as a village or town but will perform some of the functions of the other form.