Terms lengths, limits to be considered separately

A previous effort to combine the two issues into a single proposal was defeated in April.

KINGSTON, N.Y. » Ulster County legislators will again take up the idea of imposing term limits on most elected county officials and extending the term of county lawmakers. This time, however, legislators will be asked to consider each proposal separately.

In April, the Legislature voted against a proposal to have voters to decide whether to both lengthen the terms of county legislators and limit the years most elected county officials could serve, with Minority Leader Hector Rodriguez saying linking the two issues was like “bizarre Siamese twins.”

Rodriguez, D-New Paltz, is co-sponsoring the new measures with Legislator Joseph Maloney, who introduced the measure defeated in April.

Rodriguez said the substance of the original proposal hasn’t changed in the two new proposals, but that by separating the measures, voters can decide on each issue, rather than being forced, for example, to increase the term of lawmakers if they want to impose term limits on elected officials.

One resolution calls for a 12-year limit for legislators, the county executive and the county comptroller. A second resolution would extend to four years from the current two-year term of county legislators.

“At least now the voters will clearly see what they are voting on,” Rodriguez said.

Maloney, I-Saugerties, has said a four-year term would give lawmakers more time to work on meaningful legislation without the distraction of running for a new term just a year after being elected. And he said term limits would prevent people from remaining in office simply to pad their pensions or get health insurance.

In April, the proposals received mixed reviews from legislators. Many said they could support term limits, but not extending the terms of county legislators, while others said there was no need to impose either term limits or longer terms.

Legislator David Donaldson has said that because the county has independent redistricting, there is no need to limit the length of time a legislator can serve. And the Kingston Democrat said increasing legislators’ terms goes against the principle of good government.

Rodriguez said while he believes in term limits, he is not in favor of increasing the term lengths.

Still, he said, “I am willing to support them both because I believe the voters should have a choice.”

Members of the Legislature’s Laws and Rules Committee will decide whether to pass resolutions setting public hearings on the two proposed local laws. If approved there, they will go to the full Legislature for a vote.

If passed by the full Legislature, public hearings on the proposals will be held in June.