City Heritage Area Commission to shrink

Kingston lawmakers have approved legislation to reduce the membership of the city’s Heritage Area Commission by four.

During a virtual meeting Tuesday, the Common Council voted 8-0 in favor of the local law that would change Kingston’s code to reduce the membership of the Heritage Area Commission from 11 members to seven. Alderman Patrick O’Reilly, a nonenrolled voter who represents Ward 7, was absent.

The law was adopted without further public discussion.

Mayor Steve Noble must hold a public hearing on the law before it can be signed and take effect. A date for that hearing has yet to be announced.

Under the law, the city code is to be amended so the Heritage Area Commission will consist of seven members and two alternates, all of whom will serve without pay and be appointed by the mayor. The members must be citizens and residents of the city, according to the new law.

Additionally, the local law amends the code to note commission members will serve three-year terms and the mayor can appoint up to six nonvoting advisory members. Also, the city historian will be a nonvoting member in perpetuity, according to the new law.

City Planner Suzanne Cahill, whose office serves as the administrator of the Heritage Area Commission, previously told lawmakers that it has been difficult to get 11 volunteers to serve and that at least six must be present at each meeting for a quorum to exist.

Under the change, five members will need to be present to conduct business, she said, and an alternate could fill in should a regular member not be available for a particular meeting.