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Board directs staff to study staggered supervisor elections after members raise concerns
Summary
After board members and public commenters raised staggered elections as a governance option, the Westmoreland supervisors voted to direct the county administrator and county attorney to research implications, costs and implementation options for staggered terms.
Several supervisors and members of the public renewed calls for staggered terms for the Westmoreland County Board of Supervisors and the board voted to ask the county administrator and county attorney to prepare options, cost estimates and a pros-and-cons analysis.
Supervisor Tribute requested the agenda item be added to the reorganizational meeting for discussion; he and others said staggered elections would avoid a situation in which leadership, senior staff and multiple elected positions could all turn over at once. Public commenters, including Lewis Thompson, expressed support for staggered terms to preserve continuity.
Supervisor Henson voiced a cautionary view, saying that while staggered elections sounded attractive, a simultaneous election of all five members could foster cohesion among newly elected supervisors. Other board members requested information on legal steps required, timing implications, any additional election costs and whether a mechanism should be voluntary or enacted by ordinance or state-required process.
The board voted unanimously to instruct the county administrator to consult with the county attorney and return options and recommendations for further consideration.
Ending: Staff will report back with an options paper for legal implementation steps, cost implications and recommended next steps before any ordinance or formal action is taken.
