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Town hearing on proposed term limits draws mixed public reaction
Summary
A public hearing on Intro to Local Law No. 9 of 2025 (term limits) drew support from residents seeking more turnover and representation and concerns about timing and legal implementation; proponents presented demographic and historical maps showing long-serving officials clustered in parts of town.
The Town Board held a public hearing Jan. 13 on Intro to Local Law No. 9 of 2025, a proposal to add a term‑limits chapter to the Cheektowaga Town Code.
The proposed local law would limit elective town officials to two consecutive terms in the same office (text read into the record included a legislative‑intent section and specific term definitions). Supporters at the hearing said term limits would broaden participation and reduce long incumbencies concentrated in certain neighborhoods. Heather Alt, who said she prepared historical maps of council tenures and appointments, argued the data show long service concentrated east of Union Road and urged term limits and districting to increase representational equity.
Speakers who supported term limits asked the board to consider how to implement any change (start dates, retroactivity and whether prior years would count toward the limit). One commenter asked whether the law could be backdated to 2025; board members responded that legal questions about effective dates and retroactivity would require attorney guidance.
The public hearing closed after two speakers; the board said it would consider the comments and the legal details before moving forward with any adoption steps.
