Carmel trustees debate whether to back state bill allowing local referendums on term limits

Vice President Josie Curzio asked the board to support renewed outreach to state legislators to allow local school boards to put a term-limits question before their voters. Curzio said the change would be a "home rule" bill allowing only the Carmel district to offer such a referendum.

"This legislation comes at the request of the Carmel Central School District Board of Education," Curzio said and cited previous efforts; she referenced a prior bill number, S6093, as an example of legislation that had been introduced in a prior session. She urged trustees to consider sending another letter to legislators asking them to sponsor similar legislation.

Trustees were sharply divided. One trustee said, "I do not support that," arguing term limits would remove choices from voters and could prevent experienced members from serving; another trustee called for more community input. The board did not take a final vote but indicated several trustees would consider the question further and asked the public to submit substantive feedback by email.