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Board explains June 17 ballot: referendum authorizes a compensation line and a change from two‑ to four‑year terms
Summary
Trustees clarified that the June 17 referendum includes two questions: whether a compensation line for mayor and trustees should exist in the budget (no dollar amount on the ballot) and whether terms should move from two to four years; if voters approve the referendum, the board would set exact compensation during budget hearings and may revisit term‑limit language.
Trustees spent an extended portion of the meeting clarifying two referendum questions that appear on the June 17 ballot: one asks whether a compensation line for the office of mayor and trustees should be included (the ballot language does not state a dollar amount), and the other asks whether to change elected term lengths from two to four years. "We followed the New York State election law when we drafted the ballot," a staff member said, explaining the ballot must be general and that specific amounts would be determined in the budget process if the referendum passes.
Residents raised concerns about how a change to four‑year terms would affect current officeholders and whether incumbents would be immediately subject to the new clock. Legal counsel said the question is unsettled in municipal law, noting a split of authority; "My legal opinion is they would be entitled to it because you can't be bound by a law that no longer exists," counsel said, but acknowledged the issue is not decided. The board said it removed a more detailed term‑limits item from the ballot until they could resolve those questions and will revisit wording and implementation if voters approve the referendum.
