Term Limit Debates Heat Up

The Glen Cove City Council's recent announcement that it will consider extending the terms of the mayor and city council members from two to four years has prompted many residents to voice concerns about the issue. 

When it comes down to a vote — which, according to Mayor Ralph Suozzi, could take place as late as September — the City Council would only decide whether to add a referendum to the November election ballot. Voters, city officials said, would need to approve the legislation change, which would go into effect in 2012.

"We're asking the people of Glen Cove to consider it," Suozzi told Patch. "I'm just posing the question that's been asked to me hundreds of times – 'why is it a two-year term?'" 

But the council's decision to consider such a change has sparked some backlash from the public. 

Resident Paul Meli, the chairman of the city's Republican Party, criticized city officials for not properly publicizing that they planned to hold the first public hearing about this issue last week.

According to Meli, notice of the hearing, which was held on June 22, only appeared in the legals section of the city's newspapers, something he said happened last year when this issue was first brought up. 

"Last summer, in the legals … there was a notice about a public hearing at the next city council meeting about the proposed local law to change the mayor's term of office from two to four years. It never appeared in the weekly agenda [of the City Council]," Meli said. 

Other residents also question why the public hearings are being held during the summer season. Resident Kathleen Lappano, who also spoke at the hearing, said the council's timing to bring up this issue is not appropriate because people go into "mental hibernation" during this time of the year. 

"Government doesn't go to sleep in the summer," Suozzi said in response to that arguement.  

Meli also told Patch that he is concerned about why the council is proposing to change the law now, noting that residents asked this question during the hearing, but they were not given a response.  

"Perhaps [the council] didn't have the answers or weren't prepared for questions," he said, adding that he was dissappointed that the entire council was not present at the hearing. 

City officials said, however, where some residents see smoke, there is no fire.  

"We were taking comments," Suozzi said about the hearing, adding that only nine people gave their input about the possible change. "We're not debating it."  

At the hearings, city officials said, residents are able to give their input about the possible term limit change. While there is a three-minute comment limit, the timing isn't strictly enforced and speakers are allowed to continue. 

At last week's hearing, some said they would prefer that the terms last three years instead of four. Other suggestions included having staggered elections, an option that some residents said they would support. 

"I always thought that having the City Council the way it is right now [with six positions voted on every two years] is a little difficult to manage," resident John Hanley told Patch. "Theoretically, you can have six people come in who have never done [the job] before. Having a staggered City Council, every two years having two or three people running for the positions, would be more fair." 

And the debates are expected to continue.

Residents can voice their opinions at the council's next regular meeting on July 27 at City Hall at 7:30 p.m. City officials encourage the public to attend and share their thoughts. 

"It's for the people of Glen Cove to decide," Suozzi said. "This is your choice. The meetings are there for a reason."