Webster Town Board discusses extending supervisor’s term to 4 years
- Webster Online
- Feb 10, 2021
- 2 min read
The extension would increase the term for the position of town supervisor
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Webster, NY - The Webster Town Board is discussing the possibility of extending the term for the position of Webster Town Supervisor from 2 years to 4 years. It is also discussing the possibility of term limits for Town Board members.
The Board briefly discussed the topic at a January Town Workshop. Town Supervisor Tom Flaherty presented the proposal to the Town Board for consideration.
There are two different ways to go about extending the supervisor's term of office:
Allowing residents to vote for/against the extension via the 2021 General Election ballot. This means the item could be added to the ballot for the 2021 General Election in November and take effect immediately (if the public voted in favor of the extension).
Putting the extension to a vote this year, but, if approved, not implementing the change until the NEXT election.
“I would not want a referendum vote in 2021 all of a sudden, if I’m on the ballot, [that] would make my term four years,” Supervisor Flaherty remarked at the Workshop. “I think that’s self-serving. That’s not what I’m looking for.”
He said the proposal is just a “shot across the bow to get the board thinking about this.”
As for Webster Town Board term limits, a referendum is not required, according to the town attorney. All that’s required is a change in Town Code/Local Law. (The limit being considered ranges from 2 to 3 terms. The limit would include the position of town supervisor as well as members of the Webster Town Council.)
The Town Board agreed that both items warrant further discussion before making any official decision.
The following Town of Webster seats are on the 2021 General Election ballot:
Webster Town Supervisor
Webster Town Justice
Webster Town Council (2)
The following Village of Webster seats are up for election in June 2021:
Webster Village Mayor
Webster Village Trustee (2)
Primary Election Date: June 22, 2021
General Election Date: November 2, 2021
Why? How does this benefit the 45,000 residents of Webster? This question hasn't been asked or answered by the Town Board at all. As we have seen it has taken this Supervisor 11 months now to learn what the job of Supervisor is and not any of his political promises he made in 2019 are done yet.
So we must wait 4 years for something to happen while residents of Webster pay the Supervisor over $ 444,000 in wages over four years before you get to vote on his/her performance?
Let's keep it at two years so we have choice every two years in our choice for Supervisor. If this is put on the ballot in November VOTE NO!!!!!!!!!!!