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Hudson Common Council considering longer terms for some elected officials

Nov 14, 2019 1:00 pm
Amanda Purcell is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media the Hudson Common Council is examining a proposal to extend the terms for various elected positions. If approved, existing two-year terms would be expanded to four years, effective Jan. 1, 2022, for Mayor, Common Council president, city treasurer, the five county supervisors and 10 aldermen. The changes would then be subject to a public referendum on Election Day 2020. Majority Leader and 2nd Ward Alderwoman Tiffany Garriga spoke in favor of including council members in the proposal. “...[I]t gives us an opportunity to complete a task, so to speak,” she said at the council meeting, November 12. Some agreed with extending the mayor’s term. “Four years — it takes two years to figure out what you are supposed to do,” city resident Patrick Maloy said. Some strongly opposed the idea of longer terms for elected officials. “The power of the people to vote for members of this chamber should not be curtailed,” city resident Matt McGee said. Fourth Ward Supervisor Linda Mussmann urged the council to table the measure and allow for a larger public discussion. Mussmann said, “I have my doubts that this is a good idea. Holding public officials accountable every two years is perhaps the best idea for this moment in time..." First Ward Alderman Rob Bujan suggested adding staggered terms for council members to the proposal. An attempt was made to extend terms for the mayor and Common Council President a decade ago, but was ultimately rejected by the voters. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.
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