No. Castle Resident Looks to Force Proposition on Town Term Limits
A North Castle resident plans to circulate petitions later this year in hopes of placing a proposition on November’s general election ballot asking voters whether they support term limits for all town elected offices.
Anthony Futia, a lifelong North White Plains resident who retired nearly five years ago as the town’s water and sewer superintendent, said he would like to get the question on the ballot for the public to decide in order to help encourage new people to get involved and serve.
“We have some very good people in this town who are really a little timid about running for office and I think term limits would really work in the Town of North Castle because we have so many good residents out there that could run with great ideas,” Futia said.
He said while most elected officials have good intentions when they initially run and get into office, many stay too long and become entrenched politicians. He pointed to the town’s history of having long-tenured officeholders with minimal turnover. In order to keep their positions, elected officials sometimes feel compelled to provide various constituencies with favors that are not necessarily in the best interests of the entire town, Futia said.
While Futia must work out the details of his proposal that would appear on a petition, he said he would look to have eight-year limits for all town-wide offices. The supervisor’s post, for example, which carries a two-year term, could be occupied by the same person for four consecutive terms, while council members who serve for four years at a time, would be permitted to serve a maximum of two consecutive terms. Other offices include the town clerk, the two town justices and the receiver of taxes.
The petition would be circulated during the same time period next summer when candidates for other offices must collect signatures, Futia said. While there is no town election this November, it is a presidential election year, which Futia reasoned would likely insure the greatest turnout for the vote.
Futia said he would work to have the proposition on the ballot for the general election to avoid a repeat of the expense for the ward system vote when he forced the town to hold a special election in November 2014. That referendum was held a little more than a week after the general election because under state law it could not be included on the general election ballot that year. Holding the extra vote cost the town roughly $45,000.
A couple of town board members who were recently contacted regarding a possibility of term limits questioned the need for them and Futia’s motivation.
Supervisor Michael Schiliro said if people are displeased with the performance of a board member they can vote him or her out of office the next time the seat is up for election. While there have been some longtime officeholders in the past, in the last 10 years since the late former supervisor Jack Lombardi left office, there has been considerable turnover on the board, including four different supervisors, Schiliro said.
Councilwoman Barbara DiGiacinto echoed the supervisor’s thoughts, believing there is a system in place that works well to force change.
“My feeling is that term limits aren’t needed because (officeholders) are elected by the people and if they’re unhappy they can vote to get the person fired,” she said.
Martin has more than 30 years experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, including a frequent focus on zoning and planning issues. He has been editor-in-chief of The Examiner since its inception in 2007. Read more from Martin’s editor-author bio here. Read Martin’s archived work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/martin-wilbur2007/
