Next chance for comment at upcoming Town Board meeting
A plan to make changes to governmental structure in the Town of Bethlehem got a cold reception at an early public discussion of a report issued by the citizen-led 20/20 Implementation Committee.
Of equal note, there were only a handful of residents in the audience. They were outnumbered by past and current town officials, members of the 20/20 Committee itself and members of the Albany County chapter of the League of Women Voters, who moderated the Tuesday, May 24, meeting.
In a recently released report, the 20/20 modernization subcommittee has suggested extending the town supervisor’s term from two years to four and making the positions of the receiver of taxes, highway superintendent and town clerk, appointed instead of elected. These changes would require voter approval in November, and town leaders are now considering whether to put them on the ballot.
On Tuesday, several members of the public said they don’t want to lose any of their voting power, including resident Kim Vining.
To take that away from the voters, I think you’re going to find a lot of people quite frankly insulted by that, she said.
Others expressed concern that appointments could open the door to political cronyism and wondered exactly what oversight would be built into the process.
Ken Hahn, who served as receiver of taxes in Bethlehem for many years, said he is philosophically against the changes and would make it his goal to make sure the three positions remain elected.
`Thank God that the law requires a vote. … All over the world people are dying for freedom, and people here are trying to take it away,` he said.
But committee members said that’s not the goal of the changes. The 20/20 Committee’s John Clarkson said this plan is not a criticism of any current office holders, but rather a proposal to bring the three elected positions in line with at least nine other town departments that have appointed heads, many of which are bigger than those with elected bosses. Having those three people be elected is an antiquated practice, he argued.
`The reason, really quite simply, is history,` he said. `Those were the only jobs in town, basically, in 1900.`
The report also suggests an all-appointed staff could mean opportunities for efficiencies and consolidation, though no specific savings have been identified.
Being elected gives the department head great autonomy, said 20/20’s Susan Hager. That could conceivably hinder or scuttle consolidation and efficiency efforts should standoffish people end up in office.
`You can suggest, but you can’t create, a plan and make it happen unless there’s consensus on all sides,` she said of the current system.
She added that most people don’t realize what relatively limited power the supervisor has right now, having the authority to make only one direct appointment: his or her confidential secretary.
The committee envisions the supervisor bringing nominations for department heads to be vetted and approved by the full Town Board, much as in the federal government.
`We feel they don’t have enough power to do what they need to do,` Hager said of the Town Board, running off a list of problems including crumbling infrastructure and the need to attract business. `We think we need to empower our elected officials to be able to move more quickly to solve problems.`
Extending the supervisor’s term is a concept that has received at least tacit approval from former supervisors, but again there were members of the public who said the change is a challenge to the democratic process.
Some residents said they like being able to toss out their leaders if need be, and even change up the majority of the board (the supervisor and two councilpersons) every two years. Stretching the supervisor’s term would mean that option would be available every four years.
`One of the nice things we have now is staggered town council positions. … That’s an extremely important function,` said resident Jared King.
King added he doesn’t think more power should be placed in the supervisor’s office.
`He’s not really a mayor, and I don’t think I’d like to see him in that light,` he said.
The 20/20 Committee and proponents of the change argued two years isn’t enough time to do the increasingly complex job and tackle issues.
There will be a similar public meeting at the June 8 meeting of the Town Board. The board convenes at 6 p.m. at Town Hall, and the plan is to leave plenty of time for public comment at that meeting.“