The Bethlehem Town Board at its Wednesday, Jan. 25, meeting voted to move ahead in forming three citizen advisory committees proposed by Supervisor John Clarkson, with the stipulation that membership be opened up to members of the general public.
Residents will have two weeks to submit their names for the Budget Advisory Group, the Governance Options Study or to consult for the town’s Ethics Board. Those selected will be confirmed at the board’s next meeting on Feb. 8.
Other committees, like a Public Engagement Committee and some recommended by Board Member Kyle Kotary, will be put to a vote at a later date.
“The Budget Advisory Committee, in my mind, has the biggest job of all these groups and needs to start soon,” said Councilwoman Joann Dawson. “It will not be done in June.”
The board still needs to agree on completion dates for the committees and more detailed descriptions of what it expects the committees to study.
Board members had reservations about the Governance Options Committee’s charge to investigate splitting the town into wards. However, all said they would keep an open mind concerning the committee’s findings. Newly appointed member George Lenhardt was not at the meeting because of a previously planned vacation.
“In the course of my election, I don’t remember a single person talking to me of the need to split the town into wards,” said Councilman Jeffery Kuhn in an interview after the meeting. “I don’t know why we would do it. I think there are some compelling reasons why it isn’t a good idea.`
Kuhn said as a board member, he feels responsible for oversight of the entire town and not just one portion of it. Kotary said he feels the same way.
“Personally, I disagree with (the proposal). I think it would create a more disjointed and divisive form of government,” he said.
Clarkson, however, thinks the issue should be researched since he heard during his campaigning that residents on the outskirts of town often feel underrepresented. He said he feels the system is an interesting option with “many advantages but potentially some disadvantages, too.”
“What I want to see is a good study of its potential from a citizen’s group, as well as a lot of public discussion and input. After that process, there should be ample information to either support or not support holding a public referendum,” he said.
Kotary said he does his best to regularly be seen in every part of the town and if certain residents are disenfranchised or unheard, they should “speak louder to let us know what we can do to better serve you.”
According to Kuhn, only about 1 percent or fewer of towns in New York use the ward system of government, and none of them are in the Capital District.
The system calls for the town to be split into four or six wards of equal population, to be drawn by the Board of Elections. Under the state law for towns, this issue could go to a public referendum either through an action of the Town Board or by citizens collecting enough signatures to force a vote.
Clarkson said whether the ward system is implemented or not, he plans to hold several neighborhood forums with topical presentations from town staff, himself and other board members who wish to attend. The forums would start in areas like Selkirk and Glenmont, with residents being given the chance to speak on topics they feel are important.
The Governance Committee may also research the potential of lengthening the term of supervisor from two to fours years. This proposal was brought up by the town’s 20/20 Committee last year along with the idea of making three elected offices appointed positions, but after a public vetting the board voted 3-2 not to advance any of the measures.
Kuhn said he sees the advantages of extending the supervisor’s term.
“I think this is something I would probably support, given the committee’s findings,” he said. “My concern is when you have a supervisor with a short term, I’m not sure if he or she has significant time to effectuate their agenda, and almost immediately have to thinking about reelection. It seems weird to have the executive of a town have a shorter term then its legislators.”
Kotary said if the committee is looking into lengthening the term for the supervisor position, he would like the same research done for the positions of highway superintendent and town clerk, which also have two-year terms.
In additional to the committees already on the agenda, Kotary proposed a Comprehensive Plan Review Committee, an Economic Development Committee and a Communications Committee that would bring together the Town Board, Planning Board, Zoning Board and IDA at certain points throughout the year to keep each other in the loop.
“We have had other boards make decisions the Town Board didn’t necessarily agree with, and might not have happened if we knew what was going on,” he said. “Sometimes other boards see things at a micro level without seeing big picture.”
Dawson mentioned that before additional committees are established, the board should research conclusions drawn by similar citizen’s groups of the past to prevent too much overlap and to save time.
The Town Board said it is also looking to fill two open positions on the town’s Industrial Development Agency. Chairman Frank Veneiza said the IDA is looking for someone with financial experience and who has the time “to do a lot of reading.”
Those looking to be appointed to the IDA also have until before the next town meeting to submit a resume.
