As 2013 begins to take shape, Albany County Executive Dan McCoy is urging changes in the legislature. Specifically, its size.
The legislature consists of 39 lawmakers, and, in a statement released Monday, Jan. 7, McCoy suggested reducing the number of legislatures significantly. McCoy added he wants term limits on his own position. Both suggestions were brought to the county’s Charter Review Commission, which has 11 members, including Legislature Chairman Shawn Morse. The commission had its first meeting Wednesday, Jan. 9, and will eventually make any decisions on charter change.
McCoy said the size of legislatures vary from county to county, and the charter review commission needs to do research to see what would be the best number of legislators for Albany County. McCoy did not suggest a specific number of legislators he’d like to see.
“Our County Legislature, of which I was a member for 12 years, the last two as chairman, is one of the largest in the state,” McCoy said in a statement. He added Erie County started with 20 elected officials and now only has 11.
“Lawmakers there have called the resizing ‘making true reform a reality,’” he said.
Suggesting such changes could severely alter the legislature, McCoy acknowledged charter change will likely be an uphill battle and that he could “imagine some of (the legislators) aren’t going to be happy.”
“When I became County Executive, I said leaders need to make decisions and we need to be progressive,” he said. “To be progressive and do my diligence, we’ve been following that.”
In addition to decreasing the legislature’s size, McCoy wants to implement a new law to have term limits for his own position.
“Term limits are a sensible means of insuring that the county doesn’t become stagnant or complacent as the world around it remains dynamic and ever changing,” he said.
Morse said there are many pros and cons to what McCoy is suggesting, but the Charter Review Commission will look at everything before making any decisions.
“I’ve heard people say, ‘Lower the size of government,’ and when you ask them why, they don’t have an answer. I don’t do business that way,” Morse said. “I say, show me why we should do something, and show me the facts, and I’ll make a decision based on that.”
As for term limits, Morse said he is not a supporter.
While McCoy said any changes wouldn’t take place until 2016, he hopes the commission will look into what will work best for the county.
“I’m not afraid to fail,” McCoy said. “I don’t want to fail, but we need to try to do things differently to protect our taxpayers and that’s what I’m trying to do here.”