Suffolk legislators weighing 12-year limit for officeholders

Suffolk County legislators voted to hold a public hearing to bar county lawmakers from serving more than a total of 12 years in office, an effort to prevent them from running for new terms after taking a break.

The legislature advanced a measure that would establish a countywide referendum in November and settle an issue that caused a thorny political and legal dispute last year.

The current county law prohibits elected officials from serving more than 12 consecutive years in office.

A date has not been set for the hearing, said Michael Martino, a spokesman for majority Republicans.

Legis. Stephanie Bontempi (R-Huntington) and Legis. James Mazzarella (R-Moriches) introduced the legislation, and the measure has the backing of majority Republicans in the county legislature. It passed through the county's Ways and Means Committee last week, Martino said.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, a Democrat finishing his third term next year, told Newsday in a statement on Tuesday: “I am a strong supporter of term limits, which exist in the County and half the Towns in Suffolk as well. I reviewed the bill and intend to support this legislation if approved.”

The law comes after Democrats and Republicans quarreled over the issue in 2021 legislative elections.

Last year, former Legis. Kate Browning (WFP-Shirley) announced her candidacy for a fourth term representing Suffolk's 3rd Legislative District. She had served twelve years in office, with her third term ending in 2017.

Two Republican voters in the Third District filed a lawsuit to remove Browning from the ballot, arguing she had served 12 years in office. The county's term limit law was approved in 1993.

But Democrats successfully argued that the law, as written, allows lawmakers to serve the 12 years consecutively.

An appellate court panel allowed Browning to remain on the ballot. Republican James Mazzarella defeated her.

Bontempi said last week when she introduced the law: "Laws are often confusing and we want to make sure that the language is clear. It goes back to transparency in government and being clear to make sure everyone understands what we are saying."

Also Tuesday, Suffolk lawmakers approved a "Home Rule Message" requesting that the State Legislature allow Suffolk to raise the county's hotel and motel" Tax to 5.5% from a current cap of 3%.

The tax is what's collected from individuals who rent hotel or motel rooms in Suffolk County and is used to fund parks and museums.

Suffolk County legislators approved a "Home Rule Message" requesting that the State Legislature relinquish the county's rights to more than 100 acres of county parkland to allow the building and operation of a wind farm's underground power cables.

Lawmakers amended a "home rule message," approved in April, calling for the alienation of county parkland at Smith Point County Park, the Smith Point Marina and Southaven County Park.

Officials have called the measure a first step in ultimately allowing Orsted, a Denmark based company, and its partner Eversource, to connect its 924-megawatt Sunrise Wind project to the Long Island Power Authority.

Orsted said in a statement: “The amendments include technical details requested by the [State] Assembly and clarification on ‘temporary’ versus ‘permanent’ use of the designated parkland." 

The statement continued, "During the construction phase, disturbance will be short term in duration and limited primarily to paved areas in the parking lots of Smith Point Beach and Marina. Importantly, construction at the beach and marina will be subject to seasonal restrictions to avoid disruption during the summer season. Once installed, the location of underground infrastructure in the permanent easement will not impact the parkland use."

With Mark Harrington

By Scott Eidler

scott.eidler@newsday.com@ScottEidler

Scott Eidler is a deputy editor for the towns department at Newsday. Scott has worked at Newsday since 2012 and previously covered municipal government and education.