Huntington Town Board defeats term limits in 3-2 vote

Huntington Town Board members Tuesday night defeated a resolution to limit the number of terms that they and elected town officials may serve.

The measure, which went down 3-2, would have included town board members, town supervisor, town clerk, highway superintendent and receiver of taxes. It would have placed limits of no more than three four-year terms on the same office.

"Until I have another board, I would not offer a term-limits resolution again," said the proposal's sponsor, town board member Mark Mayoka after the vote. "This board has made its position known." Town Supervisor Frank Petrone seconded the motion.

At a public hearing last month and Tuesday night, some speakers said they favored term limits for policymakers, but said the other positions should be exempt.

The board also held public hearings on its preliminary operating and capital budgets for 2011. The $184.3-million preliminary operating budget holds the line on taxes and calls for no tax increases for residents in three of the town's funds - general, part-town and refuse - and a 2 percent decrease in the highway fund tax.

Just two residents spoke at the hearings. Mayoka said he wants to discuss other cost-saving measures with Petrone.

"The process is still open," Petrone said. "I wish he had taken advantage of the time set up before the preliminary budget was offered."

The budget calls for a decrease of $8.68 in the real property tax bill for a taxpayer whose home is assessed at $4,100. It also includes an $800,000 decrease in operations spending.

The proposal calls for eliminating 56 positions, an estimated savings of $4.3 million. The positions include 36 that have been held vacant this year and 20 from the estimated 38 employees expected to opt into the state's early retirement incentive program. Positions vacated by retirees that are not eliminated will either remain vacant for part of the year or be downgraded, for a savings of $200,000.

The budget continues a freeze on salaries of elected and appointed personnel.

To compensate for sagging revenue and a decline in investment income, town fees are rising for fireworks permits, boat racks and commuter parking.

The $10.9 million capital budget calls for a 22 percent decrease in overall capital spending, while increasing funding for road rehabilitation from $1.5 million to $3 million.