Glen Cove debates doubling city leaders' term lengths

Glen Cove is considering a proposal to double the terms of the mayor and city council members from two years to four.

A hearing last night on the idea drew residents on both sides. Proponents of longer terms said they would give city government more continuity and reduce time spent campaigning.

"The minute that you start to divert attention from governing to campaigning . . . you lose focus," Glenn Howard, executive vice-president of the city's Chamber of Commerce, said during the hearing.

Others said the council was moving too quickly and should consider other ideas. Reginald Spinello, the Republican candidate for mayor in 2007, said he thought the city might look at three-year terms rather than four.

"Three years is more than enough time for someone to get the job done," he said.

Another resident, Kathleen Lappano, called for "vigorous discussion."

"I don't think that is going to happen if this is rushed through," she said.

Voters must approve the change by referendum.

, said in an interview. "People are afraid to make cuts when they need to."

"It would really be healthier for the city to have continuity, to have consistency, to let the leaders who make decisions in one year be around in two or three years," he said.

But Suozzi's opponent in last year's mayoral race, Paul Meli, questioned the city council's pace. Meli, a Republican, said the city should form a bipartisan commission to consider options for term lengths.

City officials have discussed changing term lengths before. In 1994, Glen Cove held a referendum to make the mayor's term four years. It failed by about 300 votes.