Voters to decide on NYC term limits

which referendum questions to put on the ballot for the Nov. 2 election. Those include term limits and questions about whether to reduce the number of petitions needed by candidates to get on the ballot and whether more transparency should be required in political spending.

The panel began its work in March and has held multiple hearings all over the city, gathering opinions from hundreds of citizens. It decided to put before voters several issues, narrowed from scores of ideas.

"The questions that we're bringing forward, we believe after our due diligence, will lead to a better government, a better functioning government," said the commission's chairman, Matthew Goldstein.

The wording of the questions has yet to be finalized, but the term-limits measure likely would ask voters whether New York City's charter should impose a limit of two consecutive full terms for the mayor, comptroller, public advocate, borough presidents and City Council members.

The charter commission approved including a measure to let voters decide whether City Council members should be prohibited from changing the term-limits law to benefit incumbents voting on the proposal.- AP