The change in the term limits law affects eight of the 51 Council members, who only get a…
By Adam Kramer
All of Queens’ 14 City Council members voted in favor of a bill which modified the existing term limits law that would have forced out eight members after six years.
The change in the term limits law affects eight of the 51 Council members, who only get a two-year term when an election year occurs right after a census year. This limits them to six years instead of eight years in office. Regular Council terms are four years.
The term limits law, approved in two voter referendums, limits City Council members to two four-year terms. The alteration to the law stipulates that another two-year term should be given to Council members who are limited to six years in office. The Council passed the bill July 24 by a vote of 46-2. Three City Council members were absent for the vote.
“It was presented as a modification of something that should not have happened,” said City Councilman David Weprin (D-Hollis), chairman of the Finance Committee.
He said the six-year limit of some Council members was “a fluke” that happens every 18 years when an election year occurs right after a census year. The next time a similar situation will happen will be in 2021.
The two-year term for City Council members was implemented to account for redistricting, which is based on the 2000 census numbers.
City Council Speaker Gifford Miller (D-Manhattan) is one of the eight Council members affected by the new legislation.
The bill did not stir much controversy, Weprin said, because everyone is satisfied with the speaker’s leadership.
The bill, which also prevents Council members from resigning after 7 1/2 years and then running for re-election, now heads to Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Bloomberg has 30 days to sign or veto the bill. If the mayor vetoes the bill, the Council has enough votes to override it.
A spokesman for the mayor said he has not made a decision on the bill.
The 1993 term limits law passed by city voters allows Council members to serve only two consecutive four-year terms. Term limits can be repealed if 26 Council members vote in favor of the move.
The quest to implement term limits for members of the City Council, the mayor, the comptroller and the public advocate was spearheaded by Ron Lauder, president of the Estee Lauder Cosmetics empire and an erstwhile candidate for mayor. He spent more than $5 million in the 1990s to push for term limits.
Lauder and many good government groups are in favor of the new bill to amend the term limits.
“We still have work to do,” said City Councilman Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans). “There is still an equity that allows some members to serve as long as 10 years because they are serving out an unexpired term. By improving these glitches we enhance the term limits law, not hamper it.”
Reach reporter Adam Kramer by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 157.
