BILL NUMBER: S9145
SPONSOR: WEBB
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the town law, in relation to clarifying procedures for
first elections of fire districts to allow for at-large voting
 
PURPOSE:
Clarifies procedures affecting the first annual election of fire
district officials to a board of fire commissioners
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one amends section 174 of the town law to clarify that every
registered voter shall be entitled to cast one vote for each vacant
position on a board of fire commissioners to be filled in the first
annual election of fire district officials.
Section two is the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The current law that guides the process for the election of the first
board of fire commissioners in a newly constituted fire district is
ambiguous with regard to the number of votes each voter may cast in the
first annual election. This legal clarity was requested by a town that
found the lack of clarification a major cause of consternation when the
new fire district held their first annual election. Clarification is
provided so that other communities with newly constituted fire districts
will have a clear understanding of the first election process.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to the State
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.

Statutes affected:
S9145: 174 town law, 174(2) town law