BILL NUMBER: S9363
SPONSOR: PALUMBO
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act in relation to increasing the term of office from two years to
four years for the Trustees of the Freeholders and Commonalty of the
town of Southampton and providing for the staggering of such terms of
office
 
PURPOSE:
To increase the terms of office for the Trustees of the Freeholders and
Commonalty of the town of Southampton and to provide for the staggering
of such terms of office.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. Affirms the authority and proprietary rights of the Trustees
of the Freeholders and Commonalty of the town of Southampton and sets
the parameters for increasing the terms of office and election stagger-
ing, whereby after the 2026 biennial election, the top three vote
getters will serve a full term of 4 years and the remaining 2 will hold
office for 2 years. For all succeeding elections, Trustees will hold
office for a term of 4 years.
Section 2. Sets for the effective date,
 
JUSTIFICATION:
This legislation, beginning in 2026 and biennially thereafter, increases
the term limits for the Trustees of the Freeholders and Commonalty of
the town of Southampton from two to four years and staggers elections.
The town of East Hampton was granted a similar modification to the make-
up of their body via Chapter 366 of 2021.
This bill would provide cost savings for the County Board of Elections
and the town of Southampton. It will also provide greater political
stability to the Trustees of the Freeholders and Commonalty of the town
of Southampton, the longest serving elected body in the State of New
York. Since 1686, the Trustees have been charged with safeguarding
public easements along the bay bottoms and protecting public rights to
access ocean and bay beaches.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:;
Immediately