This article is enacted pursuant to the authority
of Chapter 365 of the Laws of 1976 which added a new Subparagraph
(3) to Paragraph d of Subdivision 1 of § 10 of the Municipal
Home Rule Law authorizing a town to adopt a local law which amends
or supersedes any provision of the Town Law in relation to the property,
affairs or government of the town or in relation to any of the other
enumerated subject matters in such § 10, unless there is
a state legislative restriction on such amendment or supersession.
The purpose of this article is to permit the
Town Board to increase two-year terms of elected officials to four-year
terms to provide for more efficient and continuous government representation
and to further provide for such referendum at an annual election of
any year, rather than at any biennial town election.
Section 24-a of the Town Law is hereby amended
and superseded in its application to the Town of Victor by adding
a new § 24-a1 providing as follows:
The Town of Victor may, in any year it deems
necessary, and at least 150 days prior to any town, state or federal
election, adopt a resolution to provide that the term of office of
each elective town official thereafter elected shall be four years,
and such resolution shall be submitted to the qualified electors of
the town for their approval or disapproval at the next annual election
conducted in the town. No such resolution shall become effective until
approved by the affirmative vote of the majority of the qualified
electors of the town voting on such proposition. The submission of
such proposition shall be as provided in Article 7 of this chapter
for a referendum thereunder in like manner as if a petition therefor
had been filed in accordance with the provisions of this chapter,
except that such proposition may be submitted at any town election.
If the Town Board shall have adopted such a resolution and if a majority
of the votes cast on any such proposition when submitted as herein
provided shall be in the affirmative, the terms of office of those
town officers included in such proposition and thereafter elected
shall be for a period of four years.