County Legislature Will Advance Local Law on Term Limits
County Executive Actions on Term Limits Formally Adopt Local Law
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Onondaga County Legislature has received the County Executive’s signed actions on the recently passed local law regarding term limits. However, the transmittals delivered to the Clerk’s Office included conflicting documents from the Executive’s Office.
- At 11:38 a.m., the Legislature received an electronic communication adopting the local law.
At 11:50 a.m., the Deputy Clerk confirmed receipt of that adoption.
At 11:57 a.m., a second electronic communication arrived, attempting to veto the same local law. - Approximately 12:15 p.m., a representative from County Law Department physically delivered two sealed envelopes containing both the adoption and the attempted veto with wet-ink signatures.
“It is unfortunate that we have to clarify this conflicting information coming from the Executive’s Office,” said Chairwoman Watts at today’s press conference. “Our responsibility is to follow the County Charter.”
Following review of the County Charter and consultation with outside counsel, the Legislature has determined that the first received electronic document is the valid and actionable adoption of the local law. Because the adopted local law was received, opened, and recorded both electronically and physically, the law is deemed as adopted under Section 210 of the Onondaga County Charter. The subsequent electronic and physical veto messages will not be recognized.
At 3:38 p.m., Bob Durr of the County Law Office, informed the Chairwoman that the electronic transmissions and the delivered transmittal adopting the local law were sent in error. However, the procedural act of rescinding an adopted law is to present a new local law, according to the charter. The County Legislature will advance the adopted local law to the Board of Elections to appear as a ballot referendum enabling voters to ultimately decide.
“The body here will adhere not only to the law as governed by the charter, but by the will of the voters. Anyone who objects to this local law should make their appeal to the voters of Onondaga County—the intended decision-makers on term limits,” said Watts.