Smithtown Democrats Chairman: NYS Assembly Made the Right Choice on Smithtown Bill
Earlier this week, The New York State Assembly approved an Act extending the time within which certain elected officers may file their oaths of offices, thereby negating the need for a Special Town Board election this November. Assemblymen Edward Hennessey (D- 3rd AD) and Michael Fitzpatrick (R- 8th AD.) sponsored the bill. Specifically, the new law enables “any duly elected town officer or officers within the town of Smithtown as of the last town- wide election that failed to take or file their respective oaths of office within the statutorily prescribed period shall continue to serve in such capacity and for the term from January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2017.” The bill now moves to Governor Cuomo’s desk for final approval.
The Chairman of the Smithtown Democratic Committee commended the members of NYS Assembly that voted to pass this measure, one that reflects the will of Smithtown’s voters to re-elect Supervisor Pat Vecchio and to elect Lynn Nowick to the Town Council this past November. Smithtown Democratic Committee Chairman Ed Maher said, “I applaud the members of the Democratic majority in the NYS Assembly for embodying a spirit of cooperation and civic responsibility that obviously does not exist in Smithtown Town Hall.” Mr. Maher added, “A special election would be a gross misuse of taxpayer funds, so we’re fortunate that the Democrats in Albany are helping to clean up Smithtown’s mess.”