The Village of Great Neck Board of Trustees opened a public hearing Tuesday on a proposal that would extend terms for elected village officials from two years to four years and shift village elections to a biennial schedule, though no vote was taken and additional hearings are expected before any decision is made.
Village Clerk-Treasurer Abraham Cohan presented trustees with two transition options for implementing the change. Under both proposals, beginning in 2030, mayors, trustees and village justices would serve four-year terms, with elections held every other year instead of annually.
One option would temporarily give the mayor and trustees elected in 2027 three-year terms and trustees elected in 2028 four-year terms. The second option would instead give the 2027 winners five-year terms and the 2028 trustees two-year terms before transitioning into the new cycle.
No residents spoke during the public hearing, and trustees left the hearing open for future discussion. The proposed local law is subject to a referendum.
Village officials said the proposal is being considered not only to reduce costs, but also to lessen the administrative and campaign burden created by annual elections. Cohan said village elections cost roughly $7,000 to $10,000 each year and also require significant staff time and manpower to organize and run.
Deputy Mayor Barton Sobel said the current two-year cycle can create an almost constant campaign season for candidates and residents alike. Sobel said candidates must repeatedly dedicate time to campaigning and fundraising, while some residents have expressed frustration with the frequency of elections.
Mayor Pedram Bral told the Great Neck News Record after the meeting that village officials were not aware of any petitions related to the proposal. No residents spoke during Tuesday’s hearing.
Trustees also approved summer hours for Village Hall employees from May 22 through Sept. 4. Under the schedule, Village Hall will close at 3 p.m. on Fridays, though officials noted the building will remain open until 4 p.m. on Fridays in June due to tax collection season. Employees will shorten lunch breaks Monday through Thursday to offset the reduced Friday hours.
In other business, trustees reappointed members of the Great Neck Housing Authority while adding a new board secretary. The board also expanded residency requirements for election inspectors for the June 16 village election to include all Nassau County residents, citing difficulties recruiting enough certified inspectors from within the village.
Trustees additionally approved removing parking near the driveway entrance at 221 Middle Neck Road after residents raised safety concerns about visibility for drivers exiting the property. The board also reviewed an application to convert former office space at 1 Wooley Lane into a rental apartment, though final approval remains pending Nassau County Planning Commission review.
Source: LI Press
