FLEMING - Fleming voters will get the chance to weigh in on a proposition to extend term limits for three elected town positions.

By a vote of 4-0 with Town Supervisor Gary Searing abstaining, the Fleming Town Board Monday placed on the November ballot a proposition asking voters whether the terms for the town supervisor, clerk and highway superintendent should be extended from two to four years.

If approved, the measure would not go into effect until Jan. 1, 2010.

“I think it provides continuity,” Councilman Ronald LaVarnway said of the measure following the meeting. “There's a learning curve that any public official needs to go through, and sometimes it takes a while.”

LaVarnway, in the midst of his first term in office, said that he is still learning aspects of the job. When it comes to officials who serve two-year terms, he said that, by the time they settle in, it's time to run for re-election.

“I don't think you can see some projects through fruition having two-year terms,” he said.

LaVarnway and Councilman Gerald Dudek both said during the meeting that it's imperative that voters ultimately make the decision.

After fielding several phone calls, Dudek said he's received mixed reactions to the proposal.

“But the one thing they said was that they'd like to have a chance to vote on it in November,” he said. “They want to have their say.”

Three members of the public didn't want to wait until November to give their opinion of the proposal. During a public hearing, Jamie Moore, Kathryn Cappella Hankins and Doug Ross opined and asked the board questions about this proposal.

Moore voiced his opposition to the measure, saying that two-year terms were likely established many years ago for a reason.

“If somebody does not fulfill the obligation to the town, in two years they can run for re-election and we can revoke their seat,” he said, “If somebody does an outstanding job for the town, then they'll probably be re-elected. I would like to see it stay the way it is.”

Hankins said that four-year terms would allow the officials to “get their bearings” and would be more likely to initiate long-term projects.

But on the flipside, Ross asked whether a recall provision would be included in the proposition to hold elected officials accountable.

Town Attorney Dale Yates said that a recall would be a long and costly process with the town having to petition the appellate court in Rochester.

“Once elected, it's hard to get somebody out,” he said.

In response to the public comments, Searing said, “We're looking for uniformity and continuity.”

But when asked following the meeting for clarification on his position, Searing refused to comment, stating after being pressed further that he'll issue a press release at a later date.

In other news:

* The board unanimously approved the Fleming Fire Department No. 1, located at 6063 W. Lake Road, to be the sole polling place for the November election.

* The board will convene a public information session at 6:30 p.m. July 30 at 2433 Dublin Road, Fleming, to discuss town zoning.

Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or alyssa.sunkin@lee.net