Riga board works on Home Rule draft

As members of the Riga Town Board held a special meeting Thursday morning June 14 to discuss a Home Rule Message it is seeking from the state, a bill authorizing the Town of Riga to establish a Host Benefit Agreement reserve fund was introduced into the Assembly.

Riga Town Board members had called a special meeting to go over information the town had received from the office of State Assemblywoman Susan John on June 12. Members had not had time to review the materials before Tuesday night's town board meeting and also wanted to seek the advice of Special Counsel Marcia Havens.

The draft of the Message that John had sent back to the town board caused several concerns for Havens and council members, including a "sunset clause" that would repeal the law on December 31, 2014. Havens stated this would cause difficulties in funding long-term projects with money from the reserve fund created by the Home Rule Message. Other concerns in the revised draft included use of the term "sewers" instead of "drainage" and some clarifications in the fire protection clause of the proposal.

Town board members received a fax while they were meeting last Thursday that indicated the bill had already been introduced into the State Assembly. The board recessed while the offices of Assemblywoman Susan John and State Senator Jim Alesi were called for clarification. Board members learned that the bill had been introduced into the Assembly and was expected to be introduced into the Senate Thursday afternoon. Havens spoke on the phone with Assemblywoman John's office and learned that there was still time to make revisions to the bill. Board members decided to proceed work on getting the Home Rule Message through before the State Legislature goes out of session late next week. Havens agreed to continue to review changes to the town's draft made in Albany and speak with State Assembly attorneys and Susan John's office. The town board planned to meet again on Saturday, June 16 (9 a.m.) to go over revisions before sending them to Albany.

In her letter on June 12, Assemblywoman John had indicated that the town's proposal to deliver checks from the town to its residents in the form of a tax rebate could not be accomplished under the state constitution. The letter states that in the absence of town taxes, the rebate would constitute a gift. In light of this hurdle, council members voted on Thursday to take their request for the rebate out of the Home Rule Message draft. Supervisor Pamela Moore referred to continuing to pursue the rebate as a possible "deal breaker."

June 17, 2007