Northampton County Council met June 15 to discuss and vote on three Home Rule Charter amendments introduced at the last meeting.
These amendments would add a referendum question to the 2023 general election regarding term limits for county council members, the executive and the controller.
According to the proposed amendments, county council members would be limited to three four-year terms in succession. Both the county executive and controller would not be able to serve more than two successive terms.
Term limits would not take effect until January 2024 for council members and the controller, while the executive’s term limit would not take effect until January 2026.
Councilwoman Tara Zrinski opposes the term limits and feels voters place limits on these positions when they choose who they want to represent them. She also felt the referendums “would not be true democracy in allowing the voters to speak because turnout will be generally low.”
All three amendments passed with a 6-3 vote, with Zrinski and Councilmen Ron Heckman and Kevin Lott voting against. Zrinski, who is running for controller, abstained from voting on the term limit for that position.
In other business, council approved a resolution giving 13 assistant district attorneys, who have taken on a larger case load due to staff shortage, a one-time $3,000 longevity bonus.
County council next meets 6:30 p.m. July 6 in the county building, 669 Washington St., Easton.