Judges: KATHRYN SHEINGOLD, Assistant Solicitor General
Filed Date: 7/26/2005
Status: Precedential
Modified Date: 7/5/2016
Albert R. Trezza Informal Opinion Town Attorney No. 2005-17 Town of Red Hook 7340 South Broadway Red Hook, New York 12571
Dear Mr. Trezza:
You have requested an opinion regarding whether one person may simultaneously serve on the town Zoning Board of Appeals ("ZBA") and as the ZBA's secretary. You have explained that the members of the ZBA are appointed by the Town Board and are not compensated. You have also stated that the members of the ZBA annually select the secretary to the ZBA, who receives compensation in an amount determined by the Town Board. You have described the duties of the ZBA secretary and have stated that the day-to-day oversight of her performance as secretary is by the ZBA chairperson, an individual designated by the Town Board pursuant to Town Law §
You have explained that the individual currently serving on the town ZBA and serving as its secretary was initially selected by the ZBA as its secretary in 1987. Subsequently, the Town Board appointed her a member of the ZBA. She has continued to serve in both positions since 1989, having been selected by the ZBA as its secretary each year.
We are of the opinion that the same person may not serve as a member of the ZBA and as secretary to the ZBA under the circumstances you have described. In the absence of statutory authority to do so, the appointment by the ZBA of one of its members to another position violates the established rule enunciated in Wood v. Town of Whitehall,
We have applied this principle in previous opinions to conclude, for example, that a county legislature may not appoint one of its members to the county planning commission, Op. Att'y Gen. (Inf.) No. 99-38; that a town recreation commission may not appoint one of its members to a position of employment as assistant to the recreation superintendent, Op. Att'y Gen. (Inf.) No. 83-38; and that a town board may not appoint one of its members to part-time employment to maintain a town park, Op. Att'y Gen. (Inf.) No. 81-51.
While the individual currently serving in both positions initially served as secretary to the ZBA and was subsequently appointed to the ZBA, pursuant to your local law she was selected each year as secretary to the ZBA by the ZBA. We are not aware of a provision of state law that would authorize the appointment by the ZBA of one of its members to a second position. See Town Law §
We have previously concluded that a local legislative body may overcome the common law principle set forth in Wood by enacting a local law upon its finding, based on local conditions, that the public interest would be served. Op. Att'y Gen. (Inf.) No. 87-47. We have opined that such a local law may serve the public interest, for example, in a small municipality without sufficient residents willing to serve in specific positions or who possess the necessary expertise. Op. Att'y Gen. (Inf.) No. 94-2; Op. Att'y Gen. (Inf.) No. 91-14. We note, however, that the Town Board may authorize the ZBA to "call upon any department, agency or employee of the town for such assistance as shall be deemed necessary," Town Law §
The Attorney General issues formal opinions only to officers and departments of state government. Thus, this is an informal opinion rendered to assist you in advising the municipality you represent.
Very truly yours,
KATHRYN SHEINGOLD, Assistant Solicitor General In Charge of Opinions