West Haven council approves four-year terms for council, sets plan for syncing board elections

Councilman Gary Donovan moved and the council approved a recommendation to change the term length for the City Council and the Board of Assessment Appeals from two years to four years, with terms to run concurrently with the mayor.

"I'd like to make a motion that the city council and board of assessment appeals goes from a two-term to a fourterm concurrent with the mayor," Donovan said before the vote. The motion received a second from Councilwoman Katherine Tucker and passed with one recorded opposition.

Council members debated implications for turnout and checks on executive power. Councilman Ron Quaglani warned that longer terms reduce voters ability to respond quickly to poor performance; others, including Donovan and supporters, argued a four-year municipal cycle reduces election administration costs and aligns offices for clearer accountability. Several members noted the need to handle staggered Board of Education terms so that all members are on the same municipal cycle; the council voted later to recommend amending Board of Education timing so that all seats will be on the ballot in 2031.

Why it matters: Changing the council and select offices from two- to four-year terms alters election cadence and may affect turnout and local accountability. The council included transitional language to address staggered seats on the Board of Education.

Next steps: Council staff will send the recommended language to the Charter Revision Commission and work with the city attorney to draft clear ballot question wording and transitional clauses for staggered seats.