On Binghamton Ballot: Council Override of Mayoral Veto

11/5/2012 (Updated 10:56:22 PM)

On Election Day, voters will be faced with the option for vote yes or no whether to make it easier for the city council to overturn the mayor's veto.
 
The referendum, or Proposition One would change the number of votes needed by council to override.

Right now, the number is six out of seven members, but the ballot initiative would change that to five out of seven.

Mayor Matt Ryan said council president Reri Rennia is pushing for the change, because she didn't have enough votes to override a Ryan veto from last year.

Rennia said it's a matter of a better balance of power between council and the mayor's office.

"You have to try to think beyond the current administration or whoever is sitting in the office and just look at the broad picture. Council has very limited authority as it is and six out of seven has made it nearly impossible to override mayoral vetoes," said City Council President Teri Rennia.

"Some have been sustained, some have been overturned. It's working. This is just changing the balance of power and it shouldn't happen," said Binghamton Mayor Matt Ryan.

Polls open in Binghamton and throughout Broome County at 6AM Tuesday morning.