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YORKTOWN, NY — The town of Yorktown will hold a special election to fill the expired term of town supervisor.
During a special meeting Wednesday, the Town Board approved a resolution setting the special election for Tuesday, April 16.
Supervisor Thomas Diana died unexpectedly Jan. 5 at the age of 66. He had just been sworn in days earlier to his first full term as supervisor.
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According to the resolution, April 16 is the date “upon which a special election shall be held to allow for the election to the unexpired term of Town Supervisor.”
The election will be administered by the Westchester County Board of Elections.
Find out what's happening in Yorktown-Somerswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Yorktown Clerk Diana Quast said during the meeting there will be a period of early voting and that the county elections board confirmed it will allow absentee ballots as well as early vote-by-mail ballots.
The resolution stated that the town code allowed the vacancy to be filled by appointment, but if an appointment could not made within 30 days, the vacancy could be filled by a special election within 60 to 90 days or during the next general election, whichever is the shortest period of time.
Acting Supervisor Ed Lachterman said during the meeting that the reason there would not be an appointment was because there was a presumption that he was going to run and that he needed to figure out whether he was able to devote enough time if he were elected.
“It’s a very important job,” Lachterman said. “I needed to take away time so there can be balance.”
He assured the public during the meeting that he could dedicate at least 40 hours a week — likely more — to the job of supervisor.
Also at the meeting, the Town Board approved a resolution to authorize additional compensation for Lachterman, since he has been acting supervisor since Jan. 8. Lachterman recused himself from the discussion of the resolution and its vote.
He will be paid $111,390 per year — which is the difference between the supervisor and council member salaries — retroactively to Jan. 8 “until such time as either an appointment to fill the vacancy occurs or an individual is elected to fulfill the remaining unexpired term of the late supervisor.” The stipend will be in addition to the council member’s salary of $25,080 per year.
The resolution stated that Lachterman, as deputy town supervisor, will remain as a council member and retain his ability to vote on matters that come before the Town Board, in order to guard against the failure of having a quorum.
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