Ordinance Setting Term Limits For Township Auditor Introduced

Galloway Township Council introduced an ordinance to attach term limits to the tax auditor Tuesday night, Feb. 26, and that would impact the current township auditor.

The proposal calls for four-year term limits for the auditor, beginning Jan. 1, 2013. If passed, Township Auditor Leon Costello, who has been the auditor for over 10 years, would have to relinquish his position as of Jan. 1, 2017. However, there is no proposal for the limit on number of terms, meaning that Costello could return to his position after he has been absent for a year.

The ordinance was introduced at the Feb. 12, 2013 meeting. When introduced, it called for three-year term limits and it wasn’t retroactive. At that time, council voted to table the matter, 5-2, with councilmen Jim Gorman and Jim McElwee voting in favor of amending the resolution at that time and voting for it then.

The topic was brought up for discussion again Tuesday night, with four-year term limits that would be introduced retroactively, in compliance with county policy.

“The resolution called for three-year limits, but everyone agrees with four. I’m OK with that,” McElwee said.

First reading was Tuesday night, and a final vote will take place at the next meeting, on March 12.