Sands Point Civic Association
How New Laws are Enacted
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Sands Point Civic Association
How New Laws are Enacted |
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The process of enacting a Village law, whether amending an existing law or establishing a new law, begins with the Village Board of Trustees determining that a new law should be promulgated. This process, governed by State law, consists of the publication of notice of the proposed law in the official Village newspaper, the Port Washington News, along with a date and time for a public hearing. The public hearing may not take place less than ten days after publication of the proposed law. Generally, the public hearings for proposed new Village laws in Sands Point are scheduled immediately prior to the monthly Village Board of Trustees meetings. Copies of the proposed law are usually available in the Village office a few days before the public hearing and are posted at official Village bulletin boards in several locations within the Village. The public hearing is an opportunity for all residents to comment, pro or con, or simply to ask questions about the proposed law. A stenographer is often present to record all oral comments at a public hearing. Written comments may also be submitted at or before the hearing. At the Board of Trustees meeting after the hearing or at a subsequent meeting, the trustees may vote to enact the law as proposed, or with minor changes or corrections. Or they may send the proposed law "back to the drawing board" for substantive revision. When the revised proposed law is ready, another public hearing will be scheduled. On occasion, the Board of Trustees decides against adoption altogether. The Board is also required to determine the environmental impact of any proposed law prior to voting for its enactment. Both the Village and the Sands Point Civic Association in their mailings and newsletters customarily notify residents of important upcoming public hearings and/or recently-enacted laws, but there is no requirement that any notice of proposed or newly enacted laws be mailed to residents. Reading the public notices in the official Village newspaper, the Port Washington News, is suggested for residents who wish to be certain that they do not miss an upcoming public hearing on a proposed law. |
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