WRIGHT v. COUNTY OF CATTARAUGUS (2007)

Plaintiff commenced this action seeking a declaration that the adoption of Local Law No. 3 (2003) by defendant County Legislature of the County of Cattaraugus (Legislature) is invalid.   Local Law No. 3 reapportioned defendant County of Cattaraugus (County) and reduced the size of the Legislature.   According to plaintiff, that legislation was in violation of Municipal Home Rule Law § 10(1)(ii)(a)(13)(f) because the Legislature previously restructured the legislative body by adopting Local Law No. 2 (2003).   We agree with plaintiff that Supreme Court erred in granting defendants' motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint and in denying that part of plaintiff's cross motion for summary judgment seeking a declaration that Local Law No. 3 is invalid.

 Municipal Home Rule Law § 10(1)(ii)(a)(13)(f) provides in relevant part that “no local government may restructure its local legislative body ․ more than once in each decade ․;  provided, however, that this prohibition shall not prevent the periodic adjustment of the weight of the votes of representatives ․ where an existing plan distributes the votes of representatives on such a basis ” (emphasis added).   Here, there was no weighted voting plan in effect when the Legislature adopted Local Law No. 2, and thus the statutory exception for the additional restructuring within a 10-year period does not apply.   Local Law No. 3 therefore is invalid because it restructured the local legislative body for the second time in a 10-year period, in violation of the statute (see generally Matter of Rock v. Murphy, 111 A.D.2d 593, 594-595, 494 N.Y.S.2d 429).   We reject defendants' contention that the weighted voting plan in effect pursuant to Local Law No. 2 was merely an interim measure.   Here, the so-called “interim” period was a period of over four years (cf. Town of Carmel v. Board of Supervisors of Putnam County, 27 N.Y.2d 975, 977, 318 N.Y.S.2d 503, 267 N.E.2d 277).   Also contrary to defendants' contention, this declaratory judgment action is not governed by the four-month limitations period set forth in CPLR 217 and thus is not time-barred.   Plaintiff commenced this action to challenge a legislative act (see generally New York City Health & Hosps. Corp. v. McBarnette, 84 N.Y.2d 194, 200-201, 616 N.Y.S.2d 1, 639 N.E.2d 740, rearg. denied 84 N.Y.2d 865, 618 N.Y.S.2d 9, 642 N.E.2d 328;  Press v. County of Monroe, 50 N.Y.2d 695, 701-704, 431 N.Y.S.2d 394, 409 N.E.2d 870;  Solnick v. Whalen, 49 N.Y.2d 224, 229-232, 425 N.Y.S.2d 68, 401 N.E.2d 190), and the proper procedural vehicle for challenging a legislative act is a declaratory judgment action (see New York City Health & Hosps. Corp., 84 N.Y.2d at 201, 616 N.Y.S.2d 1, 639 N.E.2d 740;  Matter of Save the Pine Bush v. Albany, 70 N.Y.2d 193, 202, 518 N.Y.S.2d 943, 512 N.E.2d 526;  American Ind. Paper Mills Supply Co., Inc. v. County of Westchester, 16 A.D.3d 443, 444, 791 N.Y.S.2d 618;  Matter of Swanick v. Erie County Legislature, 103 A.D.2d 1036, 1037, 478 N.Y.S.2d 404, appeal dismissed 64 N.Y.2d 1039, 489 N.Y.S.2d 67, 478 N.E.2d 208).   We further conclude that plaintiff has standing to seek declaratory relief, “as a qualified voter in the [County]” (Phelan v. City of Buffalo, 54 A.D.2d 262, 265, 388 N.Y.S.2d 469).   Finally, in view of our determination, there is no need to address that part of plaintiff's cross motion for leave to add a party plaintiff.

It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from be and the same hereby is unanimously reversed on the law without costs, the motion is denied, the complaint is reinstated, the cross motion is granted in part and judgment is granted in favor of plaintiff as follows:

It is ADJUDGED and DECLARED that Local Law No. 3 (2003) of the County of Cattaraugus is invalid.

MEMORANDUM: