The Mount Pleasant Town Board is set to vote Tuesday on a proposed settlement in a lawsuit filed under the New York State Voting Rights Act.

The lawsuit was filed in January 2024 by five Hispanic voters who claim the town’s at-large election system dilutes the voting power of Latino residents — particularly in the Village of Sleepy Hollow.

Town Supervisor Carl Fulgenzi says he does not believe changes are needed to the town’s at-large voting system for Town Council seats.

“For 200 years it’s been the same process,” Fulgenzi said.

Attorney David Imamura, who filed a lawsuit against the town in 2024 on behalf of five plaintiffs from the Village of Sleepy Hollow under the New York State Voting Rights Act, argues the current system disenfranchises Latino voters.

“The Town of Mount Pleasant, 20% Hispanic, they’ve never elected a candidate of their choice, ever,” Imamura said. Fulgenzi has challenged both the constitutionality of the New York State Voting Rights Act and the lawsuit itself.

“I felt from day one it was unconstitutional because I felt we were doing everything proper,” he said. Imamura disagrees and points to a notice letter sent to the town three years ago under the law.

“We sent a letter to the Town of Mount Pleasant saying the way your elections are configured are systematically disenfranchising an entire block of your voters,” Imamura said.

Fulgenzi says the town held two public hearings and claims overwhelming opposition to the lawsuit.

“Ninety-eight percent of the people felt that they didn’t agree with the lawsuit,” he said. Imamura says elected leaders sometimes must act beyond popular opinion.

“There are times you reflect the will of your voters, but there are times you need to show leadership to your voters by complying with the law,” he said.

The proposed settlement would require the town to pay more than $1 million in legal fees to the plaintiffs. Fulgenzi says despite the cost, he believes the town was right to defend its position.

“It’s going to cost the town a fair amount of money, but we had to defend the rights of the voters,” he said.

The town board is expected to vote on the settlement Tuesday evening at Mount Pleasant Town Hall.