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The mayor's Charter Revision Commission has made no secret of its desire to have voters weigh-in on the question of term limits for city office holders. But there is also interest in having voters consider a measure that would prohibit the City Council from ever changing the city's term limits law again.

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn led the Council when it voted to extend term limits in 2008, despite the fact that New Yorkers twice voted in favor of the two-term limit. She says the Council should be allowed to change the law again.

"I feel strongly that the Council needs to be able to retain all of its legislative powers and that they shouldn't be taken away when we act in a way that the public disagrees with," Quinn said.

Quinn's comments came at a commission hearing Thursday on Staten Island to discuss the structure of city government. She also called for charter changes that would make the Council a stronger check on mayoral power.

In light of the charter hearings, much has been made about the role of the public advocate and whether the position should exist at all. The current officeholder, Bill de Blasio, came out to defend the position Thursday and asked that it be strengthened.

"We're here to defend the idea that the public needs a watchdog keeping an eye on city government. And the mayor needs a check and balance, not just this mayor, every mayor needs a check and balance," De Blasio said.

The public advocate also came out in favor of the very charter change Speaker Quinn opposed so strongly.

"We saw two years ago was incredibly undemocratic. And it was a group of people making decisions about their own careers and they obviously weren't looking at it objectively and they left the people out of the process. I think that s a pretty big warning sign that we do need a rule that says that kind of decision can only be made by referendum," De Blasio said.

Despite speculation about the commission possibly looking to do away with the PA's job, it seems unlikely it will pursue that.

"I know that there are commissioners who hold opinions on both sides of the fence. But we have not had discussions about it. I don't think it rises to the level of importance, let's say, that term limits or the electoral process or borough empowerment rises to," said Charter Revision Commission member Stephen Fiala.

The commission's next hearing will include a discussion on government ethics and public integrity.

It's scheduled for Wednesday.