MONTICELLO – A costly suit filed by Orthodox Jewish plaintiffs in
Bloomingburg who claimed they were victims of discrimination in recent
elections, will cost Sullivan County even more.
The County Legislature, meeting in Executive Committee, said it will
consider retaining special legal counsel to deal specifically with election
issues in the village. That followed committee action on a resolution
to enter into an agreement with a court-appointed monitor for the Board
of Elections.
Legislator Nadia Rajsz, whose district includes Bloomingburg, made the
suggestion, calling it a general recommendation.
“We have experts in the field for other agencies,” Rajsz
noted. “And I think the Board of Elections does need to have an
expert on retainer.”
County Attorney Cheryl McCausland was not certain this was needed, saying
the general task of her office is to handle legal issues facing county
agencies. She said, however, that if the legislature believes special
legal expertise is needed, whoever is retained should work with her office.
