POUGHKEEPSIE – The Common Council in Poughkeepsie has filed a lawsuit asking a Supreme Court Judge to overturn a veto issued by Mayor Rob Rolison. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the council on December 29, 2020.
The council is represented by Lamb and Barnosky, a Long Island law firm. The lawmakers argue that Rolison exceeded his authority when he vetoed an attempt by the council to hire an outside law firm to review the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP).
The council voted to hire an attorney to review plans for the LWRP at their August 24 meeting. Rolison vetoed the $15,000 proposal on September 3, saying in part, “I have been informed by the Director of Planning and the City Administrator that this resolution would authorize the expenditure of taxpayer funds in a manner inconsistent with good governance and fiscal prudence.”
A statement issued by Council Chairperson Sarah Salem on December 31 addressed the council’s lawsuit, saying in part “It is unfortunate that the Council had to take this step, but the Mayor’s repeated attempts to prevent the Council from performing its statutory duty have left the Council with no choice but to ask a neutral third party to resolve this dispute.”
Meanwhile, Rolison has filed a counter suit seeking an order to stop the council’s “absurd and costly bid to overturn the long-standing responsibilities of the mayor, the common council and the administration, as set forth in the city’s charter.”
The mayor said he has been willing to meet with the council to discuss and resolve the differences. “Unfortunately, the council’s actions have shown they have no interest in such dialogue, and their decision instead to take this matter directly to court will result in longstanding consequences to the city and the taxpayers who will have to foot the bill,” he said.
