POUGHKEEPSIE – A lawsuit filed on behalf of the Poughkeepsie Common Council against Mayor Rob Rolison has widened a rift among members of the council. Eighth Ward lawmaker Matt McNamara denounced the lawsuit and he was promptly rebuked by council Vice-chair Sarah Brannen.
The council sued the mayor for his veto of their attempt to hire an outside lawyer to review the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP). Mayor Rob Rolison filed a countersuit.
McNamara said, “The lawsuit, allegedly filed by the entire Common Council, is completely improper and will likely be dismissed before our holiday decorations are put away. In order for the Council to commence an action against the Mayor of our City, there first must be a vote of the Council, taken at a properly noticed public meeting. That didn’t happen.”
Brannen responded to McNamara, saying, “There was a vote by the common council. It was unanimous – meaning you voted for it. Also, the statement was drafted by our attorney, Rich Zuckerman.” Brannen’s statement was proven wrong by fellow lawmaker, Chris Petsas, who represents the first ward. Petsas noted that he voted against the resolution to hire the law firm and city records confirmed his statement.
McNamara also said the motion that approved the addendum with the Long Island law firm said nothing about filing a lawsuit. The last sentence in the first paragraph of the addendum says the council would need to authorize the filing of any petition. “The Article 78 Petition was not authorized by a vote of the council, nor was any discussion about the council suing our city’s mayor ever had in public at a properly noticed meeting.”
Taking direct aim at Brannen, McNamara said, “Sarah Brannen is once again misrepresenting the facts,” while he maintained the lawsuit is “frivolous” and he does not support the action.
