POUGHKEEPSIE – The “Independent Reapportionment Commission” created by the Dutchess County Legislature to re-draw the county’s legislative districts was disbanded Thursday night because of conflict by one of the appointments to the committee. The full commission learned of the dissolution at their Thursday night meeting.
The law that created the commission included eligibility criteria that were violated by Richard Keller-Coffey, a Democratic appointment. The law says, in part, that ” A member shall not currently be nor have been for the three years preceding the formation of the Commission an elected official, employee of New York State, Dutchess County or any town, city, or village in the County, or a member or officer of any political committee. A member shall maintain eligibility while serving on the Commission.”
Keller-Coffey is an elected member of the Webutuck School Board according to Legislature Chairman Gregg Pulver. The school board position makes Keller-Coffey ineligible to serve on the commission.
The commission receives legal advice from Chief Assistant County Attorney Chris Cullen, who recommended the dissolution of the current commission because of the violation. Pulver agreed with the decision to avoid any question of integrity of the commission. “I want to re-establish this vital commission quickly so we can move forward with the redistricting. It’s unfortunate that someone who failed to meet the eligibility requirements made it to the commission.”
Pulver is planning to introduce a law that would give voters a chance to downsize the legislature from 25 members to 21. Legislators will be asked to approve the plan in July. If approved, the proposition will let voters decide on the number of legislators at the November election. Pulver said that a new commission will be formed after the November referendum and the group will draw new districts that account for the number of legislative districts chosen by the electorate. The legislature will be asked to approve the postponement of the new commission at the same July meeting.
