POUGHKEEPSIE – The City Council, led by Chairperson Sarah Salem, is holding a special meeting on Tuesday, August 10, to seek approval to appeal a court decision that upheld Mayor Rob Rolison’s veto powers. The meeting is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. at Changepoint Church at 260 Mill Street in Poughkeepsie.
In 2020 the common council passed a resolution to hire their own attorney to review the Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan (LWRP), rather than use the city’s legal department. In September, Rolison vetoed the resolution.
Rather than hold a council meeting to override the veto, Salem convinced the council to sue the Mayor, challenging his veto powers, calling Rolison’s actions “arbitrary and capricious”. The lawsuit was filed in NYS Supreme Court.
The legal arguments were heard by NYS Supreme Court Justice Hal Greenwald. In a July 9, 2021 decision, Greenwald ruled in favor of Rolison. The judge said in part, “it was neither an error of law, nor arbitrary and capricious for Respondent Rolison to veto Resolution R20-68 as made by Petitioner Common Council.” The final decision validated Rolison’s veto powers.
Councilman Chris Petsas is opposed to filing an appeal. “A judge heard the case and ruled against the council. We owe it to the residents of this city to address the rise in violent crime rather than wasting tax dollars on attorneys to argue petty differences in court.”
