POUGHKEEPSIE – Mayor-elect Yvonne Flowers has named 49-year city employee Ron Knapp to serve as the interim Poughkeepsie city administrator beginning in January when she takes her seat as mayor. Flowers intends to launch a nationwide search for a permanent city administrator next year.
Knapp began his service to the City of Poughkeepsie when he became a sworn police officer in 1974. He worked his way through the ranks and eventually became the City of Poughkeepsie Chief of Police. The former chief has most recently been serving as an assistant to both the mayor and city administrator’s offices. Knapp has served as acting city administrator twice before, most recently in 2016 under former mayor turned State Senator Rob Rolison.
City officials credit Knapp with being instrumental in the city’s efforts to reduce the number of deteriorating properties through the anti-blight initiative. The veteran city hall worker has “tracked properties, bolstered code enforcement, secured state funding and has helped reduce the number of vacant properties in the city from more than 600 in 2016 to approximately 150” as 2023 comes to an end.
“Ron has considerable experience to help what has been a seamless transition from Mayor Marc Nelson’s administration to my pending administration,” Flowers said. “Ron has faithfully served the city for decades, and there is no one better to handle this task as my administration gets started.”
Knapp, a longtime city resident, graciously accepted the appointment from Mayor-elect Flowers. “I am honored to be asked to serve in this capacity as Yvonne Flowers begins her role as mayor of our city. I have always been impressed with how she handled matters as a common council member, and the city will continue to be in good hands as a new year, and a new era dawns in 2024.”
