POUGHKEEPSIE – Dutchess County Legislature Chairman Will Truitt has announced his slate of committee chairs for the six standing committees of the legislature for 2024 and a Democrat has been tapped as vice chairman of one of the committees. The committees consider introduced legislation each month before the meeting of the full legislature.
The Public Works and Capital Projects Committee is chaired by fifth-term lawmaker John Metzger of East Fishkill. Metzger has a professional background in construction and overseeing capital projects. Democrat legislator Randy Johnson of the City of Poughkeepsie has been named vice-chair by Truitt. Johnson brings a professional background in engineering to his fourth two-year term on the legislature.
Legislator Steve Caswell of East Fishkill will serve as Chairman of the Budget, Finance, and Personnel Committee. Caswell, who has a professional background in finance, is beginning his third term as a member of the legislature. He previously served as Chair of the Government Services and Administration Committee in the previous legislative term. Joining him as vice chairman is first-term Legislator Ryan Travelpiece of LaGrange. Travelpiece comes to the legislature with a background in banking and finance.
Leading the Government Services and Administration Committee is Doug McHoul, the legislator from Fishkill. McHoul, owner of McHoul Funeral Home, is a third-term lawmaker who will also serve as vice chair of the Family and Human Services Committee. Legislator Andrew House of Dover will assume the vice chair of the Government Services and Administration Committee. House previously served as Deputy Town Supervisor in the Town of Dover.
The Environment Committee will be chaired by legislator Tony D’Aquanni. The second-term Town of Poughkeepsie lawmaker is the owner of Branding Pros in Wappingers Falls. D’Aquanni served on the Environment Committee during his first term. Truitt has appointed Legislator Lisa Paoloni, a third-term member from the Town of Wappinger as vice chair.
Staying on to lead the Family and Human Services Committee is Legislator Faye Garito of Beekman. Garito is entering her seventh year as a member of the legislature, where she has led the Family and Human Services Committee for the last two years.
Assuming the top spot of the Public Safety Committee will be freshman Legislator Robert Faust of the Town of Wappinger. Faust comes to the county legislature with two decades of experience as a law enforcement officer in the Hudson Valley. Legislator Chris Rolison, carrying on a family tradition of law enforcement and public service is a sergeant in a local police department and son of State Senator Rob Rolison. “At a time when public safety is a top concern of people across Dutchess County, Legislators Faust and Rolison bring crucial real-world experience that makes them the perfect tandem to lead this consequential committee,” Truitt said.
“The people of Dutchess County are lucky to have such a diversely talented group of legislators to lead these important committees,” said Chairman Truitt. “I am confident they will hit the ground running, putting into action their real-world experience in both the private and public sectors as they work to improve the community we love. I am proud to put forward my committee leadership for the coming year and look forward to working with them on behalf of our constituents.”
