Poughkeepsie Common Council asks court to resolve separation of powers dispute

Attorneys representing the Poughkeepsie Common Council filed an Article 78 petition on Tuesday asking the state supreme court to resolve an ongoing separation of powers dispute between the mayor and the council.

The petition asks the court to vacate the Sept. 3, 2020 veto by Mayor Rob Rolison of a council resolution that sought to hire a consultant to advise on proposed revisions to the city’s Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP).

According to a written statement, the council believes that “the mayor’s repeated attempts to prevent the council from performing its statutory duty have left the council with no choice but to ask a neutral third party to resolve this dispute.”

The council has also asked the court to confirm that the mayor has no authority to veto the council’s decision to hire others whom the council believes will provide independent and unbiased assistance performing its duties.

The filing is just the first step in the process. The mayor will have the opportunity to respond once the suit is assigned to a judge.

Mayor Rolison did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication.