Dutchess Legislature Cancels All April Meetings Amidst COVID Crisis While Every Other County-Level Body in New York State Continues to Meet. 

Because the Covid-19 crisis threatens both the economic and physical health of Dutchess County residents, it is imperative that all government agencies, including the legislature, work full-tilt to prevent this pandemic from destroying our communities. To do this, funding must be found and allocated to help small businesses, hospitals and first responders, and to increase testing so that realistic solutions can be developed to get people back to work without increasing fatalities.

From the press release:

In memos sent on March 17 and April 6, Chairman Gregg Pulver suspended the body until May 11. However, under the legislature’s rules (4.3.G) the chair has no authority to do so. The County Charter requires the legislature to meet “at least once each calendar month.” Neither Pulver nor any of his fellow Republican legislators have responded to multiple appeals to reconsider.  Five COVID-related resolutions, put forward for the April meeting, have not been acknowledged. 

Pulver originally argued that suspending April’s meeting was necessary to follow COVID-related prohibitions on large gatherings. By late March, however, most other New York counties transitioned to meeting by video or audio conference, as allowed by NYS Executive Order 202.1 of March 12, 2020, which modified New York Open Meetings Law requirements in response to the COVID crisis.  “Outside the five boroughs, there are fifty-six New York counties with legislatures or boards of supervisors,” said Legislator Rebecca Edwards (D-Poughkeepsie).  “Fifty-five are actively continuing to meet. Dutchess is the only county where the legislature, by illegal action of the chair, is completely missing in action.”

She noted that other county legislatures are directly addressing the COVID emergency by creating task forces, making emergency appropriations, tracking incoming funds from federal and state sources, studying business and employment needs, and assessing the impact of the crisis on revenues and budgets.

“At a moment of crisis, it’s more important than ever that our democratic processes continue,” said Legislator Brennan Kearney (D-Rhinebeck/Clinton).  “We are elected decision-makers. We’re still receiving our paychecks. We should be trying even harder than usual to carry out our oversight role.”

In his April 6 letter, Pulver argued that the legislature should not meet again until the county “has a better understanding of our fiscal status.”  He reported that in “consultation with the County Executive,” it was determined that the Executive “does not need further legal authority” but can “expend funds” and “take action” without legislative approval.

In response, Democratic caucus members urged all legislators to sign a letter to the Chair, stressing the body’s essential oversight role and asking for an April special meeting.  According to the legislature’s rules a special meeting must be held if a majority of members request it.  None of the fourteen Republican legislators chose to join the appeal.

What can you do?

1. Sign this petition demanding that our county legislature do their duty. It is illegal for Chairman Gregg Pulver to suspend this meeting.

2. Email countylegislators@dutchessny.gov and let Chairman Gregg Pulver know how you feel about this abdication of responsibility in a time of crisis.

3. Share this widely and encourage more people to sign!