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Judge Dismisses Mamaroneck Mayor's Challenge To Save Appointment Powers

This story has been updated.

Mamaroneck Mayor Norman Rosenblum asked a Supreme Court judge for a "show-case" order, challenging 3-2 votes by the village board that the Republican mayor says strip him of authority to make appointments. A judge dismissed the legal challenge.

Mamaroneck Mayor Norman Rosenblum asked a Supreme Court judge for a "show-case" order, challenging 3-2 votes by the village board that the Republican mayor says strip him of authority to make appointments. A judge dismissed the legal challenge.

Photo Credit: Brian Donnelly

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- A state Supreme Court judge dismissed a legal challenge Thursday to a proposed change in local laws seeking to strip the Village of Mamaroneck mayor's appointment powers.

Mamaroneck Mayor Norman Rosenblum had asked a Supreme Court judge to issue a "show cause" order after the village board sided 3-2 against him last month.

In a press statement on Friday, Rosenblum said, "The court decision was in favor of the notice of meetings and subsequent passage of the referendums and submission to the Board of Elections to be placed on the ballot for November 8th. .....There was no decision or discussion on the referendums themselves, which will now be decided by the electorate."

"Unfortunately, I believe this sets a sad precedent that, in my opinion, implements political influences overriding set procedures with the attempt to keep the public from in depth discussion and knowledge that has significant change in the operation of their elected officials," Rosenblum said in his statement.

"Rather than throwing the case out due to the Mayor's lack of authority to even file the claim, the judge was respectful enough to listen to the argument from the Mayor as a citizen," according to Ilissa Miller, a village trustee.  

"With no grounding to stand on, the judge dismissed the complaint. The referendums stand," Miller said.

In a court motion filed earlier this month (see attachment below), the Republican mayor accused the village board majority of overstepping its government bounds by stripping him of his prior authority to make appointments -- among other mayoral functions. Rosenblum said he is challenging the legality of local laws passed by the Village of Mamaroneck Board of Trustees by a one-vote majority on Sept. 6. Rosenblum' sought a "declaratory judgment" to make that meeting void.

In his statement on Friday, Rosenblum added: "What does remain however, is the ultimate strength of our election process that allows the public to decide if they want the Office of Mayor stripped of appointment authority as noted and given in New York State Village law or accept the continued effort by Trustee Potok, Miller and Finch to eliminate the office of Mayor, which the people of the Village of Mamaroneck have elected since 2009. . . ."

"I trust both referendums will be soundly defeated on November 8th," Rosenblum concluded.

See Attachment

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