Sometimes having to say no

Agreeing can be easy. It is saying “no†that sometimes can be the tougher choice. During October, my representation in the County Legislature was marked by two key “no†votes.

We considered granting a ground lease to Dutchess Community College (DCC) for the purpose of constructing dormitories (at their expense) capable of housing 450 students, a concept the college has been advancing for the past seven years.

Initially, dorms were approved by the County Legislature, 14-11, in 2007. After the local municipality objected, DCC moved the location to the college’s soccer fields, a move that required legislative approval. Following vigorous floor debate, this time the measure passed 15-10. I was among the naysayers.

I argued that a community college should serve the actual community and advocated for DCC opening satellite campuses throughout the county rather than housing commuting students in the dorms. I remain concerned that the college is evolving into a four-year program and that if the mission of Dutchess Community College changes that our county might lose its junior college alongside the countless opportunities it has presented to our residents, both young and not-so-young.

The college expects the dorms to be constructed in time for the 2012 fall semester.

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That same meeting, I was the sole “no†vote on a veto override for a $3.5 million bond to upgrade locks and communication systems at the county jail. While I had initially supported this bond in September — and acknowledge the improvements are needed — I changed my vote because I felt this was too high a sum to be bonding absent a plan to address the county jail capacity problem.

The same meeting we unanimously overrode a veto to pay $700,000 to cover the cost of housing out inmates because our jail is too small. The sheriff anticipates the need for additional thousands of dollars for housing costs out in December.

The jail was last expanded in 1995 and while the following 15 years have witnessed repeated legislative acknowledgement of a need to expand the jail, the Legislature has failed to consider any proposed legislation in five years. With more than 200 arrestees presently housed out — and at an annual county cost of $2.5 million (and rising) — my nay vote on the bond was a vote cast against the lack of definitive policy to ameliorate jail overcrowding.

It is believed that the bonding costs of expanding the jail will prove cheaper in the long run than the current high expenses of housing out inmates. The county executive begrudgingly submitted a $75 million bond proposal to build a new jail, but the Legislature (to my displeasure) refused to consider it.

The irony: The same night the Legislature passed a resolution after an hour of debate to build a dorm for 450 students that we don’t need, zero discussion was held on a jail expansion to house inmates that we desperately need.

In other news, I was pleased to vote for seven impressive appointments to the Legislature’s Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee including Millbrook’s Alec Pandaleon and Amenia’s Herb Eschbach.

Michael Kelsey represents Amenia, Washington, Stanford, Pleasant Valley and Millbrook in the Dutchess County Legislature. Write him at KelseyESQ@yahoo.com.

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