Harsh words but not enough votes
- July
- 2
The Legislature failed last night to override the county executive’s veto of a local law that called for all major facility projects in Rockland to be “designed, constructed and certified†to the standard of the U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system.
Bill sponsor Alden Wolfe, D-Suffern, knew the demise of the so-called LEED law was coming — he’d been told the Legislature’s minority party members would side with Republican County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef — so he took the time normally spent pleading for votes to castigate the exec’s office for poor communication.
It’s been a running theme of the Legislature this year—that Vanderhoef’s office is either less than forthcoming on certain issues or gratingly mum on others.
Wolfe detailed to the Legislature his attempts to get the county executive’s input and how he had heard from his chief of staff only after it was too late to make any changes to the proposal.
Chief of Staff Sean Mathews, who was in the audience during Wolfe’s speech, released the following statement through spokeswoman C.J. Miller: “The (LEED) law was flawed. We could not support a law that puts the County in direct conflict with the intent of the legislation. Secondly, we work with everyone. With over 350 pieces of legislation passed so far this year with only one veto, Legislator Wolfe’s comments seem unfounded.”
The veto override failed 11-6 with Legislators voting among party lines. Twelve votes were needed to overturn Vanderhoef’s veto.
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