CARMEL – Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne has vetoed Local Law Resolution 388, a measure approved by the County Legislature on December 31 that would have amended the county charter to create separate attorneys for the legislative majority and minority.
In his veto message, Byrne cited concerns over cost, transparency, and the process by which the resolution was adopted. The resolution was passed during a special meeting on New Year’s Eve, just hours before newly elected legislators were sworn into office.
“Concerns were raised not only by past and present elected officials, but also by everyday citizens from both major political parties,” Byrne wrote, pointing to objections related to unnecessary cost, duplication of services, and the lack of transparency surrounding the vote. Byrne said the proposal advanced with “limited public discussion, limited transparency, and noticeably without the participation of several legislators who were either absent or had not yet been sworn into office at the time of the vote.”
The resolution would have authorized the hiring of two legislative counsel positions, one serving the majority and one serving the minority, despite Putnam County having a nine-member legislature and a single minority party legislator. Critics estimated the cost could reach approximately $150,000 annually, not including benefits.
Opposition to the measure intensified following the vote, particularly on social media, where residents questioned both the timing and intent of the legislation. At a public hearing last week, new Legislator Jake D’Angelo, a Republican, similarly criticized the process and urged Byrne to veto the resolution.
“This was rushed through on New Year’s Eve, at a time when the public was least likely to be paying attention, and just hours before I was sworn in,” D’Angelo said. “Something this consequential should not be locked into county law without full transparency, public input, and the participation of the newly elected legislature.”
The resolution was adopted shortly before the Legislature elected a new chair. Legislator Dan Birmingham, a Republican and the measure’s author, was selected as chair with the support of the Legislature’s lone Democrat, Legislator Nancy Montgomery.
The Legislature may attempt to override Byrne’s veto at a future meeting. An override would require a two-thirds vote.
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