POUGHKEEPSIE – Acting Supreme Court Justice Michael Hayes has ordered a Dutchess County town to turn over three years of funding that was supposed to be used for the town library. The Town of Union Vale has been setting aside money for the library in a fund created by the former town board in 2022, but none has been transferred by the town.
The library and its trustees sued Union Vale, the town board, and Town Supervisor Steve Frazier, contending that the 2023, 2024 and 2025 town budgets included $227,900 earmarked for the library. The library trustees said they repeatedly requested that Frazier transfer the funds, but he did not respond. At a December town board meeting, the councilmembers passed a resolution to transfer the 2024 funds to the library. Frazier voted against it and did not transfer the money.
Judge Hayes recently issued his decision, saying in part that Frazier and the town must transfer the money. “The respondents (town and Frazier) are directed to forthwith transfer all monies received for the library for the years 2023, 2024, and 2025 to the Board of Trustees for the Union Vale Library within 30 days.”
The library trustees expressed their satisfaction with the order, with President Amy Watkings telling , “The Union Vale Library Trustees are extremely pleased with the Court’s sound and well-reasoned decision. This is a decisive victory for the rule of law and for the Union Vale Library’s patrons. After approximately three years, the budgeted funds at issue may now be used for their intended Library purposes. The Trustees look forward to continuing the Library’s mission of serving the needs of the community .”
Frazier believes the town board will appeal the court’s decision, saying “Neither the Town Attorney nor the majority of the Town Board agree with the decision,” and added, “The majority of the Town Board has voted to appeal.”
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