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Mamaroneck Mayor Takes Village Board To Court Over His Appointment Powers

This story has been updated

Mamaroneck Mayor Norman Rosenblum has 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.

Mamaroneck Mayor Norman Rosenblum has 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.

Photo Credit: Brian Donnelly

MAMARONECK, N.Y. -- In a rare legal maneuver, Mamaroneck Mayor Norman Rosenblum is asking a Supreme Court judge to issue a "show cause" order after the village board sided 3-2 against him last month.

Rosenblum said he is challenging the legality of newly-approved Local Laws that seek to strip the mayor's appointment powers. 

In a court motion filed this week (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's court application seeks a "declaratory judgment" to make that meeting void.

State Supreme Court Justice Lawrence H. Ecker has asked all parties to the legal motion to appear in court at 9:30 a.m. on Oct. 26 in White Plains. In addition to the Mamaroneck Board of Trustees, Rosenblum included the Mamaroneck village clerk and Westchester County Board of Elections as interested parties.

"This is nothing more than the typical petty politics by elected officials who are guided only by their personal agendas, not their sworn duty and oath of office to seek what is best for the community," Rosenblum told Daily Voice. "This is in addition to their previous immature policy to try and eliminate the Mayor's office and parking space. Little wonder why the great majority of people have no faith in their elected officials."

Rosenblum has found himself at odds with village board members, such as outgoing Democratic trustee Ilissa Miller (a Daily Voice community advisor) who often challenged Rosenblum over discouraging public comment or his unilateral decisions about meeting topics and/or prospective votes. Miller did not seek re-election; her term ends about Nov. 30.

On Wednesday, Miller said: "The irony is that the Mayor is looking to block the VOM residents' opportunity to provide him with (or without) the power he so seeks. This legal maneuver was in the works even before the meeting was held (and anticipated so). On the other hand, it is with great appreciation that I thank the Mayor for fully illustrating why the referendum is so important. He is wasting tax payer money and time while making the case for the referendum itself. Looking forward to hearing from all VOM Residents on November 8."

Check back with Daily Voice for updates.

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