GOP seeks to strip powers from incoming county executive Adam Bello

Brian Sharp | Democrat and Chronicle

Show Caption Hide Caption Monroe County election results: Adam Bello says it's a new era of opportunity Adam Bello becomes the first Democratic Monroe County executive in 30 years.

One week after voters elected Adam Bello as the first Democratic county executive in nearly three decades, the Republican-controlled Legislature sought to significantly reduce the power of the office and increase their own.

A series of last-minute charter amendments released little more than an hour before the Legislature convened, would give the Legislature authority to approve Bello's appointments of his deputy county executive, the county attorney, and not just all department heads and directors but other management staff within those departments.

He would lose his authority to create new positions and adjust salaries. While Dinolfo can spend up to $20,000 without Legislative approval, Bello's authority would be capped at $5,000, reverting back to the limit that was in place in 2014.

His budget would be due a month earlier. The Legislature would also assume oversight of public works contracts and purchasing.

Bello's response: County executive-elect calls GOP proposals a 'self-serving power grab'

'... checks and balances the taxpayers demand'

A few items — such as moving the budget date and retaining the $5,000 cap — are things Democrats have lobbied for in the past.

A letter accompanying the legislation, signed by every member of the Republican majority, described the changes as being about good governance, "to ensure that transparency and accountability are the foundation of Monroe County government."

The series of amendments are collectively called the Checks And Balances for Legislative Equality Act of 2019.

"As the legislative branch of county government it is imperative that we identify additional opportunities to provide the checks and balances the taxpayers demand," the letter read.

'... an insult to Monroe County voters'

The Democratic Caucus released a statement that read, in part: “Tonight, the Monroe County Republican Legislature introduced a law in a desperate attempt to overturn the results of last week’s election."

The statement continued: "Proposing sweeping changes that would limit the power of the County Executive before Adam Bello takes office is an insult to Monroe County voters. We will do everything in our power to ensure this desperate attempt to subvert the results of the democratic process will not stand.”

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The legislation was offered as a matter of urgency, meaning it skips the committee process, allowing the public hearing and vote to be held on Dec. 10, and for outgoing Republican County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo to sign it into law before she leaves office.

BDSHARP@Gannett.com