Council committee endorses Adonis Richards as Schenectady’s inaugural poet laureate

The Government Operations committee voted to recommend Adonis Richards as the inaugural poet laureate for the City of Schenectady and the council moved to accept the committee’s recommendation.

Councilman Booms, who led the nomination process, said the selection followed committee review and interviews, and described the position as an unpaid, honorary role intended to provide community cultural programming and communication support. Booms said the committee considered four applicants and that it aimed for an authentically community-rooted representative who would build partnerships with local schools and academic institutions.

Committee members discussed expectations for the role, including outreach to schools, the possibility of a modest future honorarium if the program expands, and the need for a report or assessment six months after appointment. Legal staff said the draft legislation frames the poet laureate as an honorary designation and not a city employee and noted that commissioning or purchasing specific works would be handled separately through contracts if needed. The committee said it would present a brief resolution at the next council meeting to formally designate Richards.

A motion to accept the committee recommendation passed in committee and the council indicated it would consider a formal resolution at the next full meeting.