POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. — At its organizational meeting Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, the Poughkeepsie City Common Council appointed Nathan Shook as vice chair, reappointed Patterson Thompson as majority leader for the Democratic caucus and approved a slate of routine administrative resolutions to govern council operations in 2025.

The council adopted the 2025 rules of conduct and procedures and approved resolutions covering bonds for the commissioner of finance and the city chamberlain; authority for the commissioner of finance to pay public debt, salaries and wages; designation of banks for city deposits; naming the Poughkeepsie Journal as the city’s official newspaper; appointing the city chamberlain and deputy chamberlain as marriage officers; adopting the city’s purchasing policy; and adopting the New York local government retention and disposition schedule. Each item was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote with members responding “Aye.”

The organizational meeting sets council leadership and administrative procedures for the year. The council, which the clerk said is composed of nine members (one at-large and one from each ward under charter provisions), relied on charter section 2.03 in selecting a vice chair whose duties include presiding over meetings when the council chair is absent.

Resolution R-25-09 nominated Nathan Shook to serve as vice chair under charter section 2.03; the motion was approved following a voice vote. The council also made a motion to reelect Patterson Thompson as majority leader for the Democratic caucus; that motion likewise passed by voice vote.

Other administrative measures approved at the meeting included:
- R-25-01: Adoption of the Common Council’s 2025 rules of conduct and procedures.
- R-25-02: Setting bonds for the commissioner of finance and the city chamberlain.
- R-25-03: Authorizing the commissioner of finance to pay public debt and 2025 salaries and wages.
- R-25-04: Approving designation of banks for city deposits.
- R-25-05: Approving the Poughkeepsie Journal as the city’s official newspaper.
- R-25-06: Appointing the city chamberlain and deputy chamberlain as marriage officers for the city.
- R-25-07: Adoption of the city’s purchasing policy.
- R-25-08: Adoption of the New York local government records retention and disposition schedule.

A brief procedural question near the end of the meeting concerned the composition of the finance committee and the identity of its chair; the council chair confirmed the assignment in response. The meeting adjourned with the chair thanking city employees and department heads and noting the next regular common council meeting is scheduled for Jan. 7, 2025.

Votes at a glance: All listed resolutions (R-25-01 through R-25-09) were approved by voice vote; the transcript records members responding “Aye.” The transcript does not record individual roll-call tallies or named movers and seconders for each motion beyond the general oral confirmations recorded in the meeting transcript.