The Westchester County Charter Revision Commission has released a proposal that could change the structure of county government.
The commission is looking at merging the county executive”™s office with the Board of Legislators, handing over day-to-day control to a professional county manager, turning the county executive’s position into more of a council president.
The commission recommended the changes after witnessing the relationship between Republican County Executive Robert P. Astorino and the Democratic-controlled legislature, which has been fraught with multiple lawsuits and frequent back-and-forth bickering.
Critics of the consolidation plan have said that it could give the Board of Legislators too much power.
The commission will release a final report in December, with legislators voting on the proposals. State officials would also need to approve the consolidation plans.
The commission includes 23 members, 17 appointed by the legislator and six appointed by Astorino.
