MID-HUDSON – The fact that the counties of Dutchess, Putnam, Orange and Rockland have only one-quarter vote each on the MTA has been a bone of contention for years. But, one local board member said there will never be an upgrading to full votes.

Dutchess County’s member on the MTA board, James Sedore, said while he supports that, it will not happen.

“When they formed the MTA and they put in the northern counties, they wanted to make sure the Metro-North area, which is Westchester and our four counties – Rockland, Orange, Putnam and Dutchess, would not have more votes than Long Island,” he said. “Long Island has two counties, so they have two votes. Westchester has one vote. So they only had one vote to give up. That’s why we ended up with a quarter-pounder.”

Despite that, Sedore said in his 16 years on the MTA board, he has never been treated as anything less than a full member.

The quarter pounders, though, cannot split their votes. They must vote as one unit.