POUGHKEEPSIE – By a seven to one vote, the Poughkeepsie Common Council Monday night overrode Mayor John Tkazyik’s veto of a local law to allow the council to hire its own attorney on an as needed basis.

The mayor had argued the common council should use the city corporation counsel’s office, but lawmakers rejected that by overriding his veto.

Common Council Chairman Brian Doyle said there are times when an independent legal opinion may be warranted.

“The members of the council had strong sentiments that the common council should have the prerogative and the opportunity, when needed and if needed, to consult with a legal opinion outside of corporation counsel, just as anyone might normally rely on their family doctor for an opinion,” he said. “There may be times when they go for a second opinion, and that is reserved, of course, for the most critical instances needed.”

Doyle said the common council doesn’t plan on spending huge sums of money on outside legal opinions and would move the cost from other budget lines when appropriate.