Poughkeepsie – A decision last year by Dutchess County Executive William Steinhaus to delay an appointment to hire an individual to fill a vacancy in the county comptroller’s office has been upheld by the appellate Division of State Supreme Court.

Comptroller Diane Jablonski had taken Steinhaus to State Supreme Court seeking to have his decision overturned, but that court ruled in favor of the county executive.

She then appealed the decision to the Appellate Division, which has now affirmed the lower court’s ruling.

Steinhaus refused to approve the appointment saying he was carrying out the vacancy control policy of the county legislature which annually requires positions to be held vacant, to accumulate payroll savings.

The county executive criticized Jablonski saying, it is “regrettable” that she felt she didn’t have to “play by the rules” of county government that were established in Dutchess 40 years ago.