Judge puts Mount Vernon plan to bypass comptroller on hold View Comments Mount Vernon Comptroller Deborah Reynolds won an initial victory this week in her effort to block city officials from keeping millions in federal relief funds from her office. State Supreme Court Justice Terry Ruderman issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting any receipt or management of American Rescue Plan funds by any city entity other than the comptroller. The ban will remain in effect until it is determined whether legislation passed last month to bypass the comptroller's office is legal. The measures, approved by the City Council and the Board of Estimate & Contract, called for as much as $42 million in American Rescue Plan funds to be sent to the city clerk and then to the Board of Water Supply, where it would be held and disbursed with the approval of city officials.