I didn’t think the expected rift on the Troy City Council
would start until after Jan. 1 but five members sent a message
last Thursday when they voted to not re-appoint Geri Fitzgerald to the Board of
Assessment and Review.
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| KOPKA |
To understand the significance, we need to back up a bit.
Fitzgerald lives with Michelle DeLair, the former deputy
city clerk under then City Clerk Bill McInerney and who is one of the
Rensselaer County Democratic Party Chairman Tom Wade’s most loyal supporters.
Not allowing Fitzgerald’s appointment to a largely inconsequential position –
as proposed by Council President Lynn Kopka at the request of the
administration – to come out of the Finance Committee to the floor for a vote
is a clear shot at Wade. And for that matter the administration.
 |
| ROSAMILIA |
The five who voted against her appointment were Council
members Kevin McGrath, Bob Doughtery, Rodney Wiltshire, Dean Bodner and Ken
Zalewski. Which, of course leave Council members Mark McGrath, Nina Nichols,
Gary Galuski and Kopka voting to appoint Fitzgerald.
If you remember, Wiltshire, who will be president come Jan.
1, and Zalewski were in Bob “Rabbit” Riley’s corner in his failed bid to take
Wade out as chair last year. Wade has a long memory and, evidently, so does Wiltshire
and Zalewski, who will likely be the pro-temp after the organizational meeting.
Doughtery and Kopka don’t get along that well so he’ll likely be in the W&Z
corner and I’m told newly elected Anastasia Robertson, D-District 2, will
likely side with them too.
On the other side are party (Wade) people: Kopka, Galuski,
who works at the Board of Elections, and newly elected At Large Councilwoman
Erin Teta-Sullivan.
That leaves the two Republicans: Bodner in District 3 and
Jim Gordon, the newly elected representative in District 1. Bodner has proven
himself to be non-political when it comes to policy (though he did vote against
Fitzgerald and DeLair happened to run against him earlier this month) and
Gordon is the former GOP city chair so he is political. My guess is they break
with the W&Z team more often than not on anything controversial.
One may say the rift is just political shenanigans but it
does mean real jobs for real people – and more importantly who will get those
jobs. The Council controls who is city clerk ($54,800,) deputy city clerk
($40,000,) city auditor ($59,600) bingo inspector, a liason position ($10,000,)
and the Council confirms all city marshal (various salaries) recommendations too.
Right now the majority are held by Wade people. Something
tells me that won’t be the case come Jan. 1. But, Wade is a shrewd politician
and he successfully fought off the coup last year. While some would just as
soon he move on, I don’t see it happening unless he wants to.
Obviously zalewski and rodney are going to work together. You posted a picture of rodney last week taken at the try outs for kens hockey team
ReplyDeleteI have coached Erin Sullivan Teta to work for the people. Save lives make the community a better place its called my come from behind show people you have a shred of dignity game plan
ReplyDeleteI wonder is Jack McCann will be reappointed to City Marshal in March?
ReplyDeleteWade is done, put a fork in him.
ReplyDeleteThankfully we have Ken and Rodney now running the city. The two there now, Pete and Lou are just collecting checks. Time to let these two progressives guide our city and realize it's full potential. It's time that Kopka and her buddy McGrath are put out to pasture and take boss Wade with them.
ReplyDeleteremember, wade pushed all the old-time dems out of the party when he took over.now all that he has left are those that know nothing about govt.the old saying is :all our wounds are self-inflicted.
ReplyDeleteI don't give a ratsza## who they are politically. They need to get their noses to the grindstone and get serious word done. They are a bright and talented group of people who bring real skills to the table. Wasting time on personal and political antipathies won't do at all. They need to put all those gifts to work for TROY, NOT Rensselaer County politics.
ReplyDeleteDidn't the zba refuse the alley rat Coxs to have another junkyard at Wards on 5th and 114th? So much for enforcing the law, the place is filled with junk cars. This administration and council already drove out Marty Burkes now the Snowman.
ReplyDeleteLeave bobby alone. He building a fort with the cars for him and his friends Randall and Edie. It's a great place for treeman to run after he is confronted by rich crist and harry too. We know he runs away when confronted. Maybe mr wright can guard the fort with his car
ReplyDeleteRobertson and Teta are just two political puppets who will vote for what they are told to vote for and nothing more, you'd think they'd have some respect for themselves. Neither of them have any experience whatsoever. Hopefully Teta will learn some public speaking skills before she sits up at the table, especially if she handles herself like she did at the Meet The Candidates night. What a political trainwreck.
ReplyDeleteMaybe brian holloway cam give her pointers
ReplyDeleteClearly Zalewski and Wiltshire beginning the pay back for Republican help during the election and the Independent endorsement. Neither is as smart as they think.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't put Robertson in Rodney's camp..You people who keep saying Wade is done are deluding yourselves. Rod and Ken were taking him out last year with Rabbit, how'd that work out for you? This is going to be interesting, since Rod and Ken think they're always the smartest people in the room.
ReplyDeleteThe only ones deluding themselves are you, Wade and Mcann. I'll put this in caps so you may understand. WADE IS DONE!
DeleteAren't u busy flying fish?
DeleteWhat's with Lynn making derogatory remarks about taxpayers and cc bill dunne and the useless Monica
ReplyDeleteMonica has done so much for this city in the past year. More stores have opened in her tenure that anyone before her. We have a McDonald's and department store under her watch. Her years of experience with bryce and united have made her valuable beyond her years.
ReplyDeleteReally Walt ? Put it on a tee shirt
DeleteI believe the Mickey D's, and Bombers were both Vic's doing.
DeleteMonica was doing the job before she was hired
DeletePlease this Monica puts on a face like she's din something. It's peopel like Liz young Ryan silva and bill dunne that actually make things happen. She's been good for years at collecting a paycheck and doing noting
ReplyDeleteLou and Pete. U were better off with vic. Open your eyes. She's usless
ReplyDeleteMs. I No Longer Run the Farmers Market (he he) looks better in a skirt than Vic. The V in Vic stands for vision. And how much is the Farmers Market paying the city in fee's????
ReplyDeleteVic has a nicer chest
ReplyDeletePete likes Monica's vision and her skirt.
ReplyDeleteJim Plunkett Wiltshire is in over his head Going to be fun watching this trainwreck. Wiltshire and Zalewski made for each other.
ReplyDeleteHopefully, Aldrich will be made city clerk.
ReplyDeleteI have to say that this political shit is new to me But when I see Jay Vandenburgh who is a Bigot Flex his soft muscles to a black man and snarl at him And yell No to That Kathy women who stares at the ceiling and looks dazed about the facts of a subject about one Blanking Parking Spot.
ReplyDeleteWhen I see this Jack Ass I just wanna go puke into the nearest wicker waist paper basket !~~!
Take your meds lug nut and stay away from vandenburgh a car or rich crist will come for you and u will riun like last time
ReplyDelete