Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Dunne vs. Reeves: Tale of the Tape


As I wrote before, the gas line on the King Fuels site is just the latest spat between Planning Commissioner Bill Dunne and soon-to-be former City Engineer Russ Reeves. The two have been in a near perpetual pissing match over projects, who heads up the Code Department and in general who is in charge of what since Dunne was appointed nearly two and a half years ago.
While it may look like Reeves is conceding by turning in his resignation effective May 2 he isn’t going down without taking a few parting shots and the first of those shots happened when he went to talk to the FBI, the next round will happen tonight when he testifies in front of the Council.
How Dunne responds, or if Dunne responds, is yet to be seen. He will, though, be hard pressed not to answer a Council subpoena, which will certainly be coming, and harder pressed to not answer questions posed by the feds.
Since the pissing match isn’t over yet, here is a tale of the tape:

REEVES
Age: Mid to late 50s
Build: Solid, torso as long as legs
Reach: FBI
Demeanor: 1950s sitcom father
Political affiliation: None
Strength: Licensed engineer
Weakness: Malleable at times
To lose: His license, until he resigned
Summary: Reeves is considered a pretty straight shooter. He was hired by a Democrat, Mayor Mark Pattison, and worked eight years for a Republican, Mayor Harry Tutunjian.
Over the years, though, there have been three questionable opinions he rendered.
One had to do with the Bucks, an elderly couple living near Griswald Heights. Before coming to work for the city, the Bucks hired Reeves to determine if the fact their neighbor, a Democratic loyalist with a backyard that backed up to the Bucks’ backyard, filled in a drainage ditch to put up a fence was the reason their basement began flooding. Reeves said yes, that is the reason. But, once he was hired for the city, he changed his mind and said it was caused by problems with the retention pond at the far end of the block.
The second is perhaps the most egregious and had to do with a decision to tear down the marquis on the old Cine Art building on River Street. At the urging of Fire Chief Tom Garrett, Reeves said the historic structure was unstable and could fall down at any time. It did fall down after a demolition crew bashed the crap out of it for hours with a crane, sledgehammers and even a torch.
The third was when a water main broke in South Troy and filled a basement with silt. Even though the pipe was 10 feet underground Reeves blamed the break on the frost and called it an “Act of God.” It, of course, had nothing to do with the fact it was some 100 years old.
Plus, while Reeves was hired by a Democrat he did spend the majority of his Troy career under a Republican and is considered one of "Harry's guys." Dunne, as a rule, doesn't like "Harry's guys."

 
DUNNE
Age: mid to late 40s
Build: Kind of like a pear
Reach: Tom Wade
Demeanor: 80s rock star sans the big hair
Political affiliation: Staunch Democrat
Strength: Political animal
Weakness: Ego and emails
To lose: His job and possibly more depending on FBI probe.
Summary: Dunne served eight years on the Council and was the most vocal, and most effective, loyal opposition to Mayor Harry Tutunjian and the GOP when they ran both branches of government. His political savvy is a major reason the Democrats ended up taking back the Council, growing the thorn in Tutunjian’s side. In all, Dunne was an effective productive member of the Council.
It’s his actions outside those associated with his work on the Council that seemed to get him jammed up. He got fired from what was considered a decent job at the state Dormitory Authority and while both sides are sworn to secrecy the bottom line is it had to do with a female employee, some emails and he was ordered to never step foot on Dormitory Authority property again. As with any similar story, there are two sides but everyone only knows, or thinks they know, the one.
During his time on the Council he was a stickler for procedure and following the rules and regulations to the letter or at least he held Tutunjian to that standard and rightly so. They are in place for a reason and part of the Legislative Branch’s charge is a check and balance to make sure the Executive Branch follows them.
But, now that he is in a position to do so, it seems Dunne is doing the same thing he accused Tutunjian of doing and even taking it a step further. The sidewalks in North Central, the King Street demolition, sale of the Scolite property and the King Fuels demolition are all examples of Dunne pushing the envelope and now the feds are investigating. How far he pushed it is yet to be determined.
Because of that the FBI is nosing around and his actions are making Mayor Lou Rosamilia look bad. His battle with Reeves is perhaps his most public, but behind the scenes he is battling with a number of employees and, more importantly, Democrats close to Chairman Tom Wade who know Troy voters have, and will again, oust entire slates of candidates if they see something they don’t like.
Since Reeves is heading out of City Hall with his license in tact and Dunne is still there I'd call it a draw for now. That may change depending on how deep the feds go or on what the Democrats do.  

 

41 comments:

  1. Dunne shaped like a pear. Priceless. Today he's been heard walking around city hall asking the girls if they like pear pie. What does that even mean?

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  2. Who has better looking feet?

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    1. Judging by bill dunnes profile pic on facebook in gonna have to go with reeves

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  3. I live in lansingburgh and I'd like the council to ask Mr. Reeves why we have so much flooding from the Stoneledge apts when we were told it wouldn't be a problem. This is a disaster, has anyone looked at Gurley Ave lately? The council shoudl investigate that also. It's a disgrace.

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    1. Harry had it on his mind and then the new administration came in and Liitle Lord Fontlaroy Kevin McGrath bullied the Deputy Mayor into over looking all the problems. That's where we are at.

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    2. What problems did they know about. I want to know if Mr. Reeves did the plan and if he did, how can he explain all the runoff and flooding? They created a mudslide. Just wait for the next heavy rain. What is the council doing about this? Jim Gordon sshould ask these questions.

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    3. Liitle Lord Fontlaroy is Harreys name at best
      Harrys Goons were all in attendance like vultures on a maggot infested road kill.
      There looking for cash for his Hench men.

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  4. Reeves was not hired by Pattison, Pattison hired that looney bin Walt VanDeloo who was fired by Harry.

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    1. Incorrect. VanDerLoo was replaced by Reeves near the end of Patterson's administration shortly before King Tut took over.

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    2. Incorrect again dart lady. Vadeloo worked for harry for about a month before he was fired and Russ was taken in. Mir to city and get facts straight before make comment. Like ken young wall

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  5. How hot will it be tonight

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    Replies
    1. Only if dr death shows up in his 2 piece

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  6. After tonight I'd say kreshnick is toast

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  7. Saw our mayor on TV tonight. He was swearing there was no corruption in his administration and they showed some street guy who made the accusation. He doesn't show for the great inquisition to answer questions from the council but after months of living under his desk he responds to a street person with cool sunglasses? WTF

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    1. Nah he just woke up late from his nap and thought the street guy was a new business-owner at a ribbon cutting.

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    2. He was wearing wades roman soldier helmet. Couldn't make it to hearing.

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    3. That man with the sunglasses he's the next mayor. Markformayor.com. He will bring back Russ and place a very large man in charge of dpw.

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  8. Funniest moment of the night, Gary Galunpski trying to disparage Russ Reeves (on orders from Pete and Lou) looks like a Catholic High grad against a licensed engineer. Even people in the audience laughed. Gary, stick with the tit job in the BOE, that's as good as it's ever going to get.

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    1. Gary couldn't pass a rec/aide civil service test for God's sake, and he's questioning engineers? Looks like Teflon Dunne & the Forestry major might need some representation soon. Can't wait to see how they are going to fight being called to testify. Democrats once again punching the Troy taxpayers in the nuts, and the pocketbook. You Troy voters keep voting Row A all the way, as your city takes 5 steps backwards.

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  9. Is Erin Teta alive? Just checking.

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  10. Flash Gordon spare us the outrage. You'd wet your pants if you were anywhere near a building demolition. Stick with facebooking and pushing baby strollers

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    1. Calling for mayor's resignation now. Does Jim do anything but ask for resignations? What a political whore. Tick tock, Jim

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    2. There was a marriage demolition on red rock that was really scary

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    3. Jim Gordon is devoid of all morality

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    4. He is also behind the former alleged councilman in the felony column too

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    5. Enjoy the one term Jimbo, you phony gasbag

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  11. Why us steve Napier front and center at the engineers hearing? He's trying to look like rich Christ. That's for sure

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    1. Is he wearing ill fitting trousers like Rich?

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  12. He eats alphabet soups and chews the d

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  13. So if you use Garrett/Mayor Lou's logic then if I was having a heart attack and there was a heart doctor there they wouldn't let the heart doctor tend to me because I didn't give permission. They need to go.

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    Replies
    1. Lou doesn't look so lily white now does he?

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  14. Everyone in Troy needs to know that on Bill Dunnes first day as Planning Commisioner he filled out a DNR for the city
    D. Don't
    N. Notify
    R. Russ Reeves

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  15. Uh oh Kopka disagrees with SIlverman on whether Rodney can issue subpoenas by himself. Trouble in paradise.

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  16. How long will Lou, Pete, Garrett and Dunne keep this charade up? They blatantly and without regard to public safety and human decency put human lives in danger and continue to lie about it. Maybe Morris can spin it but I don't think so.

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    1. My question is besides not wanting the scrutiny or the public's rage, what else was in it for them to assist in the wrongdoings and keeping them quiet.

      One-term Lou, Ryan is Cryin' and Dunne is well DONE!

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    2. Rite they got there moves rite out of your hand book Harry.

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  17. What is the FBI actually investigating??

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