Friday, January 30, 2015

Wiltshire cancels order for new chairs; shortest lived controversy in Collar City history


WILTSHIRE
The day the purchase order was signed, Council President Rodney Wiltshire opted not to buy nine new chairs – presumably one per Council member - that would have cost $2,352. 
“I've instructed the clerk to cancel the order. I've read some interesting ideas here on getting chairs at low or no cost. Ken Zalewski and Penny thank you for some great ideas. Surplus chairs from an institution that may want to donate them could be a great option,” Wiltshire wrote on Facebook in response to a number of posts critical of the purchase. “Moreover, and just to reiterate, This expenditure is budgeted. But I think that tablets for better productivity is a wiser purchase.”
Councilman Ken Zalewski, D-District 5, attempted to deflect the critics saying the relatively small amount of money is just 0.0035 percent of the city’s $66 million-plus budget.  
“It ignores the fact that every city employee has a decent chair to sit in. It ignores the fact that the Planning Department recently purchased a brand new set of chairs for the conference room to replace already-comfortable but somewhat dilapidated chairs,” Zalewski said of a post on this blog. “Like I said, I don't care either way. I'll sit on the floor if I have to. But come on, an entire blog post on $2,350 out of a $66,124,624 budget? I'm anxiously awaiting similar scrutiny on that other $66,122,274.”
ZALEWSKI
(As an aside, there are links to stories here, here, here and here and  about the entire budget.)
Councilman Jim Gordon, R-District 1, said he learned of the purchase after the aforementioned blog post was put up on Facebook.
“What??? You're kidding?? This is how I learn of such an unnecessary expense? I spoke against this during the budget hearing and will again - I do not need a new chair! No one does!,” he wrote. “If attendees at council meetings can ‘suffer’ on similar chairs then we too can do their business on them. This is ridiculous.”
Prior to Wiltshire’s decision to nix the new chairs, Gordon said on Twitter that he would buy each member of the Council a seat cushion and that he would gladly give his chair to the first person to mention “chairgate” at the Feb. 5 meeting.
A number of citizens and business owners weighed in on social media too.
“What is really sad is they placed the order in the first place. Then cancel the order when it gets too hot on Facebook?” said Debra Lockrow, owner of Artcentric in downtown. “The council needs Facebook conversations to give them a clue on how to behave with fiscal intelligence?”
GORDON
“They paid for those chairs with the money they got from me when they hired GAR to overestimate the value of my property!” said Jo Rehm. “Then it cost me more money to hire someone to come in & do an accurate estimate. Do I get any of that money back, hell no!”
Penny Bonesteel said the Council should explore other options like using the new chairs the Planning Department just purchased. Zalewski concurred and said it would take nine minutes to move the chairs – one minute per chair.
“None of us are naive enough to think 2k is going to tip the bucket one way or the other, but given the circumstances, it definitely sends the wrong message to citizens that are going to have to deal with a lot of butt pain in the foreseeable future,” said Nancy A Bourgeois Wright.
And she is right, the $2,352 is not going to make or break the city and either is the $10,000 confidential secretary or the $27,000-plus assistant city clerk. But the impact is two-fold: One is that pennies eventually lead to dollars and it just sends the wrong message given the city's financial crunch that will get nothing but worse in the very near future.  

49 comments:

  1. Well, I can't speak for anyone else, but I waited 12 yrs and 6 retirements before I got a chair that didn't tip over and all the wheels worked. I know people who bought their own chair. I also know people who got to hand pick brand new ones. It all depends on the pecking order, who knows who etc. Politics!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kevin McCashion has offered to reupholster the existing chairs with Mark McGrath's back hair.

      Delete
    2. Back hair? I thought he was wearing a Mohair sweater

      Delete
    3. I hope it's not flammable

      Delete
  2. "Councilman Jim Gordon, R-District 1, said he learned of the purchase after the aforementioned blog post was put up on Facebook."

    And that registers about 8.5 on the Bullshit Scale. What did Jim Gordon think that big budgeted increase for equipment was for, an 80 year supply of paper clips? Personalized sterling silver staplers? And if he really didn't know why the council was asking for all that money, he should have been demanding a breakdown of that line during the budget process so he could try to amend it.

    Bottom line, if that purchase order hadn't been published on this blog those chairs would be on their way to City Hall right now. The only person who gets credit for standing up for Troy taxpayers on this one is Jim Franco.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There have been repeated requests for breakdowns of line items, amongst other requests regarding expenditures. All have met a brick wall and ignored.

      Forensic audit anyone?

      Delete
    2. So 7:29, or should I say, Carmella - its Gordons fault King Rod ordered new chairs and he didn't know about it? Got meds? How did you make out recruiting Senate workers for your latest flawed campaign Carm?

      Delete
    3. It's Gordon's fault for not challenging the $18,000 equipment line item in the budget, which is where the money for the chairs came from. Last year the equipment budget was $2,000. Kind of a big increase, don't ya think?

      Maybe Jimbo didn't read the budget. I guess that's an "explanation" for his ignorance.

      Delete
    4. And here I was thinking the increase in the budget was so the council could obtain the equipment needed to properly record and broadcast the council meetings. You know get away from the 15 dollar walmart web cam and the freeware...

      Delete
    5. Jim Franco - you deserve the credit for exposing the nonsense going on in the City Council. After it appeared on your Blog I notice that there are several people who want to take credit for the retraction of the expense.

      Delete
    6. I guess the same should apply fot the crack at-large team 554

      Delete
    7. Yo 7:54, the at-large team isn't whoring it up on Twitter and Facebook trying to pretend they didn't know about it and trying to take credit for exposing it. That's all Jim Gordon.

      Delete
    8. Yo Superhero your cape has some holes in it-- We can see right through.

      Delete
    9. Jim's in a corner. McGrath is chasing him out of D1, now he's going to get his ass kicked citywide. Keep those county time sheets current, Jimbo.

      Delete
  3. Remember one thin Ken your more of a man then Peter will ever be.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ken you'll always be remembered for the dog park and FiOS. Oh wait.

      Delete
  4. You wanna save money? Get rid of Deputy Mayor spot, planning commissioner, spokesperson, assistant city clerk, dep mayors secretary, confidential assistant to mayor, 2 of 3 at large candidates and dissolve district 6 into district 5. There's some real savings for ya. Also why does the mayor, dep mayor and Bill chamberlain have a take home city car?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Only the Mayor has a car. Same one Harry had.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for clarifying ace bill dunne

      Delete
    2. That's a lie. Chamberlain drives around in that white Dodge Charger.

      Delete
    3. What does his rawhide assistant drive. We hear a fireman owns it

      Delete
    4. City employees use city cars for work. Chamberlain drives his late fathers SUV.

      Delete
    5. She works 3 jobs to pay for what she has .. Get your facts straight

      Delete
  6. Ok Mike Morris. I thought you said you did not read the blogs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Everybody reads the blogs.

      Delete
    2. We haven't had any Dems take their shirts off lately. What's up with that?

      Delete
    3. I have never read this blog. Never, ever!

      Delete
  7. After listing to Rodney today my butt hurts.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Best thing he could have done!

    ReplyDelete
  9. " “It ignores the fact that every city employee has a decent chair to sit in. It ignores the fact that the Planning Department recently purchased a brand new set of chairs for the conference room to replace already-comfortable but somewhat dilapidated chairs "

    I bought my own chair from Stales with my very first paycheck. Why can you not re-purpose the chairs that Commissioner Dunne had replaced?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Interesting. Because some people I know actually had to purchase their own chairs.

      Delete
  10. Heard ole Rod on "Franco and Friends" say it's not like we're raising taxes.....Rod you guys just did raise taxes and sewer taxes to the tune of 35%. Time to bring Arlene Cahill!

    ReplyDelete
  11. New England's not the only place with a lot of deflated balls.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Watch it before they suspend your ass too.

      Delete
    2. One could only wish

      Delete
    3. In Lansingburgh they're shriveled to nothing

      Delete
  12. Heard the GOP told Jim Gordon they won't back him for mayor this year. Yes he's weak but they don't have anyone else.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Run Jim Run!!

      Sincerely,
      The Dems

      Delete
    2. The Troy GOP has not even met to endorse any candidates and that includes the one for mayor. That is a fact.

      Delete
    3. Lol thanks, Jimbo. Don't stop believin'

      Delete
    4. Lol that the Troy GOP even bothers to meet at all.

      If they do, we know McCashion will be there with the knee pads so he can keep begging to be city chair. THAT is a fact.

      Delete
  13. Maybe Vito can put on a Chair-Aid concert at Section 8 SPAC to raise the funds.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I heard Gordon wants a pro-active approach to dealing with the snow. Does that mean plowing before it snows?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Superhero has come to pave the streeeeeeeeets!!!

      Delete
    2. Jim is Definitely a Blow Hard he cut his teeth with all the wackos

      Delete
  15. Martin Reid has generously offered to assist city workers with filling out their overtime sheets.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Maybe Joel Abelove can donate some of the time he isn't spending prosecuting Republican lawbreakers to helping out with the snow emergency.

    ReplyDelete