Saturday, April 26, 2014

Council investigates for the third time in 36 years and some questions to ask


WILTSHIRE
The last time the Troy Council used subpoena power was in 1978. Steve Dworsky was mayor under a city manager form of government and the legislative body was looking into a concept of team policing.
A host of people were compelled to testify including Dorothy Guiot of New Jersey. I won’t go into what it was all about because I was 12 at the time and dare say the only Troy I knew of at that time had to do with a horse. The Council also exercised its investigatory powers in about 2001 when, under President Frank LaPosta, it hired attorney Richard Hanft to look into a questionable federal grant funneled through the office of then Deputy Mayor Jim Conroy to his brother to buy a house part owned by the deputy mayor.
REEVES
Now the Council, under President Rodney Wiltshire, issued subpoenas to soon to be former City Engineer Russ Reeves and his assistant Barbara Tozzi, to find out what went down on King Street and King Fuels other than the buildings.
I’m not sure how the subpoenas were actually issued since I don’t think the Council voted to issue them at a properly called meeting as is required, but odds are Reeves and Tozzi just agreed to testify and the subpoenas were a formality.
While Reeves and Tozzi are more than likely willing participants, you can bet Planning Commissioner Bill Dunne, Deputy Mayor Pete Ryan, Fire Chief Tom Garrett and even Mayor Lou Rosamilia – should any or all of them get called – won’t come without a properly issued subpoena. And even then they could fight it in court, which won’t look good, or they could plead the fifth on some of the more poignant questions the Council will, or should, ask. That won’t look good either. Or they could get up on the stand and tell the truth whatever it may be.
DUNNE
Either way, just by kicking off the investigation, Wiltshire comes out on top politically speaking.
Anyway, Reeves and Tozzi probably won’t tell the Council anything new. Here is a rundown of what they will say and here’s what should be asked about each property:
King Street
What they will say:
-Reeves denied an emergency demolition permit, went on vacation and the building was declared a threat to public safety and ordered taken down by Fire Chief Tom Garrett when Reeves was on vacation.
KING STREET
-Despite knowing there was asbestos in the building, people were allowed to stay in Bomber’s located next door.
Questions to ask:
-Did the building’s owner, Don Boyajian, pay the demolition company, M. Cristo Inc. of East Greenbush?
-Why was the emergency demolition permit denied?
-Who directed Garrett to take the building down?
-Why was it taken down in front of other derelict, vacant buildings in the city?
KING FUELS
-Did someone make a 911 call regarding the building and its condition just prior to the demolition?
King Fuels
This project is a little lessstraight forward in that it was run through the Local Development Corporation, a quasi-governmental body headed up by Dunne.
Here are some questions:
-Why was the initial June, 2013 request for bids withdrawn?
-Why and how, after the initial RFB was withdrawn, were two buildings condemned and taken down under an emergency declaration?
-Why was such short notice given for the submission of a second round of bids – RFB issued on March 1, a Saturday, and bids were due on March 6.
ROSAMILIA
-According to the LDC minutes, Reeves knew of the demolition and the gas line. Did the demolition company, J.R. Casale, just screw up by putting debris on top of the main line that could have caused some serious damage if it was compromised?
-When did Reeves know of the demolition and how involved was he in carrying it out? If not Reeves, did another engineer consult on the demolition as indicated in the minutes and if so let’s see the reports?
-The relationship between Code Enforcement, the Engineering Department, and the Fire Department is a question that has only one answer … there really isn’t one - or not a good one anyway. Everyone is just doing their own thing and it seems that includes stabbing each other in the back. There is only one person to blame for that and it’s Rosamilia. He is the mayor after all, and a strong mayor keeps the troops in line and makes them play nice ... at least in the public eye.




44 comments:

  1. Tozzi made more than Pete Ryan with all her over time last year and in previous years also.
    So why do all these people need such high paid assistants and who is going to pay for all this over time.
    Would some of you other Rocket Scientists Bloggers give us the Tax Payers and answer.

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    Replies
    1. Simple. Markformayor.com. Show your support and get a free pair of jorts with every $100 donated

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    2. It's simple. Mark McGrath for mayor.

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    3. Word is mark McGrath will tap Vito for deputy mayor. Who will he pick for dpw commish or the planning director? Will Sheeran finally head code? To find out visit Markformayor.com

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    4. Bob Fitzgerald made more than Lou and Pete with their blessing, and lets not forget Garrett's heist. And you complain about Tozzi? Put down the poison dem Kool-Aid and get a grip.

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    5. DPW commissioner? Who will it be? Sounds like there going to need new leaf springs in a white pickup truck for a large man from the Burgh. Large n in charge.

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    6. She looks good these days. She shed a person

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    7. Obviously wiltshire will b running 4 mayor.. tozzi sucked up whatever $ she could & this city is screwed.

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  2. Someone needs to wake Lou up and tell him that he's still the mayor.

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    Replies
    1. He knows. He just doesn't care. Isn't that apparent?

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    2. Too negative 4 mr smiley..

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  3. Code needs to be headed up by kevin vandenburgh. He can hire his brother to take over for dunne After all he is the zoning king

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    Replies
    1. He can launch investigation. Into dunne as his first move. Maybe troy can have one new car dealer?

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    2. Im sure wiltshire has it on his agenda..

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  4. Oh what a tangled web they weaved, now its resulted in the loss of Reeves

    The council had to issue subpoena's, wonder who is going to sing like hyena's?

    This whole thing is such a F*ck-up, now someone needs to grow balls and man-up.

    Now that the mess has brought in the FBI, wonder who they'll sacrifice to be the fallguy?

    Dunne, Dunne, Dunne, Dunne-- Wade, erm I mean wave Bye Bye

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    Replies
    1. What no one seen those three hand trucks full of records taken out of code.
      I was there.

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  5. Can somone sopena Sheeran to figure out once and for all where he gets new hightops in 2014?!?!?

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  6. Someone needs to sopena kreshik to determine what a dire wolf is?

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    Replies
    1. He lives in east greenbush

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    2. He also reads this blog and corrects everyone's spelling and mistakes

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  7. Rodney should have used his sopena powers to get people to his fundraiser

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    Replies
    1. Repeat after me-- Subpoena. Dictionary, invest in one.

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    2. You mean free entry wasn't enough ?

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    3. He put Vito in charge of planning it. Vito scattered easter eggs stuffed with absentee ballots and still nobody came

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  8. There are some people in code who should be subpoenaed to find out what they do all day

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  9. Was dunne at adult Easter egg hunt? Sounds right up his alley as long as it's not on dormitory property

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  10. Beware of the Long Tongue of the Law

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  11. In my opinion boss is second in command...

    Lou is the front and not a good one.



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  12. Where is sibley and the twins. Morris the cat has 2 dogs is that close enough?

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    Replies
    1. I guess that depends on which way you swing. Maybe you should find someone else to drool over.

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    2. Drool over you morris?

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  13. The Mark McGrath campaign is scouting Troy locations for the "McGrath for Mayor" Headquarters. Kevin Vandenburgh will build one on his new lot on 112th St. Also under consideration is the South End Tavern, the former Roddy's Confectionery, or a spot in the new Buell building at the old city hall site.

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    Replies
    1. Maybe he can occupy 41 when it closes next month. That new fence ruined his parking.

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    2. Are they closing the club 41? I have seen there tax problems in the paper and heard that the state lottery took there lottery machines out. Mabey the bar next door is hurting them already.

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    3. It was the rascally fence. They need to hire Vito as a promoter. He can bring his newest al Bruno egg hunt with eggs filled with hair product. Ensure Lorna dunes an. Grease. After al will play a concert. Vito will record it on his new video cameras he purchased a few months back. Great resolution

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  14. the contractor for king street was "M Cristo contracting", please correct the article Jim.

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  15. City Engineer Russ Reeves and his assistant Barbara Tozzi, just follow the paper trail get all records of applications for Demolition for the last 10 years and all applications of New Comers and buying new property and watch how code would go in a loot the ones who were not politically correct after they invested millions only to be fleeced back out of the property's if the Economy went sour or they had financial trouble. These Parana's will eat your flesh then eat your young.

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  16. Jim: I have a question. What if you are one of the one's subpoenaed and you just dont go? What the hell is Rodney and Keeny going to do? Hold you in contempt? These guys are a joke. Rodney, I have some advise. try to just do something for the people in Troy that elected you. You are not going to be Mayor. You aren't even going to be Council President because you will NOT have the Independence line the next time you run (or the Dem line for that matter). Kenny you better get out to LI or wherever to save Dean Skelos' Repubs in the Senate. If the Dems ever get control, you my friend will be on the outside looking in. This Council is a joke from top to bottom.

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    1. Rodney, you are on the right path. Not only will you have the Independence line you may very well have the Conservative line.

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    2. A Democrat in Troy ( or even a so called Democrat) can only get the Independence line by selling out to the Republicans who control the party. Same thing applies for the Conservative Party.
      Is Troy's Phony in Chief preparing to sell out to the Republicans for two minor party lines ?

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  17. Independence line is what will bring all your re pubs back off there dog dishes re pubs are soiled and totally corrupt
    we will clean house next election
    Signed I am the Independence line

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