Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Good move by Mayor Lou; ball is in Wiltshire's court

ROSAMIlIA

Mayor Lou Rosamilia put the ball back in Council President Rodney Wiltshire’s court by saying any member of his administration will voluntarily testify so there is no need for the Council to issue subpoenas.
It was a good move by Roasmilia. He avoids looking like he was fighting the inquiry – as opposed to when he vetoed the ordinance allowing the Council to issue subpoenas – and rather makes it look like he and his administration are being nothing but open and transparent and willing to cooperate with the process.
WILTSHIRE
Plus, and perhaps more importantly in the grand scheme of things, by hearing from the players directly involved in the demolition on King Street and on the King Fuels site, we are all closer to knowing who did what and why. Rosamilia - whether he knows or not or whether or not he wants to know or not - can say he and his have nothing to hide and if something untoward is revealed he can claim ignorance and be just as shocked and surprised as anyone else. Even Wiltshire, while on Talk1300, said he thinks Rosamilia was not aware of what actually transpired prior to the demolitions.
In other words, look for someone to be the “fall guy.” But the thing with “fall guys,” is sometimes they are the ones responsible and should be held accountable.
Anyway, some say the agreement waters down the investigation because as Wilford Brimley said in Absence of Malice: “Wonderful thing a subpenee.”
GARRETT
With a subpoena, the testimony is automatically under oath and the Council can also demand to see records like contracts, emails and other exchanges related to the two demolition projects.
Wiltshire can still put those giving testimony under oath, can still demand the related documents and proceed as if he were issuing subpoenas but he really had no choice but to accept Rosamilia’s fig leaf. If he didn’t, he ran the risk of appearing to politicize the process and so far he has kept the inquiry above the fray – which is no easy task in a city like Troy.  
In the end, Rosamilia had nothing to lose by offering up members of his administration. If he didn’t Wiltshire would have just overrode the vetoes, issued the subpoenas and they would be forced to testify anyway. Let’s see if they are under oath and if the Council also has access to all the relevant documents and communications.
  According to the Times Union, the eight who will testify are:
RYAN
Fire Chief Tom Garrett, who ordered the demolition of the King Street buildings, a row of buildings owned by attorney Don Boyajian, Bill Dunne, the planning commissioner who is at the center of the King Fuels demolition, his assistant Andrew Kreshik, Dave Sheeran, a code enforcement officer, Andrew Peterson, an employee in the planning department, Corporation Counsel Ian Silverman, Mike Hayner, who is heading up the Department of Public Works and Deputy Mayor Pete Ryan.
Obviously Rosamilia has no control over those who probably have something to offer but are not employed by the city. They include Boyajian, J.R. Casale, the proprietor of Bomber’s and a representative from Ditano and Sons.   
This will be the third hearing held by the Council. The first featured former City Engineer Russ Reees and his assistant Barbara Tozzi. Both of whom have since left city employment. During the second, the Council heard testimony from four individuals who do not work for the city.  

26 comments:

  1. Jim I see your now becoming just like the record. Last weeks news today. Your getting lazy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are right. I slacked off this weekend.

      Delete
  2. What would be great is if each person to testify dresses like Sheeran

    ReplyDelete
  3. Such a sad situation in Troy. You have Mayor Lou like a wounded rabbit and the buzzards Zalooski and Rodney circling for the kill. Lou and his inept staff have brought this entirely on themselves. What's just as bad though is the Rodney (look at me, look at me) Wiltshire posting daily pictures of himself and telling anyone who will listen "I'm the next mayor". God help us all.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lou is anything but a wounded rabbit, but please continue to underestimate him. It only works in his favor.

      Rodney will never be mayor. If you can't figure out why, then you don't understand Troy politics.

      Delete
    2. Rodney may look mayoral, but he is certainly representing the people of this city...unlike this administration who could care less about public safety. I hope he runs for mayor!

      Delete
    3. Don't be misled 8:25. Rod will step over or on anyone to promote himself. Take a look at his first 5 months as counil president with total disregard for other people's lives or reputations. he is an easily manipulated young man with stars in his eyes who allows himself to be the pawn for an evil man who resembles Russia's Putin---another evil man.

      Delete
    4. Rodney is doing a masterful job alienating Democrats while being used ruthlessly by the Republicans. I hope he enjoys running for office without a major party line, because that will certainly be his future.

      Delete
  4. Even better if each person to testify dresses the color of a skittle

    ReplyDelete
  5. In order to avoid testimony rodney had challenged dave to a shirt off. Let's see those abs boys says ken

    ReplyDelete
  6. I never get sick of seeing the above photo of Peter "Corkey" Ryan. Just need to add the helmet and short bus to the picture.

    ReplyDelete
  7. But what's the charge?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No charges, just another egomaniac display by Rodney "The Emperor Has No Clothes" Wiltshire.

      Delete
  8. Not so much a charge but not following policies and procedures set forth on demolitions throughout the City which put residents and partners of the City at risk. It's the same old pay to play . Some of these people seem to think they own the City and can do whatever they want.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There is no better example of disregard for policies and procedures on demolitions than former Mayor Tutunjian's surprise attack on city hall---
      wrecking ball and all. He never informed the council of his action which took place on New Year's Eve. Where was the outrage then under that leaderless city council ?

      Delete
  9. Not so much a charge but not following policies and procedures set forth on demolitions throughout the City which put residents and partners of the City at risk. It's the same old pay to play . Some of these people seem to think they own the City and can do whatever they want.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And the worst offender of all was Harry Tutunjian. He's got a lot of nerve lecturing anyone about shoddy demolitions and asbestos exposure.

      Delete
    2. Harry's gone so leave him out of it. It's the same shit just a different day. So obviously there is a crew in there that are not following policies and procedures set in place and they have all "bent" the rules so much, none of them know what is the right way of doing things.

      Delete
    3. Harry's not going to get left out of anything when he plops his ample ass down on a witness chair and starts spouting off BS and lies to make the administration look bad. This administration is the Holy See compared to Harry and his crew. The funny thing is watching how they're so blinded by jealousy and embittered by voter rejection that they can't even lie well anymore. And they used to be so good at it!

      Delete
  10. As Rodney says things are becoming a lot clearer. Mr. Boyajian says he never spoke to the administration and they didn't return his calls yet then says the week before the demo he met with Ryan and Dunne. Even thanks Dunne for introducing him to the Vencino people. Deputy Mayor Ryan is on record saying he didn't know anything about it and it was Chief Garrett's call. I've never seen an administration so incapable of telling the truth.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No you idiot. Boyajian said RUSS REEVES didn't return his calls, not "the administration" generally.

      Delete
    2. Russ won't return his calls because all Boyajian wanted to talk about was trying to get the city and Russ to take his building down. So then he called Peter and Bill Dunne and down went the buildings. That's what this is all about. Mike Hanner will next be asked why Peter called him on the Sunday before the Monday demolition and told him to get the barricade down there. This is all falling together now and there all nervous. Hell Boyagian was soaked all the way threw his sport coat when he was done with his bull spit.

      Delete
    3. Bill, first off you weren't at the meeting so you didn't hear what Boyajian said. Seems like he has as many stories as you and Pete. Unfortunately for all of you is when you constantly lie you tend to forget what lies you've told. it'll bite you in the ass.

      Delete
    4. Thank you 3:43 for clarifying distortions of truth by 12:42.

      Delete
  11. What we have here Lucas, is a failure to communicate!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Soooo....where do we currently stand on this...Will there be anymore subpoenas and questioning ? Or are these guys stalled by Wade threatening retaliation for a legit inquiry that any DIGNIFIED democrat council would do?

    ReplyDelete