Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Council to vote on issuing subpoenas

WILTSHIRE

The city Council will hold a special meeting tomorrow night for the sole purpose of voting to give President Rodney Wiltshire the power to issue subpoenas in the ongoing investigation of two demolition projects and other actions by the administration.
According to sources, three people are in line to get subpoenas, Mayor Lou Rosamilia, Deputy Mayor Pete Ryan and Corporation Counsel Ian Silverman.

“Ordinance authorizing the city council president to issue legislative subpoenas to conduct the continuing investigation of city conduct and processes concerning the following: Demolition in and around the King Fuels site, demolition in and around the King Street site and oversight and direction of the Code Department,” is the lone item on the agenda.
ROSAMILIA
Previously, Rosamilia agreed to have members of his administration testify in front of the Council without a subpoena. Planning Commissioner Bill Dunne, Fire Chief Tom Garrett and others did answer questions regarding the three areas mentioned above.
But, while the Charter does give the Council power to conduct hearings and compel testimony from anyone working in city government - as well as get documents via a subpoena - the mayor is an elected official and as such represents a distinct and separate branch of government.
Also, Silverman is the city’s attorney answerable to the mayor so he could invoke the sacrosanct attorney/client privilege if he is called to testify. On the other hand, technically, he also works for the Council so, he could answer questions by virtue of the fact his boss is telling him to.
RYAN
According to the charter, anyone who fails to answer a subpoena and refuses to testify is guilty of a misdemeanor and can be punished with up to $1,000 fine and a year in jail. But the legal quandaries involving the mayor and corporation counsel have not been tested since this is only the second time in 36 years the Council has invoked its investigatory powers.
In addition to the Council investigation, the federal Environmental Protection Agency, the state Department of Environmental Conservation, the state Health Department and the FBI have also made inquiries about the demolition projects.
GARRETT
Last month, the two investigators from the EPA paid a visit to the home of former City Engineer Russ Reeves asking about the demolition projects. He and his assistant in his newly formed private practice, Barbara Tozzi, who retired from the city shortly after Reeves resigned, also answered questions from FBI investigators.
The buildings on King Street, which are owned by attorney Don Boyajian, were knocked down at the direction of Garrett – who deemed it an emergency - while Reeves was on vacation. Reeves, during his own testimony in front of the Council, said Boyajian previously asked the city could declare them a hazard and knock them down in the interest of public safety but was denied.
The wrecking ball swung prior to any asbestos abatement and while Bombers Burrito Bar, located next door, remained open.
Reeves also said the demolition at the King Fuels site was shut down because construction activity came dangerously close to a natural gas main and because the demolition crew ignored engineering opinions while knocking down buildings. Later, asbestos was discovered littering the site.
REEVES
During the previous hearings, the city’s decision to shut down 51 Third St. also came under fire. The building is owned by Igor Vamos, a professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a member of the YES Men. It was used as a gathering place for people who were set to march in protest of alleged police brutality in the wake of the Kokopellis melee. There were questions as to who ordered the Code Department to shutter the building when it had been occupied for years.
The special meeting is slated for 7 p.m. in City Hall. More information as it becomes available.    

 

 

26 comments:

  1. This council is an absolute joke, especially Wiltshire. Haven't heard a word from 8 out of 9 council persons on the homicides or what they plan to do in order to curb this spike in crime. They are worried about subpoenas and demolitions and statues of former mayors. Give me a break. This is what we voted in? Clueless politicians who keep their head in the sand to the real issues facing this city.

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    1. The council is looking into all of it, but you have to also understand that the City has a Chief of police and a Mayor, why put ALL of the weight on the Council? A Council that actually has the guts to question everything going on and not just shut up,sit down and do as your told. WHY? Because this council actually has a conscience, they all work full time jobs in addition to trying to help the residents of Troy and not just line their pockets with City taxpayer dollars. The real issues need to be addressed by the Mayor and the chief. The residents of Lansingburgh and in other areas of Troy ARE doing their part and I commend those residents of Central and North Troy for doing what they are doing but what they don't recognize is they need to DEMAND even more from the Mayor and the chief as they are the ones earning top dollar on YOUR TAX DOLLAR, the Council earns UNDER 15,000 a year if not less,while the big wigs get paid in between 80 and 130K a year.

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    2. The council is anti-cop and the mayor and deputy mayor are cowards. Proof- Result? Troy is the most violent city in the northeast. Maybe per capita the nation.

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    3. @356, one councilman owes over 30k in unemployment benefits he gained fraudulently. Another overstepped his boundaries as a council person by representing a business that was in front of SLA. And don't give me that bs that it was to protect a business in his district. Why didn't he represent jindali with his business? Or Olearys in their recent trip to SLA. Another council woman hasn't opened her mouth except to say here during roll call. Some one check her for a pulse from time to time. I could go on forever with this bunch. They are anti cop. The FBI and DAs office cleared the police dept of any wrong doing yet they still insisted on further investigation. The FBI is the supreme law enforcement of the land. Ya can't go any higher than them Rodney. Now he wants to keep investigating a building that should have been torn down. They should have kept going and torn down the rest of the buildings including that shit hole 32 king st. And invite a developer to come in and do something positive with the property

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    4. That is not a true statement and the proof is after years and years of corruption people are getting egg on their face and crying about being singled out. If you were honest to begin with, you wouldn't be questioned.

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    5. 919...and please update us on the Troy Police officers that are,all currently under investigation...I think you skipped a chapter didn't you little buddy?

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    6. 5:26 at this point the cops are cleaner than the politicians.

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    7. @9:19, actually the US AG is the chief law enforcement official in the land. Regardless, this is all about Wiltshire's ego.

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  2. Talk about rearranging the deck chairs when the Titanic is sinking. Lansingburgh is burning and the council wants to talk about demolition permits? Get your head of your ass, Rodney.

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    1. DON'T BLAME THE COUNCIL, call the police chief,fire chief,the deputy mayor and the Mayor. The council is doing exactly what they are suppose to be doing. You just don't like it because the focus is finally coming down on all the bad seeds of the City and they aren't left I g it go

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    2. The council isn't doing shit. No one cares about these demos, no one got hurt. Its a waste of time and their doing it so they dont' have to do anything about CRIME which is what the Troy people care about!!!! Get off your asses!

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    3. The council should be legislating, not investigating nothing.

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    4. Says only a person who has a friend or relative involved in the investigation.

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  3. No positive change can be effected and sustained until this administration is removed from power.

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    1. And the bad cops and employees that disrupt the possibility of a smooth running city

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    2. And a city council who cares more about politics and their own political aspirations than the citizens of Troy.

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  4. Enough already on the demolitions! The Council should move on and do something positive for Troy. The Council clearly lacks leadership if this is all they can focus on!

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  5. I got an idea screw King Street and the rest of this Rodney/Kenny inspired see myself on TV BS. Would either deign to come used to Lansinburgh and put their petty political agendas on the back burner for just a minute. A friend of mine and his wife care beaten to death in their home and all Rodney's is interested in is trying to make himself the next Mayor with His sidekick Kenny as DM. Bulletin for you two we will vote and you aren't going to be Mayor..ever...one at large councukperson shows up at Powers Park? You ALL should have your asses up here. I will work to make sure people remember who was with us and who is a grandstanding megalomaniac. That's a promise and I'm not a McGrath but I DO know politics...very very well..

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    1. How do you know what's going on in their personal lives? And what are YOU doing as a resident to help this situation?

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    2. Rodney was at the rally. Kenny Z would never leave the rarefied east side to go to the Burgh. Lets face it. But where was Lynne Kopka? The feral cats were there, smoking and carrying Take Back Barker Park signs.

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    3. Rodney was at the rally. He has offered a reward for information leading to an arrest.

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    4. They were there but also had meetings. Can you all be in two places at one time? Get real people.

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  6. In 36 years? Who was on the Council then? And what occurred to shake things up?

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  7. The sound of Circus Music is getting louder every minute.

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    1. Only in your head, McCashion. Take your meds, lie down, and let Rich Crist rub your feet.

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  8. Rodney was at the rally. He has offered a reward for information leading to an arrest.

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