Thursday, August 21, 2014

Wiltshire doesn't get the votes to issue subpoenas


KOPKA
The Troy City Council failed to give President Rodney Wiltshire the authority to issue subpoenas because it only got five votes.
The ordinance was introduced Thursday, and as such needs a two-thirds majority to pass. But, Councilwoman Anastasia Robertson, D-District 2, was out of town and Councilmembers Lynne Kopka, D-At-Large, Erin Sullivan-Teta, D-At Large and Gary Galuski, D-District 6, voted no leaving the majority with just five votes.
If the ordinance was allowed to sit for seven days, it would only have needed five votes to pass. But, since it was introduced the same night as the special meeting called for just that purpose, according to the Charter, it needed six votes.
It did pass the Finance Committee meeting held prior to the special meeting by the same vote of 5-3, as did an amendment setting a Sept. 11 date for when the subpoenas had to be issued.
But at the special meeting, after it was declared passed by Wiltshire, Kopka pointed to a section of the charter that outlines the process for introducing and passing ordinances. Nobody, including the Democrats attorney, Joe Liccardi, had any choice but to agree with her since it is in black and white.
The five who voted in favor were Wiltshire and Councilmembers Jim Gordon, R-District 1, Dean Bodnar, R-District 3, Bob Doherty, D-District 4 and Ken Zalewski, D-District 5.
WIlTSHIRE
Sources close to the Wiltshire camp say the plan was to subpoena Mayor Lou Rosamilia, Deputy Mayor Pete Ryan and Corporation Counsel Ian Silverman in the Council’s ongoing probe or two controversial demolition projects and the administration’s oversight of the Code Department.
While Rosamilia did strike a deal with Wiltshire, and agreed to have members of his administration testify without subpoenas, he fell short of saying he would testify. The mayor is duly elected, and does represent a separate and distinct branch of government so whether or not the Council has the authority to compel him to testify is not clear.
Silverman is running in a three-way Democratic primary for two seats on the City Court bench. And many feel the timing of Wiltshire’s decision to re-start the hearings after more than a month of dormancy is to embarrass him before he faces incumbent Judge Chris Maier and attorney Keith Gorman.
The Council previously heard testimony from Fire Chief Tom Garrett, who ordered the buildings on King Street demolished by emergency decree while City Engineer Russ Reeves was on vacation. Reeves, who has since resigned, also testified as did Planning Commissioner Bill Dunne. Others, either employed by the city or who have or had a stake in the projects, also gave sworn testimony.
ROSAMIlIA
The FBI, the federal Environmental Protection Agency and the state Department of Environmental Conservation and Health Department are also looking into the King Street demolition as well as one at the King Fuels site.
Code Enforcement came under the gun after 51 Third St. was shuttered for lack of a Certificate of Occupancy. The building, which was occupied for about a decade, was being used as a staging ground for people planning to march in protest of alleged police brutality at Kokopellis night club.   
It’s unclear what Wiltshire will do. As it stands the earliest he could call another meeting is a week from Thursday, but Robertson is due back from vacation early next week so he could call another special meeting provided he gives each Council member 24 hours notice.

77 comments:

  1. Oh Lynn, you have got to go---away. I hear Feral Kitty Island needs a seamstress.

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    1. In regards to the City Charter...why have one if it's only followed when they WANT to follow it? And when I say THEY, I am not stating the current council, I am talking about personnel and employees that have been with the City for years.

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    2. Can you be more specific in your allegations please? If you have something other than mud that is...

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    3. Yes, Ken will make the same recommendations he did regarding the future of City Hall. Um, oh, never mind...

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    4. 318 financial gains not mud.

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    5. Which are? From what I've read, there's nothing.

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  2. Hilarious. Rodney and his buffoon of a lawyer don't even know how to properly introduce legislation. Yeah Rod you'd be a great Mayor. By the way did anybody ask Rod how much the Council has left in its budget? Well I'll tell you its less than zero. If this clown and his clownettes thinks the Mayor is going to transfer money to investigate himself Rodney better head to the wine bar. Keep this in mind Rodney will never be Mayor..Ever...

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    1. But if he does run, that would be a great campaign photo!

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    2. ...and it looks like Kopka finally figured out how. Too bad she decided to figure that out AFTER she lost her City Council President seat

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  3. Piss Off Harry your never going to be any thing but Rich Christs lackey and when they have some one else who need a job they will drop you like a bad habit
    You Crack heads and druggies will all Judas you or double cross you a heart beat for the cash

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    1. Didn't learn your lesson yet. ?

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  4. Councilman Galuski indicted for voter fraud, accused of insurance fraud, you can understand why he would want to hide the truth about anything.

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    1. I guess I can understand why Jim Gordon wants to stir up an "investigation" about nothing that no on cares about. It diverts attention from the war zone his district has become, thanks to his politics-first attitude and failure to take a real stand against crime. He'll just continue to hide in a corner wetting his pants and mattering to himself

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    2. Anyone seen Anastasia?

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    3. I'm a Dem and let me just say Anastasia is a joke. She'll be a one term wonder.

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    4. She better get back soon cause Tim is running out of cigarette and beer money.

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    5. Funny I tell them where the arson's will happen next and nothing happens
      Where was Jim Gordon Then

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    6. Flash Gordon is busy with other obligations. The one term Kevin McGrath let him have, will be gone in a Flash.

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    7. I saw Anastasia on the back of a milk carton yesterday. Tip line 1-800-WTF-HELP to report a sighting.

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    8. Kevin was gone after two terms. He couldn't win and couldn't even get the party endorsement. The fact is he is an embarrassment to the party and tarnishes every thing he touches. I could go down the list but will point out the inevitable, Amy O'Connor is in a spiraling descent and Laquadara who would win over an unappealing candidate with lose due to his association with Kevin. In a nutshell.

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    9. Lol, looks like a nerves been struck. It's ok. Jealousy is a tough emotion.

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    10. Galuski and casale long time friends

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  5. I never tire of that photo of Rodney. Lol

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  6. What specifically are they investigating? The demo procedure? A crime? That has never been clear to me.

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    1. Great question. I totally agree.

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    2. Trust me, it's not clear to them either.

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    3. Dumb, dumber and dumbest.

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    4. It's clear. I'll explain one more time, there is something called procedure, procedure wasn't followed. There are steps in demos such as checking and removing asbestos, these steps were not followed through putting the general public at risk, hence an investigation. Also, when the Mayor tells you to stop all work, it means STOP ALL WORK. That wasn't followed. Also there are other situations that have occurred down there that shouldn't have that are being overlooked.

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    5. Wiltshire and Zalewski have been using this needed demolition as a ploy to gain publicity for themselves. Fires and murders in Lansingburgh generate their own publicity and obviously are not as important to these two phonies.

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    6. Lol. @5:00 here's a few things YOU need explained. If it's about the demos, why are they wasting time on eviction notices? Why has there been no testimony about "stop work" orders being overlooked? Why does Rodney need to hold hearings about subpoenas when no one has turned down any requests for testimony?

      Get your head out your ass. And don't condescend to people who know a lot more about what is going on than you do.

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    7. The answer is "cover up" and payoffs. And people do know more than you think they do.your greed has made you sloppy.

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    8. Time is being wasted because there is a tangled web that has been weaved and a lot of different names being thrown around. Point is,all involved, are all related.

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    9. Tangled webs? Cover ups? Payoffs? Say what? Where's the proof? Other than the baseless rumors you're circulating. Give us some facts or go away.

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    10. The crack pipe is strong with 4:33

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    11. 102, is THAT the best you got? I'll take a drug test anytime and pass every time as for your long island Lolita,that's another story

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    12. Yeah she's too busy in the downtown bars with all the guys the police arrest tipping them off on raids

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  7. Too bad, Rodney & Ken, your sell-out to the GOP to get that Independence Party endorsement didn't work out for you this time. Kudos to real Dems who stood up against your feeble attempt to try to demean our Dem administration. You got your GOP votes, tho. Big deal. Just join the GOP and be true to yourself!

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    1. Ken Z is a traiterous egocentric babbling piece of shit. Council meetings will be 75% shorter and 200% more interesting when he's gone.

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    2. "demean our Dem administration"? Pal, never in Troy history has an administration been so bad.

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    3. 3:55 AM In your opinion, Harry? I see lots to be proud of and accomplished by this admin - not this Council.

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    4. Ok commissioner dunne

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    5. LOL Commissioner Dunne. He'll have that title for another year and a half, then it's sayonara!

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    6. to 3:55 congratulations, you've surpassed Chicago as the most violent-deadly city in the nation. As long as they hire out of town young babes why would you care, a pig in a playpen!

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    7. Out of town young babes?

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    8. Sorry, I don't agree that crime is down. When my chance as a resident has increased to 600% in getting killed, it's not only time to get rid of the mayor but also chief of police and fire chief

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  8. Theyre investigating why Rodney posts dumbass pictures of himself on social media .

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    1. That can be answered - ego. Ego and stupidity.

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  9. Jim Gordon always looks somewhat moist and clammy

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    1. Clearly Gordon voted for more hearings to take the attention off his failures in the 'burgh.

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    2. 5:10--- His failures ? Where is Anastasia ? She hasn't lifted a finger !

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    3. Yes, 9:04, Jim's failures. Along with his mentor Harry and JT. We are paying for OT cuts in 2010 and 2011. All the lost intell from special details. It has all come home to roost.

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    4. Spooky Jim Gordon has been bragging and preening about runnning a neighborhod watch group for YEARS and crime just gets WORSE. arsons, murders, vandals, gunfire IN HIS DISTRICT and what is being done as a result of his so called efforts? Nothing! Maybe he can actually do something for a change instead of his red faced sweaty mumbling and skulking off to birthing classes . Instead he will point fingers at everyone but himself and critize any other organization trying to do good because he can't stand having the spotlight off himself!!

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    5. That "pointing the finger" sounds a lot like the last councilman in that district doesn't it?

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    6. BABOOM! The much aligned Councilman Gordon and THA's Dan Crawley will rehab an eyesore on 2nd avenue for veteran housing. Finally those snipping dog McGraths will have to shut up. Great job Jim. The Burgh appreciates your hard work and integrity.

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    7. Burgh appreciates a council person that has volunteered his time to countless community projects and events since long before he ran for office. How about two terms of absolutely no response from the guy before him. Oh right, he was busy trying to keep his rat ass out of jail.

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    8. Your burgh councilman was TRYING to run for office during all those years of selfless community projects, princess. He just kept getting his ass kicked by Kevin McGrath

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    9. Jim Gordon has been kissing ass for years to get his council position and his job. Stop DWI coordinator? Is that a necessity in our County Budget? How about a Stop Shootings in Broad Daylight coordinator? The position he holds is for political hacks-and has been for years, (since John Sweeney held the title! Sweeney has 2 dwi's by the way - don't think there is any substance to the program!) Gordon is a man who makes every penny of his income from the taxpayer teat. He needs to answer why things haven't improved under his watch. Accountability Jim, don't deflect, they aren't asking Anastasia what she is doing about the issue because they don't care. They want to know what you are doing. That is part of politics. Answers - not blame! Get on it Jim, make like it is a secretary/clerk or something!

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    10. Let's just pray the Vets don't get robbed and beaten up or a flying bullet in their head. That will be just perfect for Troy, I can see the headlines now, WWI vet escaped death in war only to be shot to death in North Troy

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  10. The Burgh needs VITO

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    1. No vito, me no like vito. no no no.

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    2. Can't wait till tonight's concert hosted by Vito. He does a remarkable job and is an asset to this city. And the way he gets rid of the bums in the park he should run for mayor. Thank you Vito.

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    3. He is one of the bums in the park.

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    4. VITO is the king of the Burgh!!!

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    5. Crack pipes are easy to hide in a jeep

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    6. Yea but a mental midget exposes himself every time he opens his mouth.

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    7. He still hadn't learned.

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  11. Speaking about 2/3rds majority, according to the City Charter, that's what Harry needed to pass raises for the non-represented members of his staff and himself. With a 6-3 Republican majoirty he had it covered with one small problem. One of the Republicans sided with the Democrats and voted against the raises. But that didn't stop Harry and Hank from passing it.

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  12. Perhaps Mr. Franco can answer this one looming question: Why does Wiltshire need to issue subpoenas when the Mayor has stated he and his staff will appear voluntarily to testify ? Is it a case of adding more drama to the witchhunt he as created ? OR, is it another attempt to draw publicity for himself ? All responses welcome.

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    1. It's all about publicity for himself. He's not going to get his hands dirty trying to make Troy safer from criminals... easier to hold hearings about bullshit

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    2. He too busy matching ties with the color of his wife's dress.

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    3. No...the Mayor and Deputy Mayor initially said they didn't have to answer, that's why. So the subpoena was to ensure they would speak openly in regards to the situation at hand.

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    4. Didn't they all sign a letter saying they would?

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    5. Why is that officer that was arrested for blowing a drug raid working on the King Fuels project and the old Thornies?

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    6. The Mayor has stated more than once he and his staff will voluntarily testify. therefore, no need for subpoenas.
      4:19 Why do you cloud the issue with doubletalk ?

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  13. It's not doublespeak. If you go back to where this all began, the mayor's office is the one that had the fighting stance saying there is nothing to discuss(as usual)

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