The Mantello Record

Council Votes Not Unanimous: A Complete Record of Divided Votes, 2024-2026

Council Votes Not Unanimous: A Complete Record of Divided Votes, 2024-2026

Every city council vote in Troy’s 2024 and 2025 sessions where at least one member voted no, or where a measure was defeated or failed a supermajority threshold. Each entry includes the full agenda title, the legislative purpose, and the debate on record. Votes are listed in chronological order by meeting date. Sources are meeting transcripts from the TroyDems City Council Meeting archive.

2024

February 1, 2024 — Finance and Regular Meeting

Ord. 2 — “Ordinance Transferring Funds Within The 2024 General Fund And Water Fund Budgets” — 5-2. Steele and Vera voted no.

The ordinance funded two arrangements the administration had put in place after the prior DPU superintendent resigned. City Engineer Russ Reeves was serving dual duty: city engineer at $125,000 and DPU superintendent at a $50,000 stipend drawn from the water fund, totaling $175,000. Two DPU supervisors also received $5,000 premium pay each. The administration framed the arrangement as cost-saving, arguing a full DPU superintendent salary with benefits would cost considerably more.

Brosnan moved a technical amendment correcting a salary figure in the attached schedule from approximately $390,000 to $420,516; it passed and was incorporated. Vera then proposed a substantive amendment to strike the transfers to line 1210 and redirect those funds toward hiring a comptroller, which he said was more urgent. Deputy Mayor Donnelly disclosed that a comptroller candidate was already in the approval pipeline and expected “within the next couple of weeks.” Vera withdrew his amendment.

Steele had separately questioned whether the emergency engagement of accounting firm Prism Nexus, hired to close out the 2023 books, could have been avoided with a special meeting instead of an emergency declaration. The ordinance passed 5-2 with Steele and Vera opposed.

Source: 2024-02-01_Finance_Regular_Meeting.md

April 24, 2024 — Finance Committee and Special Meeting

Res. 68 — “Resolution Urging Passage Of The Packaging Reduction And Recycling Infrastructure Act (S.4246-B / S.5322)” — Defeated. Exact count not recorded in Finance Committee minutes.

The resolution asked the state legislature to pass bills S.4246-B and S.5322, the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act. Steele, the sponsor, said she was inspired by a keynote by former DEC Commissioner Jonathan Adjunct at the Bob Daby Memorial Lecture at the SUNY Albany School of Public Health. She cited Maine as the nearest state with similar legislation already enacted and noted six states had adopted comparable laws. She pointed to the AIM funding resolution as precedent for the council urging action at higher levels of government: “I believe you co-sponsored the resolution encouraging increase in AIM funding, and as a result Troy will be receiving $1.4 to 1.5 million this year.” Sorriento added that Troy “is part of planet Earth” and that measurable carbon progress shows action is possible.

Keal objected on substance: the bill would double-penalize manufacturers for production and sale, forced companies to fund their own compliance studies, lacked clear enforcement standards, and exempted local government from the same requirements it placed on businesses. Casey said he preferred the council focus on local issues (“dead cats, brush truck calls, veterans banners, crime, and the budget”) rather than a state bill that “has been through three versions and has never made it out of committee even with this legislature.”

The Finance Committee minutes were not published on troyny.gov, so the exact vote count is unconfirmed.

Source: 2024-04-24_Finance_Special_Meeting.md

May 23, 2024 — Finance Committee and Special Meeting

Res. 96 — “Resolution Determining That Proposed Action Is A Type II Action For Purposes Of The New York State Environmental Quality Review Act” — 4-3. Steele, Vera, and Spain-McLaren voted no.

The resolution declared the Congress and Ferry Street corridor project a Type II action under SEQRA, exempting it from further environmental review. The regulatory citation at issue was 6 NYCRR Part 617.5(c)(5), which covers reconstruction of roadways without lane addition. Commissioner of Planning Randy Coburn confirmed on the record that the bond resolution did not depend on the SEQRA determination.

Vera, who had served on the Zoning Board and as SEQRA officer, raised two specific objections: the resolution applied the Type II designation to the entire project rather than just the design-phase bonding, and the cited code reference does not cover an intersection realignment, which was part of the project scope. He said he could not be comfortable with a full project determination “when no plans have been seen and no public input has occurred.” Spain-McLaren supported Vera’s concerns.

After a brief caucus recess, Brosnan and Casey said they were satisfied that Corporation Counsel and bond counsel had jointly drafted the resolution. Sorriento said she was “trusting the bonding counsel.”

Earlier in the same Finance meeting, former city planner James Wrath, who wrote the original 2018 grant that brought $3 to $4 million to the corridor, and transportation planner Stephen Maples of CDTC, speaking personally, had both pressed the council on the near-total absence of public engagement since a single advisory committee session in early December 2023. The vote was 4-3 at both the Finance Committee and the Special Meeting.

Source: 2024-05-23_Finance_Special_Meeting.md

July 25, 2024 — Public Hearing, Finance Committee, and Special Meeting

Local Law 3 — “A Local Law Repealing Troy City Code Chapter 71 ‘Planning Commission’” — 4-3. Steele, Vera, and Spain-McLaren voted no.

Local Law 3 dissolved Troy’s Planning Commission and replaced it with a five-member planning board all appointable by the mayor at once. The commission had operated with seven members on staggered three-year terms, so no single administration could replace the whole board. Mantello filled all five new seats herself after Labor Day 2024.

Before the July 11 meeting where the companion ordinance was introduced, Council Member Keal had told a sitting commissioner in writing that he would support the change because “a new administration wants people who share its vision.” The commission had reviewed 118 projects in three years and rejected none. Nearly two dozen speakers came to the July 25 public hearing, all opposed. A joint letter from Riverkeeper, Scenic Hudson, and Hudson River Sloop Clearwater urged a no vote on the principle that planning bodies should operate free from elected officials’ influence. Council President Steele moved to table pending legal review of a procedural gap Vera had identified in the companion ordinance. The motion failed 3-4.

For full coverage see The Planning Commission Mantello Couldn’t Control.

Sources: 2024-07-11_Finance_Regular_Meeting.md; 2024-07-25_PubHearing_Finance_Special_Meeting.md

August 8, 2024 — Regular Meeting and Public Hearing

Ord. 41 — “An Ordinance Adding Chapter 72 (‘Planning Board’) To The Code Of The City Of Troy” — 4-3. Vera, Steele, and Spain-McLaren voted no.

The ordinance added a new chapter to the city code establishing the Planning Board and eliminating the Planning Commission. Steele noted the ordinance “has been before us for quite some time, on and off” and called the outcome “unfortunate” before the vote. No public speakers addressed the ordinance directly in the pre-agenda forum; the post-vote forum ran nearly 40 minutes but focused on lead service line replacement. No administration presentation or legislative findings appear in the transcript.

The vote was Keal, Brosnan, Sorriento, and Casey in favor; Vera, Steele, and Spain-McLaren opposed.

Source: 2024-08-08_Regular_PH_Meeting.md

September 19, 2024 — Finance Committee and Special Meeting

Ord. 55 — “Ordinance Authorizing Sales Of Certain City Owned Parcels Of Real Property By The Proposal Sale Application Method” — 6-1. Vera voted no.

Two city-owned parcels were offered for sale under the proposal sale method, with a winning bid of $100 each for senior housing development. Sharon Martin, head of Assessments and a member of the property review committee, explained the committee weighs intended use against assessed value: blighted properties often carry inflated assessments, and a completed senior housing project returns the parcel to the tax roll at full value. Steele disclosed that three bids had been received: $1 (from Joseph’s House), $100 (the winning bid), and $20,000. The committee chose the $100 bid based on planned use.

Vera asked whether the city would enforce the reverter clause if the buyer failed to deliver; Corporation Counsel Salazar confirmed the current administration had already started exercising reverter clauses on prior deals. Keal asked whether the city could require a deposit; Salazar said she would research whether restrictions applied to municipalities. A companion set of parcel sales (Ord. 47) was addressed at the same meeting; Salazar confirmed compliance with the Tyler U.S. Supreme Court decision in connection with that item.

No on-the-record statement from Vera explaining his no vote appears in the transcript.

Source: 2024-09-19_Finance_Special_Meeting.md

October 3, 2024 — Regular Meeting

Ord. 55 (senior housing parcel sales, final vote) — 6-1. Vera voted no.

The Regular Meeting vote followed the September 19 Finance Committee with no additional discussion on the merits. In the pre-agenda public forum, Peggy Kownack of Lansingburgh flagged that a single Florida developer operating under three entities at the same address had proposals across multiple property sales on the evening’s agenda, though the transcript does not confirm this concern specifically targeted Ord. 55. Vera voted no again with no on-the-record statement.

Source: 2024-10-03_Regular_Meeting.md

December 2, 2024 — Finance and Special Budget Meeting

Res. 152 — “Resolution Adopting The Mayor’s Recommended Budget For The City Of Troy For Fiscal Year 2025 Or Adopting An Amended Budget For The City Of Troy For Fiscal Year 2025” — 4-3. Spain-McLaren, Steele, and Vera voted no.

Before the final vote, Vera moved to add an amended memo schedule A, additional budget schedule language, to the resolution. That amendment passed 6-0. The final vote was 4-3: Casey, Sorriento, Keal, and Brosnan in favor; Spain-McLaren, Steele, and Vera opposed.

Transcript-level detail is limited because no auto-captions were available for the YouTube recording; the vote counts come from clerk’s minutes only. The meeting ran 21 minutes for the Finance Committee and adjourned at 6:01 PM.

Source: 2024-12-02_Finance_Special_Budget_Meeting.md

December 5, 2024 — Finance and Regular Meeting

Res. 159 — “Resolution Authorizing The Mayor To Enter Into A Lease And License Agreement With Troy Albany Youth Hockey Association Relating To The Knickerbacker Ice Arena And Recreation Facility”

  • Tabling motion: Failed 3-4. Vera, Spain-McLaren, and Steele moved to table; Casey, Sorriento, Keal, and Brosnan voted against tabling.
  • Final vote: 4-3. Vera, Spain-McLaren, and Steele voted no.

Rensselaer County had contributed $2 million in ARPA funds for the Knickerbacker Arena renovation. The resolution authorized a six-year lease and license agreement with the Troy Albany Youth Hockey Association (TAHA). Corporation Counsel Morrissey noted on the record that the contract was still a draft with some non-material terms to be refined, and that any material changes including dollar amounts would require returning to the council.

Under the terms, TAHA receives roughly 30 hours per week of ice time, primarily Monday through Thursday evenings and Saturday through Sunday daytime. In lieu of rent, TAHA commits to up to $250,000 in facility improvements by year five, plus $500 per month for utilities. The community events commitment was increased from 6 to 12 per year minimum before the vote. The city retains management, staffing, and maintenance of the building and keeps 55 to 60 hours per week to sell at market rates. TAHA had already purchased Dasher boards before the contract was voted on and was also purchasing a second Zamboni at approximately $40,000.

Vera raised the financial math directly: ice time at comparable facilities runs $100 to $200 per hour. At 30 hours per week over six years, the market value of those hours is roughly $1.8 million. TAHA’s contribution of $250,000 in improvements plus $500 per month for utilities works out to roughly $27 to $28 per hour. “I don’t think when we built the ice ring we thought it would be a money maker, but we also need to be good stewards of public facilities,” he said. Deputy Mayor Donnelly defended the deal: the county wanted the facility open quickly, and TAHA has hockey expertise and volunteer networks the city lacks.

At the Regular Meeting, Spain-McLaren said she was torn; the financial terms left money on the table but TAHA’s youth commitment was real. Steele said she “personally” disagreed with the contract as presented, had concerns beyond the financial including how well it would serve the neighborhood’s youth, and had not received a satisfying answer on urgency.

Source: 2024-12-05_Finance_Regular_Meeting.md

2025

February 6, 2025 — Confirmation Hearing, Finance, and Regular Meeting

Res. 9 — “Resolution Confirming the Appointment of Jack L. Krokos as Comptroller of the City of Troy” — 6-1. Vera voted no.

A full confirmation hearing preceded the Finance Committee vote. Krokos is a LaSalle Institute and SUNY Albany graduate (economics BA, 2015; MBA in management) and a lifelong Rensselaer County resident. His professional background was SBA lending at NYBDC, residential mortgage origination at McLone Mortgage where he closed more than $55 million per year, and managing a $500 million commercial loan portfolio at the Bank of Greene County. His only public-sector experience was roughly two years as a Town Councilman in Sand Lake.

In his opening statement, Krokos said: “As comptroller, my foremost responsibility is to safeguard the city’s financial health while ensuring transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the management of public funds. I chose the city of Troy because I believe in the opportunity before us.”

At the hearing, Brosnan asked directly whether he had worked with a municipality’s finances before; outside of Sand Lake and one tangential SBA lending project, Krokos said no. Vera asked about municipal bonding experience; Krokos said he had helped Sand Lake think through bonding options but had no professional bonding experience. He noted he had already spotted a booking practice he intended to correct: grants were being recorded as expense offsets rather than revenue. Spain-McLaren asked for a commitment to timely quarterly financial reports; Krokos said completing the 2023 audit and 2024 AFR with BST was his first priority and he could not promise on-schedule quarterly reports. Steele raised a salary gap (the 2025 budget did not include his $125,000 salary, requiring a budget amendment) and asked whether he needed administration permission to answer council questions directly; he said he did not.

At the Finance Committee vote, Vera explained his hesitation: BST, the third-party bridge firm, would continue to lead day-to-day accounting work for the foreseeable future and he was not confident the comptroller position was ready to stand on its own. Casey, voting yes, said: “We found somebody that maybe didn’t quite have the municipal experience but wants to get into the field, which I think is a great career move for him.”

Ord. 5 — “Ordinance Amending Chapter 216 of the Troy City Code” (Nick Ice Arena fee schedule) — 6-1 in Finance (Vera no); 6-1 in Regular (Steele no).

The ordinance updated the fee schedule for the Nick Ice Arena under Chapter 216 of the city code. Donnelly explained that Troy and Rensselaer County residents receive preferred rates under the arrangement tied to the county’s $2 million ARPA contribution (Resolution 94 of 2024). Veterans, active military, seniors, and children under six skate free; skate rentals are also free. Fees were benchmarked against Albany County’s rink.

During Finance, Deputy Corporation Counsel Morrissey identified a drafting error: the ordinance added ice rentals at $200 per hour in a new table but did not strike the existing $175 per hour rate already in section 268A. Vera moved to amend: change the existing Part A rate to $200 and strike the conflicting Part B table. The amendment passed 7-0. As amended, the Finance vote was 6-1 with Vera dissenting; the Regular Meeting was 6-1 with Steele dissenting.

The same meeting featured a tense floor exchange when Steele asked whether the council had ever received the full TAHA agreement. Donnelly implied she had voted against it; Steele told him he was “dismissed.” Donnelly replied: “I’m a grown man. I’m the deputy mayor of this city.”

Source: 2025-02-06_Confirmation_Finance_Regular_Meeting.md

March 6, 2025 — Public Hearing, Finance, and Regular Meeting

Ord. 13 — “Ordinance Transferring Funds Within the 2025 General Fund” ($1.04M for 911 dispatch contract) — 6-1 in Finance. Passed 7-0 at the Regular Meeting.

The transfer moved $1.04 million within the 2025 general fund to cover the city’s payment to Rensselaer County under the 911 dispatch contract, which had been running on expired terms throughout early 2025. The city had been making quarterly payments of $250,000 from the contingency fund while the administration renegotiated with County Executive McLaughlin. After the transfer, approximately $480,000 remained in the contingency fund, a figure Council President Steele described in her Annual Legislative Address the same evening as “thin for a city of Troy’s size.” The dissenting Finance vote is not identified by name in the clerk’s minutes.

Ord. 14 — “Ordinance Amending the General Fund, Capital Projects Fund and Miscellaneous Special Grants Fund Budgets to Appropriate Funding From the American Rescue Plan Act” (ARPA re-obligation of waterline project savings) — 6-1 in Finance. Passed 7-0 at the Regular Meeting.

The ordinance redirected ARPA funding originally designated for a waterline project that came in under budget, making the savings available for other ARPA-eligible uses. The dissenting Finance vote is not identified by name in the clerk’s minutes. No floor debate on this item appears in the transcript.

Res. 12 — “A Resolution Commemorating the Service of the Enslin House by Designating That Portion of Fifth Avenue Between 114th and 115th Streets as ‘Enslin House Lane’” — 6-1. Sorriento voted no.

Co-sponsored by Steele, Casey, and Keal. No floor debate or administration background appears in the transcript, and no on-the-record explanation from Sorriento for the no vote is recorded.

Res. 25 — “Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Enter Into a Project Development Agreement With Siemens Industry, Inc., for Provision of Temporary Restaurant and Proshop Facilities at Frear Park” — 4-3. Steele, Spain-McLaren, and Vera voted no.

Siemens Industry, Inc. (doing business as Brad Stevens Hospitality) was authorized to install and operate a temporary restaurant and pro shop at Frear Park using approximately $650,000 in ARPA funds. The Frear Park golf course had been without a functional restaurant for several years. Steele had flagged in her Annual Legislative Address, delivered earlier the same evening, that she would be watching how the administration used remaining ARPA funds before the federal deadline.

The opposition raised concerns about using ARPA dollars for a golf amenity, transparency in vendor selection, and whether a temporary structure was the right long-term approach. No individual statements from Steele, Spain-McLaren, or Vera explaining their no votes appear in the transcript.

Source: 2025-03-06_Public_Hearing_Finance_Regular_Meeting.md

April 3, 2025 — Finance and Regular Meeting

Ord. 17 — “Ordinance Amending the Capital Projects Fund Budget” (Congress and Ferry Street, $1.7M) — 4-3. Steele, Spain-McLaren, and Vera voted no.

The ordinance moved $1.7 million in bond proceeds, already authorized by Resolution 98 of May 2024, into spending accounts for the Route 2 Congress and Ferry Street corridor redesign. The funds pay for a draft design report that must be submitted to DOT before construction documents can proceed; that report alone was expected to cost approximately $1.4 to $1.5 million, with the remainder sitting in the account. The administration confirmed that Option 1A was the design going to DOT.

Vera pressed on whether the appropriation was premature, noting funds cannot be spent until DOT approves the preferred alternative. Spain-McLaren noted the council had received a letter signed by more than 85 community members opposing Option 1A and questioned whether the design was truly locked in; the administration confirmed it was.

Eight speakers at the Finance Committee public forum urged rejection or redesign. James Rath of Capitol Streets said the city’s own project web page showed community comments opposed to Option 1A and that the first public meeting had been advertised only 22 hours in advance. Civil engineer Dylan Sala told the council: “The non-parking protected bike lane is just going to end up a parking lot.” Former Planning Commission chair Roddy Jagen urged the council to incorporate Capitol Streets’ feedback. Casey, whose district includes the corridor, acknowledged competing perspectives but argued the project was a long-overdue step.

Res. 32 — “Resolution Ratifying the Memorandum of Agreement By and Between the City of Troy and the Command Officers Association of Troy, United Public Service Employees Union, and Authorizing the Mayor to Execute the Agreement” — 6-1. Vera voted no.

The MOA with the Command Officers Association of Troy, UPSEU, set: 3% retroactive to 2023, 4% retroactive to 2024, and 3% for 2025. Approximately $98,000 in retroactive pay was due within 45 days; ongoing additional annual cost was approximately $50,000. Both were to be funded from the contingency fund and salary savings. No floor debate or explanation from Vera for his no vote appears in the transcript.

Source: 2025-04-03_Finance_Regular_Meeting.md

June 16, 2025 — Finance Committee, Public Hearing, and Special Meeting

Res. 59 — “Resolution Of The Troy City Council Supporting Federal Funding For Medicare, Medicaid, And Social Security Services” — Failed 3-4. Vera, Spain-McLaren, and Steele voted yes; Keal, Brosnan, Sorriento, and Casey voted no.

Co-sponsored by Vera and Spain-McLaren, the resolution asked the city to formally support federal funding for Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. Five speakers came specifically to address it before the vote, including Nataya Drakes, a Social Security Administration employee, and Jess, an AFGE shop steward. It failed 3-4 on a clean party-line vote with all four Republicans opposing.

Approximately 30 minutes later, Resolution 78, covering the same subject under different sponsorship (Casey, Sorriento, and Keal), passed 7-0, with Vera and Spain-McLaren both voting yes. The no-voters on Res. 59 offered no on-the-record explanation for opposing it while supporting the identical subject under their own sponsorship.

Res. 64 — “Bond Resolution Of The City Of Troy, New York, Authorizing The Issuance Of $1,900,000 Serial Bonds To Finance The Purchase Of Fire Rescue Vehicle And Apparatus” — Failed 4-0-3. Steele, Spain-McLaren, and Vera abstained. Bond resolutions require 5 affirmative votes; the measure fell short.

The resolution was part of a six-resolution fire capital bond package totaling roughly $15 million. The companion SEQRA determination was Resolution 63. United Firefighters Association president Jeff Ward and former UFA president Eric Wisher testified in support at the public hearing, calling the department’s capital needs long overdue. Fire department overtime had already consumed 40.8% of the full-year overtime budget through Q1.

New York State Local Finance Law requires a supermajority of five ayes on a seven-member council for bond authorizations. Only four voted in favor: Keal, Brosnan, Sorriento, and Casey. Spain-McLaren abstained on all fire bond items that evening because her son was a candidate for the fire department.

Vera had pressed extensively during the same meeting on the $12.5 million Lansingburgh firehouse bond, demanding a debt service analysis and a full capital plan the administration had not provided in advance. He accepted a commitment from the mayor to provide financial documentation before any bonds were formally issued and then voted yes on the firehouse. The $1.9 million rescue vehicle bond failed without a comparable on-the-record commitment from the administration.

Source: 2025-06-16_Finance_PublicHearing_Special_Meeting.md

August 7, 2025 — Finance and Regular Meeting

Res. 88 — “Resolution Approving The Former Proctors Theater Building At 82-90 Fourth Street, Troy, New York, As A New Site For Troy City Hall” — 4-3. Steele, Vera, and Spain-McLaren voted no.

Steele noted the resolution had been placed on the agenda without her approval. The administration presented no formal staff memo before the public forum. Seventeen speakers addressed the council, virtually all opposed.

Noreen McKee broke down the cost comparison the administration had not provided: current lease at approximately $760,000 per year ($430,000 to $435,000 base rent, $63,000 utilities, $86,000 taxes, $176,000 CAM) versus the proposed $650,000 flat, which she estimated represented debt service on an $8.6 million bond at 4.3% over 20 years and excluded utilities and CAM for the new building. Current landlord Joe Castello estimated approximately $300,000 per year in building maintenance costs absent from the administration’s slide. Architect John White produced a 2009 SHPO adverse effect letter on a prior Proctors rehabilitation attempt, citing adverse impact under Section 14.09 of the New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Law; Erica Vale read that letter aloud. Architect Bill Schroeder, with more than 40 years in real estate finance, said the numbers “don’t make sense” and there were “too few of them.” Sorriento read a letter of support from restaurateur Vic Christopher into the record.

Spain-McLaren voted no, saying the council had not received requested documents, had not seen the letter of intent, and had asked for more time since a public session was still on the calendar. Vera voted no, citing limited financial details, feasibility concerns, and conflicts of interest in the LDC’s role. Steele called the vote “a brazen attempt to ram through a vote over the questions and concerns of the council and the public” and warned the city could end up paying two leases simultaneously if the current lease termination was contested.

Brosnan voted yes with a caveat: “Due to the fact that this is just claiming our intent on moving somewhere, I’ll vote I. Waiting for the numbers for a real vote, though.” Casey voted yes, saying: “I really truly feel that this move gets us to city hall and saves this beautiful historic building from the wrecking ball.”

The same 4-3 split repeated at the Regular Meeting.

Source: 2025-08-07_Finance_Regular_Meeting.md

September 18, 2025 — Finance Meeting

Res. 95 — “Resolution Authorizing and Scheduling a Public Hearing on Proposed Local Law No. 2 of 2025 Amending Chapter 2 of the Troy City Code to Add Article 7, Section 2-51: Video Conferencing” — 4-3. Sorriento, Keal, and Casey voted no.

The resolution scheduled a public hearing on a proposed local law that would add Article 7, Section 2-51 to Chapter 2 of the city code, authorizing remote participation by video conferencing for council members and all other public bodies, under genuine emergency circumstances only. A council member seeking remote participation would need approval from the Council President or council member pro tem and must be visible and identifiable by video.

Public speaker Tim reported consulting elected officials, city clerks, and legislative aides in Albany, Hudson, and other municipalities, as well as the NYS Committee on Open Government, all of whom said laws modeled on this proposal were widely adopted and worked well. Spain-McLaren said she had missed a meeting when her daughter was hospitalized and would have preferred to participate remotely.

Sorriento opposed the concept outright: “We’re here to represent our constituents. Our constituents are here. They want to see us present, not through a video conference.” He cited a former council member who claimed a family emergency but was seen at a bar. Casey expressed concern that remote council participation would open public comment to out-of-town speakers: “from Kingston, Poughkeepsie, Newburgh, New York City, Rochester, Buffalo — everybody chiming in on what we should do in Troy from their living rooms.” Keal said he wanted the “vibe to be here, not all over the country with video conferences.”

Steele disclosed that Troy’s residency rule for public comment is likely not legally enforceable under state law; the Committee on Open Government had informed her that members of the public are generally entitled to speak at public meetings regardless of residence.

Res. 98 — “Resolution in Support of Human Rights, Due Process, and Government Accountability in Response to Recent ICE Activity in the City of Troy” — Defeated 3-4. Vera, Spain-McLaren, and Steele voted yes; Sorriento, Keal, Brosnan, and Casey voted no.

Co-sponsored by Spain-McLaren and Steele. Four of five public forum speakers addressed this item before the vote.

Noreen McKee described immigrant neighbors “seized off the streets by ICE agents, masked individuals who refuse to identify themselves,” detained locally, then transferred to Batavia and to facilities across the country. Spain-McLaren described a man from her church on the path to legal permanent residency who was deported to Togo; church members drove his wife and infant to Batavia for a final visit. McLaren described families keeping children home from school and avoiding food pantries out of fear. Vera said: “This resolution simply condemns any action that violates the Constitution, and that’s an oath we all took.”

Speaker Sarah McDermott argued immigration enforcement is a federal matter beyond council authority, that ICE operations are “intelligence-driven” and focused on criminal aliens and immigration fugitives, and that detained individuals have access to due process through immigration court. (McDermott was later hired as Troy’s Deputy Director of Operations at $80,000.) Sorriento read a prepared statement naming crime victims and cited a local case involving an undocumented immigrant charged with murder in Pittstown and a Lansingburgh incident involving an undocumented driver. Casey raised concern about activists attempting to identify and unmask ICE agents and described Operation Tidal Wave, a joint law enforcement operation that removed 134 firearms, which he said had been misconstrued in a neighborhood meeting.

Source: 2025-09-18_Finance_Meeting.md

October 2, 2025 — Finance and Regular Meeting

Ord. 46 — “Ordinance Authorizing the Mayor to Enter into a Development Agreement with the Troy LDC, JRN Development LLC dba Columbia Development Companies, and Columbia Proctors Realty LLC to Develop and Convert the Former Proctors Theater Facility into a New City Hall” — 5-2. Vera and Spain-McLaren voted no. Steele voted yes.

The key financial terms: LDC contributes $250,000 toward development costs; the city contributes up to an additional $250,000 from an existing capital account holding approximately $600,000. The combined $500,000 is a reimbursement mechanism for documented design-phase costs. If the project proceeds to a lease, the money rolls into the project as equity. If the council later rejects the lease, the city’s portion covers actual costs above the LDC’s $250,000; any unspent balance stays in the city’s capital account.

The not-to-exceed project total was $11.5 million, down from an earlier $12.5 million figure, to be refined through design. The city would occupy roughly 30,000 square feet, with approximately 10,000 square feet being new construction (the “box in a box” interior assembly hall). Architecture firm H2M was engaged by the LDC. The SEQRA determination was identified as a Type 2 action under sections 24 and 27, covering preliminary planning phase work. CAM charges at the current River Street city hall ran approximately $184,000 per year.

Steele changed his position from his August 7 no vote after a building tour: “I have faith in [the mayor]. She ran a state agency for six years with a huge budget and large projects.” Donnelly committed on the record to provide a side-by-side rent comparison before the lease vote.

Vera’s floor statement at the Regular Meeting: “This is a rushed plan. It has lacked transparency. The council has been totally cut out of the process and remained so by the scheme of using the LDC.”

Res. 95 (video conferencing public hearing, Regular Meeting final passage) — 4-3. Sorriento, Keal, and Casey voted no.

Final passage of the resolution scheduling a public hearing on the video conferencing local law. Brosnan was added as co-sponsor at this meeting. Corporation Counsel Morrissey noted for the record that local laws introduced via Resolutions 95 and 96 should officially be stated as introduced at the Regular Meeting per the city charter. No new substantive debate.

Res. 99 — “Resolution Designating the Troy Local Development Corporation as an On-Behalf-Of Issuer of Tax-Exempt Bonds for the City of Troy” — 4-3. Vera and Spain-McLaren voted no, along with one other member.

The resolution designated the Troy LDC as an on-behalf-of bond issuer under New York State local finance law, a mechanism allowing an LDC to issue tax-exempt bonds on behalf of a municipality. It was a companion to Ord. 46 and the Proctors project financing structure. No separate debate appears in the transcript beyond the general Proctors discussion.

Source: 2025-10-02_Finance_Regular_Meeting.md

November 6, 2025 — Finance and Regular Meeting

LL 2 — “Local Law Amending Chapter 2 Of The Code Of The City Of Troy To Add A New Article 7 For The Purpose Of Authorizing Remote Participation By Video Conferencing For Members Of The City Council And All Other Public Bodies Of The City Of Troy” — 4-3. Sorriento, Keal, and Casey voted no.

The local law added Article 7, Section 2-51 to Chapter 2 of the city code, authorizing emergency remote participation by video conferencing for council members and all other public bodies, with Council President or member pro tem approval required and identity confirmed by video. It passed following the public hearing scheduled by Resolution 95. Co-sponsorship was corrected on the floor from Steele to Brosnan. The same 4-3 split held as at the September and October votes.

Ord. 54 — “Ordinance Authorizing The Use Of The Proctors Theater Facility As Troy City Hall” — 4-3. Spain-McLaren, Vera, and Steele voted no; Keal, Brosnan, Sorriento, and Casey voted yes.

The binding commitment was voted three days after the November 4 election that swept in a new Democratic supermajority. The RFP process ran from April 2024 through the vote: eight proposals received by July 2024, two finalists evaluated through January 2025 (Proctors and a Route 9 new-construction option), Proctors announced as preferred site in June 2025, public information meetings in July 2025, council statement of intent in August 2025, Land Disposition Agreement in October 2025, lease presented November 6.

Total project cost approximately $11.1 million: $1.8 million building acquisition, $8.1 million construction, remainder in capitalized interest, legal, and finance costs. The administration’s savings projections: $112,000 per year versus the current lease by 2027, $213,000 per year by 2033, and $422,000 per year by 2043. The current lease ran approximately $751,000 per year with a 3% annual escalator. Vera noted on the floor that the 3% escalator was added by this administration when it renegotiated the prior lease; the original 2012 to 2022 agreement had no escalator.

The assembly hall (the “box in a box”) is a 100-plus-seat movable space built from lightweight steel framing on 2-inch concrete over structural foam installed inside the theater. HVAC would run from the interior courtyard, a non-historic section. The stage would be removed, described as already compromised; the curtain would be stored; no arches would be removed. The LDC holds a guaranteed maximum price construction contract, with the contractor absorbing overruns up to the GMP. Lease rate: $675,000 per year, capped at $685,000; term: 30 years. The city acts as master tenant of the entire structure. Target occupancy: January 2027.

Architect John White said the proposed assembly hall would destroy the lower 15 feet of the auditorium, damage the stage, orchestra floor, and four of the five arches, and violate Secretary of Interior standards. Section 2.02 of the lease, a representation that no pending litigation existed, was flagged on the floor; Morrissey said the First Columbia settlement negotiations provided sufficient comfort.

Steele said she had written to the administration in June and every month since requesting project information and received no response, and that the outgoing council had no business binding an incoming council with a 30-year, $11 million commitment on four votes. Casey argued the November 4 election was “a national anti-Republican wave, not a referendum on the city hall proposal” and voted yes.

Source: 2025-11-06_Finance_Regular_Meeting.md

November 20, 2025 — Finance and Special Meeting

Ord. 59 — “Ordinance Authorizing Settlement Of Claims, To Wit: First Columbia 433 River Street, LLC Vs. The City Of Troy, New York (City Of Troy File Nos. 2025-03 And 2025-15)” — 5-1-1. Vera voted no; Steele abstained as an IDA member.

Two notices of claim had been filed: file 2025-03 alleged improper lease termination; file 2025-15 covered unpaid CAM charges. The city had signed a new lease for 433 River Street in July 2024, backdated to January 1, 2024, which included CAM charges approximately four times higher than before. The city paid rent throughout 2024 but disputed the elevated CAM charges, arguing proper notice had not been given under the lease’s terms.

Under the settlement, the city pays $134,000 in 2024 CAM charges without interest or penalty. In exchange, the city supports First Columbia’s application to the Troy IDA for a 10-year extension of the building’s PILOT agreement. If the IDA does not approve the extension, all parties reserve their rights and can return to litigation. Corporation Counsel Morrissey framed it as “a near-win”: the city is vacating the building regardless, and supporting the IDA application costs nothing.

Brosnan pushed back: “If there were no dispute, there’d be no need to settle the claim,” noting the council had approved the July 2024 lease that created the very CAM dispute now being settled. Steele abstained because she serves on the IDA board that will rule on the PILOT extension. No on-the-record statement from Vera explaining his no vote appears in the transcript.

Source: 2025-11-20_Finance_Special_Meeting.md

December 1, 2025 — Finance and Special Budget Meeting

Ord. 65 — “Ordinance Amending The Code Of Rules And Regulations Of The Department Of Public Utilities To Establish New Water And Sewer Rates” — 5-2. Steele and Vera voted no.

Water rates rose approximately 9 percent and sewer rates approximately 12 percent, projected to generate roughly $470,000 in additional annual revenue. The administration used a conservative three-to-four year flow average in budgeting, keeping the projected revenue figure below what the rates would produce at current usage volumes.

Before the vote, Vera caught a typographical error in the ordinance: the proposed sewer rate read $3.968 per unit but the correct figure (75% of the new water rate) is $3.698; the six and nine were transposed. A motion to amend and correct passed. Vera also asked which municipalities outside Troy tie their contracts to the city’s rate schedule; the administration named Brunswick, Schaghticoke, Poestenkill, and North Greenbush, with North Greenbush paying above the city rate.

The Finance Committee clerk’s minutes (ID 1746) erroneously record a 7-0 vote; the video transcript and Special Meeting clerk’s minutes (ID 1747) both confirm a 5-2 vote with Steele and Vera opposed.

Res. 116 — “Resolution Adopting The Mayor’s Recommended Budget For The City Of Troy For Fiscal Year 2026 Or Adopting An Amended Budget For The City Of Troy For Fiscal Year 2026” — 4-3. Vera, Steele, and Spain-McLaren voted no.

As amended, the general fund appropriation totaled $89,460,323. The companion levy ordinance (Ord. 66) set the amount to be raised from real property taxes at $29,844,026, with a total levy of $30,194,026. The mayor presented the budget as staying below the tax cap while including a $25-per-unit reduction in the garbage fee, free bulk pickup, public safety investments, and continued work on Congress and Ferry Streets, Frear Park, and Knickerbocker Park.

Two amendments were adopted before the final vote. Amendment 1 (Sorriento): moved $125,000 from the City Clerk’s consultant services line (A1410-409.0023) to the Facilities Bureau (A1620-409.0023) to fund the city’s temporary animal shelter, which had operated without a permanent arrangement for roughly two years after the Humane Society contract was terminated. Amendment 2 (Vera): reduced the contingency account from $700,000 to $600,000, freeing $100,000 to help fund the Downtown BID assessment increase. Vera recused from voting on Amendment 1 as a BID board member.

Spain-McLaren noted that minority council members had been in contact with the BID board for months and said she wished the minority had been more directly at the negotiating table during BID discussions.

Source: 2025-12-01_Finance_Special_Budget_Meeting.md

December 30, 2025 — Finance and Special Meetings

Res. 124 (Frear Park pavilion SEQR negative declaration) — 5-2. Vera and Steele voted no.

The negative declaration determined that the Frear Park multi-use project would have no significant adverse environmental effect under the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act. The administration presented a five-element project: a prefabricated restaurant and community building of approximately 150 seats with a commercial kitchen and year-round HVAC, replacing the long-closed Park Pub on the former tennis court footprint; an inclusive playground at North Lake; a playground upgrade near the ice rink; new tennis and pickleball courts; and parking expansion. Presenters were Deputy Mayor Donnelly, grant consultant Bill Rohr, and Nick from CHA Engineering.

No site plan or location map had been included in the council packet; only a rough cost estimate was provided. CHA’s Nick acknowledged no detailed design existed. Vera raised concerns under New York State finance law’s useful-life limits: structures, parking, and playgrounds carry different legally permissible bonding periods, and the project bundled three distinct sites under a single authorization.

A public forum speaker (Frankie) said she was “astounded that environmental clearance was being granted without a site plan.” Jessica Bennett later reported at the January 8, 2026 public forum that she had called the city clerk at 3:00 PM on December 30 to request project plans and was told the clerk did not have them, a potential violation of the 24-hour public availability requirement for SEQR documents.

Res. 125 ($6M Frear Park pavilion bond) — 5-2. Vera and Steele voted no.

The bond resolution authorized $6 million in serial bonds under New York State Local Finance Law. ARPA funds also designated for the project: $1.35 million for the restaurant and community building and $1.7 million for the playgrounds, bringing total project capacity to $7 to $9 million. Grant consultant Rohr noted a new state park funding round had recently been announced.

The administration’s case for proceeding: the city’s credit rating is A+; fiscal advisors confirmed no concern at the $6 million level; the city had recently retired approximately $17 million in existing debt; prior councils had authorized bonds before construction documents were complete (Knickerbocker Pool and Lansingburgh firehouse were cited); an authorized bond resolution strengthens competitive grant applications; and the ARPA spending deadline is December 31, 2026.

In Finance Committee discussion, Casey called the December 30 meeting “unnecessarily called” and said the plan was “not sufficiently solid” and should be decided by the incoming council. He voted yes at the Special Meeting. Casey’s floor statement: “I’m very proud to be in on this vote to revitalize the park and the playgrounds at Frear Park.”

Ord. 86 (capital budget amendment, $5M to $6M for Frear Park) — 5-2. Vera and Steele voted no.

Originally written at a $5 million figure, Spain-McLaren moved to amend the ordinance to $6 million to match Resolution 125; Casey seconded. The amendment passed and the ordinance as amended passed 5-2. Vera and Steele voted no consistent with their positions on Res. 124 and Res. 125.

Source: 2025-12-30_Finance_Special_Meetings.md

2026

The seven-member Democratic council seated in January 2026 voted unanimously on nearly all matters. One action departed from 7-0 in the first six months of the new term.

March 19, 2026 — Committee Night and Finance Meeting

Res. 35 — “Resolution Authorizing The Mayor To Enter Into A Two Year Subscription Agreement With Flock Group, Inc., For The Use Of Its License Plate Recognition Camera Platforms For Law Enforcement Purposes” — Tabled 7-0.

The resolution sought authorization for a two-year subscription agreement with Flock Group, Inc. at approximately $156,000 per year. The original Flock contract dated to the Madden administration in 2021, arising from a community request about violent crime; it had originally been below the procurement threshold and was never brought to the council.

The 30-day notice of non-renewal window expired March 1. The council did not receive the contract until Friday, March 13 after 5:00 PM, by which point the auto-renewal had already triggered without council approval. Council President Steele opened the Finance Meeting by establishing this procedural posture before any public comment. Speaker Favreau noted this was the third time in 2026 the council had been asked to approve an already-expired or auto-renewed contract.

The meeting drew more than 150 members of the public, more than double the previous record for a Troy council meeting, with more than 40 speakers testifying, all in opposition.

Chief DeWolf testified the tool is used daily and cited specific resolved cases: a Second Avenue hit-and-run, a Sixth/106th Street homicide, an HVCC stabbing, a Fifth Avenue armed robbery, and a missing persons case. The TPD had already paused the national license plate lookup network before the meeting.

Contract concerns raised from the floor: section 4.2 grants Flock “a perpetual, worldwide license to use and distribute data”; section 2.5 gives Flock sole discretion over data use. Noreen McKee cited national incidents, including a Georgia agency that searched Danville, IL data using immigration-related keywords more than 4,800 times and a Mountain View, CA instance where data sharing was enabled without the city’s knowledge. Approximately 30 agencies had canceled Flock contracts nationally in 2025. Flock’s product page language was read into the record: “No plate, no problem. Capture more detail with vehicle fingerprint and Flock Free Form. No plate required.”

Flock sent public affairs manager Kerry McCormack rather than a technical representative; she could not confirm or deny the section 4.2 perpetual license language. The council had requested two years of audit logs and received 25 random data points. No SOC 2 security report was provided. Corporation Counsel Morrissey described the auto-renewal clause’s enforceability as “a legal question for courts to decide.”

Spain-McLaren moved to table pending receipt of outstanding information from Flock; Steele seconded. The motion carried 7-0. Mantello subsequently issued a state of emergency on April 1 to authorize a $78,000 payment without council or auditor approval; the council sued her in Rensselaer County Supreme Court in May to have the order declared unlawful.

Source: 2026-03-19_Committee_Night_Finance_Meeting.md

All sources are meeting transcripts from the TroyDems City Council Meeting archive. Minute-level records for some meetings were not formally filed; transcript-based counts reflect what was recorded.