Finance Committee & Special Meeting
June 18, 2026 — Troy City Council
June 18, 2026 — Troy City Council
The June 18 Finance Committee opened with a tribute to Joe Mazzarello — the city's longtime budget director — designating a stretch of Fifth Avenue in his name, with his family present in chambers. Mayor Mantello, Deputy Mayor Donnelly, and Council President Steele each spoke before the family took the floor.
The meeting then moved through a full legislative agenda. The council passed $7.75 million in serial bonds to fund the annual street reconstruction program, authorized a $400,000 capital transfer to advance the Little Italy Marketplace, replaced seven aging police vehicles, contracted for tree services, and authorized ARE Event Productions to manage the Troy Turkey Trot under a new revenue-sharing structure. Ordinances 17 and 18 modernized the city code's sidewalk and shared-use path definitions.
The session also surfaced a clear FOIL failure: a resident who requested basic vehicle records on the seven police vehicles being replaced received purchase order data instead. Council Member McKee, who had obtained the actual records by email from the administration, read them into the public record. "It's not right. Members of the public should have access to the same information members of the council have. This is one of many FOIL problems." A Special Meeting immediately followed the Finance Committee adjournment to formally adopt the bond resolution and related items, and to correct the Mazzarello resolution, which had incorrectly included "Sr." in Joe Mazzarello's name.
Resolution 69 was taken before the public forum so the Mazzarello family could be present. The resolution designates the portion of Fifth Avenue between Ferry and Liberty Streets as Joseph A. Mazzarello Way. The tenth anniversary of Joe's death falls June 26, 2026.
Council President Steele called Joe "solid as they come" and credited him with serving multiple administrations from both sides of the aisle — evidence not of a politician, she said, but of a professional. "The city is in a better place because of that."
Mayor Mantello, who met Joe early in her first term on the council and always addressed him as "Mr. Mazzarello," described him as someone who taught her how to read budgets during a period of multi-million dollar deficits. He guided the city through financial crisis, including the politically painful decision to move from twice-weekly to once-weekly garbage pickup. "He taught me how to separate politics and policy." She credited his foundational work with putting the city on the footing it now has — including the permanent City Hall the city is pursuing — and said that work will outlast everyone in the room.
Deputy Mayor Donnelly, a lifelong friend of the Mazzarello family and childhood friend of Joe's son Joe Jr., said of leaning on Joe's work even now: "There's something here called Mr. Maz did it. Staff here, including ourselves, are leaning into Mr. Mazzarello's work." He described Joe as someone who took his duty — to his family, his city, the ICC, even the bocce court — with total seriousness, and who stayed on as a full-time consultant during the Madden administration transition even after his retirement because that's where he felt his duty lay.
Antonetta Mazzarello, Joe's wife, addressed the council. She described a husband who created the city's payroll and accounts payable systems from scratch, implemented the city's computer systems in the 1970s and '80s, worked 14 to 15 hours a day for decades, and kept four or five spreadsheet screens running at all times. He was hired by Mayor John Buckley in 1977 and served nearly 40 years. He was also one of the founders of Empty Bowls, which he organized for 16 years. "He was really a true Trojan." The full Mazzarello family came to the front of the chambers: Antonetta, son John, son Joe Jr. (who now works for the city), daughter Tina Graber, son-in-law Gavin Graber, grandchildren, and daughter-in-law Jennifer and Chelsea Mazzarello, with a baby Mazzarello expected soon.
Greg Lyons (14 Second Street) addressed Resolution 70, the purchase of seven replacement police vehicles. Lyons said the agenda materials gave no vehicle-specific information — no mileage, no age, no maintenance records — only a note that the cars were "coming to the end of their useful life." He FOIL'd the city for basic identifying information on the seven vehicles. He received a response, but it contained only purchase order information he didn't ask for, not the vehicle records he did. He asked the council to vote no action on Resolution 70 until the city could provide the basis for the replacement.
Frances Sweet (South Troy) noted that a Facebook post had announced Little Italy would be receiving grant money before the council had voted on the relevant ordinance. "That's a little jump in the gun."
The council authorized $7,750,000 in serial bonds to fund the Annual Infrastructure Program (AIP) for street reconstruction. The bond-financed streets overlap significantly with streets covered by CHIPS (Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program) funding.
Council Member Campbell Cohen raised South Troy concerns: First Street's bike lane after the canal is not in the current plan, nor is Fourth Street's bike lane — both largely occupied by parked vehicles. The deputy mayor said the administration values bike lanes but prioritizes crosswalks and pedestrian safety near schools, and that striping is difficult given the city's reliance on a single subcontractor. He said he could look into First and Fourth Streets if there is community demand. Campbell Cohen also flagged guard rails on Campbell Avenue — one at the pond turn is "not load bearing at all," and another at the Narrows entrance blocks pedestrian access to a volunteer-maintained butterfly garden and picnic tables recently installed. The deputy mayor committed to looking into both.
Council Member Struber asked whether sidewalks would be added to Eighth Avenue, where children are walking in the street to reach Knickerbocker Park and none currently exist. The deputy mayor said the administration tries to add sidewalks when repaving but noted that installing them where none exist is a different calculus; he committed to taking a look. Struber also raised the alley between Seventh and Eighth Avenues, which gets heavy traffic from park visitors; the deputy mayor said it's on the list to address as lead pipe work in the area clears.
On Stow Hill — a persistent resident concern — City Engineer Mariney confirmed it is currently in design with LaBella Associates. Lead pipe work there is a precondition to full reconstruction, and the administration has been filling potholes in the meantime. The deputy mayor said Stow Hill remains a top priority for this year.
The $400,000 capital transfer to the Little Italy Marketplace account drew the meeting's longest discussion. The ordinance moves $400,000 from the city's unappropriated fund balance into a capital account to close a funding gap and allow the administration to issue a notice to proceed to a contractor who won a competitive bid several months ago.
The project — a neighborhood marketplace with outdoor gathering space and bocce courts in the Little Italy section of the city — has been years in the making, with origins going back to neighborhood advocates Marion Fields, Michael Esposito, Sammy Shapone, and Heather Hamlin. Deputy Mayor Donnelly is a member of the Quality of Life Action Committee for the neighborhood and said the project "personally means a lot."
Three funding sources are expected to offset most or all of the $400,000:
Council Member Struber asked what happens if the grants don't come through. The deputy mayor said the city would end up spending city funds, but characterized the $400,000 as "a pebble" against the multi-million dollar unappropriated fund balance (estimated above $15 million) and said he is confident about both grants. Struber pressed further: would waiting until July to see the MPR grant result change anything? The deputy mayor said the bid has been sitting awarded for about two months and further delay pushes the project out of construction season. The neighborhood has been waiting a long time and the project is ready to move.
The council authorized the purchase of seven police vehicles from McGovern MHQ Inc. under a competitively procured award: two 2026 Ford Police Interceptor Utility vehicles for the Patrol Division and five 2026 Chevrolet Equinox vehicles for the Detective Bureau. The vehicles had been budgeted; no draw on the unappropriated fund balance was required.
Council Member McKee, who had obtained the vehicle details by email from the administration, acknowledged Greg Lyons's FOIL frustration and read the seven vehicles being replaced into the public record:
McKee stated: "It's not right. Members of the public should have access to the same information members of the council have. This is one of many FOIL problems."
The Police Chief said end-of-useful-life determinations are made by police mechanic Bob Polaski, who has more than 50 years of experience. The typical useful life of a patrol vehicle is about three to four years; the city has adopted a policy of buying a few vehicles each year to avoid a large-fleet replacement problem. Council Member Struber asked whether there are written standards for the determination; the Chief said he relies on Polaski but didn't know the specifics. Council Member Di Lorenzo confirmed that decommissioned vehicles go to other city departments and eventually to auction; some go to lower-duty administrative roles first to extend useful life.
Council Member Campbell Cohen sponsored both ordinances, which update Chapter 141 (sidewalk definitions) and Chapter 251 of the Troy City Code. The changes modernize and distinguish between "sidewalks," "side paths," and "shared use paths" using standardized planning terminology and clean up overlapping and outdated definitions. Campbell Cohen credited former Council Member Aaron Vera and the former city engineer for guidance, along with Capital Streets, City Engineer Chris Mariney, and the acting corporation counsel. Discussion clarified that the 10-foot minimum width requirement for shared-use paths would not prevent the Freer Park Conservancy's planned 6-foot connection path between the ice rink and North Lake playgrounds, as the code's primary intent is to regulate private construction.
Five routine ordinances passed without substantive floor discussion: reconveyance of 315 Second Street (Ord. 21); amendment of the 2022–2026 Community Development Fund budget (Ord. 22); amendment of the 2026 General Fund budget (Ord. 23); appropriation of the Police Department's STRIVE grant under the 2026 General Fund (Ord. 24); and amendment of the 2026 Water Fund budget (Ord. 25). Council President Steele asked about language in Ord. 24 referring to "adequate funding for the life of the grant"; the deputy mayor explained that the grant itself is fully funded but the council must formally appropriate amounts to authorize spending.
The council authorized ARE Event Productions Inc. to manage the Troy Turkey Trot as a single-source procurement — the administration concluded no other event holder can run a race of this scale. Under the prior arrangement, the city received no revenue despite contract provisions. Under this contract, the city receives a minimum of $25,000, with the amount scaling based on runner enrollment; last year's payment was approximately $27,500. A multi-year deal would commit $50,000 per year in charitable contributions. ARE's representative is expected at the July Finance meeting.
The council authorized a contract with Allmark Services Inc. for tree services as needed, primarily covering emergency removal and work that cannot be done in-house. General Services Commissioner Joe Manero said his department spent $82,000 total across departments with Allmark last year ($65,000 from his department; $17,000 from the golf course superintendent who also manages trees in that area). Campbell Cohen asked whether a staff member pursuing arborist certification would reduce reliance on the contract; Manero said the contract is primarily for emergencies requiring professional services the city cannot handle internally. Spain-McLaren suggested that golf course superintendent Greg Tudor could provide advisory services to the city on tree decisions; Manero said he would welcome that.
All items passed 7-0. All seven members present. Votes verified against clerk's minutes (_06182026-1836, _06182026-1837).
| # | Full Title | Sponsors | Notes | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Res. 69 | Resolution To Commemorate The Life, Service, And Legacy Of Joseph A. Mazzarello, Sr. By Designating That Portion Of Fifth Avenue Between Ferry And Liberty Streets As Joseph A. Mazzarello Way | Steele (Admin.) | Taken before public forum; family present. "Sr." removed by amendment at Special Meeting. | 7-0 |
| Ord. 17 | Ordinance Amending Chapter 141 Of The Troy City Code | Campbell Cohen | Sidewalk/path definitions modernization; Di Lorenzo second | 7-0 |
| Ord. 18 | Ordinance Amending Chapter 251 Of The Troy City Code | Campbell Cohen | Companion code cleanup; Struber second | 7-0 |
| Ord. 21 | Ordinance Authorizing The Reconveyance Of Real Property Acquired By In Rem Foreclosure, 315 Second Street | Steele (Admin.) | 7-0 | |
| Ord. 22 | Ordinance Amending The 2022–2026 CD Fund Budget | Steele (Admin.) | 7-0 | |
| Ord. 23 | Ordinance Amending The 2026 General Fund Budget | Steele (Admin.) | 7-0 | |
| Ord. 24 | Ordinance Amending The 2026 General Fund Budget | Steele (Admin.) | Police Department STRIVE grant appropriation | 7-0 |
| Ord. 25 | Ordinance Amending The 2026 Water Fund Budget | Steele (Admin.) | 7-0 | |
| Ord. 26 | Ordinance Amending The 2026 General Fund And Capital Fund Budget | Steele, McKee (Admin.) | $400K from unappropriated fund balance for Little Italy Marketplace capital account; re-passed at Special Meeting | 7-0 |
| Res. 66 | Resolution Authorizing The Mayor To Execute A Contract With ARE Event Productions, Inc. For The Management Of The Annual Troy Turkey Trot | Steele (Admin.) | Single source; minimum $25K/yr to city; multi-year deal commits $50K/yr in charitable contributions | 7-0 |
| Res. 67 | Resolution Determining That Proposed Action Is A Type 2 Action For Purposes Of The New York State Environmental Quality Review Act | Steele (Admin.) | Re-passed at Special Meeting | 7-0 |
| Res. 68 | Bond Resolution Of The City Of Troy, New York, Authorizing The Issuance Of $7,750,000 In Serial Bonds To Finance The Reconstruction Of Various Streets In The City | Steele (Admin.) | Annual infrastructure program; re-passed at Special Meeting | 7-0 |
| Res. 70 | Resolution Authorizing The Mayor To Enter Into Contracts With McGovern MHQ Inc. For The Purchase Of Two 2026 Ford Police Interceptor Utility Vehicles For The Patrol Division And Five 2026 Chevrolet Equinox Police Vehicles For The Detective Bureau | Steele (Admin.) | Already budgeted; FOIL concerns raised by public speaker; vehicle list read into record by McKee | 7-0 |
| Res. 71 | Resolution Authorizing The Mayor To Execute A Contract With Allmark Services Inc. For Tree Services As Needed | Steele (Admin.) | $82K spent with Allmark across departments in prior year | 7-0 |
All items passed 7-0. Special Meeting called immediately following Finance Committee adjournment. Called to formally adopt the bond resolution and related items with the required procedural standing, and to correct the Mazzarello resolution.
| # | Full Title | Sponsors | Notes | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ord. 26 | Ordinance Amending The 2026 General Fund And Capital Fund Budget | Steele (Admin.) | Same as Finance item; Little Italy Marketplace capital transfer | 7-0 |
| Res. 67 | Resolution Determining That Proposed Action Is A Type 2 Action For Purposes Of The New York State Environmental Quality Review Act | Steele (Admin.) | 7-0 | |
| Res. 68 | Bond Resolution Of The City Of Troy, New York, Authorizing The Issuance Of $7,750,000 In Serial Bonds To Finance The Reconstruction Of Various Streets In The City | Steele (Admin.) | 7-0 | |
| Res. 69 | Resolution To Commemorate The Life, Service, And Legacy Of Joseph A. Mazzarello By Designating That Portion Of Fifth Avenue Between Ferry And Liberty Streets As Joseph A. Mazzarello Way | Steele (Admin.) | Amendment to remove "Sr." moved by Steele, seconded by Spain-McLaren; amendment passed 7-0; amended resolution adopted 7-0 | 7-0 |