Troy

On Thursday, July 7, the members of the Troy City Council unanimously approved Steve Figueroa as the replacement for the resigned Kim Ashe-McPherson. Ms. Ash-McPherson left her seat on the Council after pleading guilty to a voter fraud related charge.

The three Democrats on the Board supported Mr. Figueroa from the start, while the three remaining Republican members wanted to hold open interviews first. Seven candidates expressed their interest in the job, and after talking to all, Council President Carmella Mantello announced her caucus would support Mr. Figueroa for the post.

He will face a special election in November if he desires to fill the remaining portion of the term.

On Thursday morning, June 9, Troy City Council President Carmella Mantello issued the following statement on the Ashe-McPherson resignation following her guilty plea to a felony count of absentee ballot-fraud.

““This morning I received District 2 Council Member Ashe-McPherson’s resignation, effective immediately.

Per the City Charter, the City Council vacancy “shall be filled by a vote of the remaining Council Members. In the event of a tie, the Mayor shall cast the deciding vote. An election will take place this November to fulfill the balance of the term from January 2023 through the end of next year”.

I, along with Council Members Gulli and Sorriento, will be advancing legislation creating a bi-partisan Special Committee comprised of five members, three District 2 residents and a majority and minority Council Member, which will open the door for residents of District 2 to express their ideas and make recommendations pertaining to filling the vacant council seat in District 2.

It is imperative that we move forward in an open and inclusive manner to ensure the residents in District 2 have ongoing representation on the City Council.”

The U.S. District Court in Albany announced on Wednesday, May 8, that Troy City Councilwoman Kim Ashe-McPherson has plead guilty to a felony count of submitting fraudulent absentee ballots in last year’s primary and general elections. As part of the plea, she has agreed to resign from the Council within 30 days. She has represented North Troy for seven years.

The plea is part of a federal grand jury investigation into ballot-fraud allegations in Rensselaer County.

Hoosick Falls Connection

Ms. Ashe-McPherson is the brother of former Hoosick Falls Police Chief Robert Ashe, who is also part of the investigation. It was for that reason he was suspended last December and resigned in April, after pleading guilty to separate criminal investigation involving the  appropriate removal of evidence. Mr. Ashe has not yet been charged in the ballot-fraud case.

By a unanimous 7-0 vote, The Troy City Council on Thursday evening, May 19, approved an amendment to what Council President Carmella Mantello referred to as “an archaic law” that said “no person shall play ball in any of the streets of the City.” In her press release, Council President Mantello said after a recent neighborhood issue where a resident who was upset regarding local children playing ball in the street contacted code enforcement, the code enforcement officer mentioned to me he was issuing a citation to the homeowner of the basketball hoop in front of the owner’s home and referred me to this city code. You could only imagine my response. “I was shocked and was unaware of this archaic code,” Mantello added. “We are working so hard to keep our youth active and away from illegal activities, yet we have a local law on the books discouraging our youth from everyday activities like playing ball on our streets. That’s ridiculous.”

Mantello initially proposed a complete repeal of the law but said after conversations with the Troy Police and Corporation Counsel, it was expressed even though rarely used we should add language that says only if a person unduly or unsafely obstructs the free flow of vehicular and pedestrian traffic law enforcement will officials have the option of enforcement.

The legislation now goes to Mayor Patrick Madden who has ten days to sign or veto it.

Submitted by City Council President Carmella R. Mantello
Troy City Council President Carmella Mantello announced the Troy City Council has approved neighborhood improvement projects totaling over $20,000.

The projects are through the City Council Neighborhood Improvement Program (NIP), and initiatives range from gateway beautification projects to neighborhood Veterans Memorials. Funding was made available through the City Council’s annual budget and the Capital Resource Commission.