Troy

City Engineer Russ Reeves said Monday he had to resign from his job after the city allowed non-engineers to approve major demolition projects.

Reeves' decision to leave his $84,817 position after 10 years effective May 2 follows his interview by the FBI earlier this year regarding three projects overseen by other city officials.

"My responsibility is for the public safety and health and welfare of the community," Reeves said Monday.

"I've got to protect my license," he continued.

The demolition of a building on King Street in August 2013 and three bunkers at the King Fuels site in South Troy and the planned demolition work at King Fuels that ignores a high pressure gas main were cited by Reeves.

"Engineering was performed by non-engineers," Reeves said about plans and decisions. "These are life and safety issues," Reeves said.

Mayor Lou Rosamilia said he accepted Reeves' resignation when it was submitted Monday.

City Council President Rodney Wiltshire said he's very upset that it's come to the point that Reeves has to resign.

"It's very sad that it's come to this," said Wiltshire, stressing that Reeves has had to work alone. "He's a one-man show for the city's projects. Now, we have a no-man show." Wiltshire said.

Wiltshire said he will discuss the city engineering situation and Reeves' resignation when he meets with Rosamilia on Thursday.

Reeves expressed particular concern about the work at the King Fuels site saying the work at the gas line could be a potential threat to local residents.

The Troy Local Development Corp. awarded at its March 14 meeting the King Fuels site contract to Casale Construction, according to TLDC minutes.

"When I was notified that there were safety questions about what was being done at the King Fuels site, I made sure that all work was immediately halted until I met with representatives from National Grid on site," Rosamilia said in a statement.

Rosamilia said he and Deputy Mayor Peter Ryan met with the National Grid officials Monday, who determined work could resume.

"Also, all of the work that has been completed thus far has been approved and I will continue to make sure that the LDC's future work at the site is done in cooperation with National Grid," Rosamilia continued.

The August 2013 emergency demolition of 4-6-8-10 King St. was one of the three projects discussed by Reeves with the FBI.

Reeves said the razing of the 19th-century building adjacent to Bombers Burrito Bar at 2 King St. could have endangered patrons, who were not evacuated from the restaurant. Fire Chief Thomas Garrett ordered the emergency demolition while Reeves was out of town on vacation.

Michael Morris, a mayoral spokesman, said Garrett is allowed to declare an emergency demolition.

The other two projects brought up in the meeting with the FBI were the installation of a sidewalk at 101st Street at Fifth Avenue bordering Freedom Square in April 2013 and the proposed sale and redevelopment of the Scolite site in South Troy.

Bill Dunne, the city's commissioner for planning and economic development, was suspended for a week without pay regarding the installation of the sidewalk for free by a city contractor. The sidewalk matter was settled when the Sanctuary for Independent Media arranged an agreement with J.R. Casale, the contractor.

As a result of his city position, Dunne also is involved with the Troy Industrial Development Authority and the Troy Local Development Corp. Dunne played a role in the review of the Scolite project.

The City Council voted 5-4 at its April 3 meeting to reject a contract to sell the Scolite site to R. J. Valente Cos.

Reeves said he would work his final on-call shift May 2 and then return to his private practice.

kcrowe@timesunion.com • 518-454-5084 • @KennethCrowe