Hello, Collar City! This is Issue 39, dated June 14, 2019.



Hey, everyone. In this issue: potential brownfield redevelopment, an interview with Mayor Patrick Madden, an upcoming 287(g)-related meeting, HVCC's capital projects, and more.



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In this issue: potential brownfield redevelopment, an interview with Mayor Patrick Madden, an upcoming 287(g)-related meeting, HVCC's capital projects, and more.Nearly 160 readers make small, monthly contributions to support Troy Letter via Patreon In addition, TL's pilot sponsorship tier currently has three members:, it's where it's at;, defining modern apartment living and rehab projects in historic downtown Troy; and, Troy's first escape room.Thank you to all supporters, readers, and forward-TL-to-a-friend-ers!

Brownfield Opportunities

Mayor Madden Interview

"Yes," the mayor said in response to a question as to whether climate change is a threat to the future safety/well-being of Troy . He called the ongoing seawall repair project a "first step" and said the city will "need to be in conversations" with the Hudson River-Black River Regulating District. As far as reducing its own emissions, the city has completed one solar array, with a second nearing installation, he said, and it is in the process of acquiring and converting all street lights to LEDs.

. He called the ongoing seawall repair project a "first step" and said the city will "need to be in conversations" with the Hudson River-Black River Regulating District. As far as reducing its own emissions, the city has completed one solar array, with a second nearing installation, he said, and it is in the process of acquiring and converting all street lights to LEDs. A 2017 report by the state Financial Restructuring Board for Local Governments recommended that the city "pursue shared service opportunities with Rensselaer County, including but not limited to the areas of civil service, engineering, payroll, and financial management systems." The mayor said the city has discussed those with the current and previous county administrations but has "been unable to find a way to generate cost savings" in those areas, though they share services in other areas. "There's not really any additional capacity available in either shop, so adding additional workload, whether the county picked it up or we picked it up, would add additional expenses."

The mayor said the city has discussed those with the current and previous county administrations but has "been unable to find a way to generate cost savings" in those areas, though they share services in other areas. "There's not really any additional capacity available in either shop, so adding additional workload, whether the county picked it up or we picked it up, would add additional expenses." I asked about the status of negotiations with some of its unions related to expired contracts. The city is again meeting with the Police Benevolent Association next week, the mayor said, and nothing is scheduled currently with the Uniformed Firefighters Association. The city "had a very fruitful discussion" yesterday with CSEA, "which I'm optimistic will lead to a settlement," he said, though he opted not to detail potential terms. "I can appreciate the fact that there haven't been raises to the degree that any of the unions would like to see, as we struggle through this financial morass that we're in," he said. "But we've done what we've been able to do, and, frankly, we just need to live within our means."

The city is again meeting with the Police Benevolent Association next week, the mayor said, and nothing is scheduled currently with the Uniformed Firefighters Association. The city "had a very fruitful discussion" yesterday with CSEA, "which I'm optimistic will lead to a settlement," he said, though he opted not to detail potential terms. "I can appreciate the fact that there haven't been raises to the degree that any of the unions would like to see, as we struggle through this financial morass that we're in," he said. "But we've done what we've been able to do, and, frankly, we just need to live within our means." The vacancy list appended to the city council's regular June meeting says there are seven police officer vacancies. I asked about the plan to fill those. "We're always working on vacancies," the mayor said. "We have a pretty thorough vetting process for the police force, and I think the city's well served to do that." The city will fill at least some of those positions in July, he said, but the new recruits will then enter a training academy for about six months, so it will be a while until they're actually on the streets. "All cities right now are having difficulties recruiting police officers," said the mayor, who cited better-paying opportunities at public safety–related federal agencies as one factor.

I asked about the plan to fill those. "We're always working on vacancies," the mayor said. "We have a pretty thorough vetting process for the police force, and I think the city's well served to do that." The city will fill at least some of those positions in July, he said, but the new recruits will then enter a training academy for about six months, so it will be a while until they're actually on the streets. "All cities right now are having difficulties recruiting police officers," said the mayor, who cited better-paying opportunities at public safety–related federal agencies as one factor. As the mayor said at a city council informational meeting in April (see TL30), the city's downtown surveillance cameras suffer intermittently from frequency interference . The city has lined up outside funding from Assemblyman John McDonald's office and RPI for their replacement. The police chief has been talking to a couple of camera vendors, the mayor said. The city is also exploring cameras that can essentially be plugged in to the incoming LED street lights, which might allow the city to install cameras farther away from the police station than is currently possible. "We don't want to just replace what we have with another camera [system]," Madden said. "If we're going to replace the system, let's do it in a way that will allow us to grow the system and/or be more nimble with the system."

. The city has lined up outside funding from Assemblyman John McDonald's office and RPI for their replacement. The police chief has been talking to a couple of camera vendors, the mayor said. The city is also exploring cameras that can essentially be plugged in to the incoming LED street lights, which might allow the city to install cameras farther away from the police station than is currently possible. "We don't want to just replace what we have with another camera [system]," Madden said. "If we're going to replace the system, let's do it in a way that will allow us to grow the system and/or be more nimble with the system." "I'm trying to clarify with certain council members now what our practices are relative to civil immigration enforcement," the mayor said, when asked about the status of discussions with a Democratic council majority that has supported declaring Troy a sanctuary city."I think there's some evolving meaning being developed." He added: "I think anything that declares us to be a sanctuary city is a non-starter, and I'd rather not talk about titles but substance."

the mayor said, when asked about the status of discussions with a Democratic council majority that has supported declaring Troy a sanctuary city."I think there's some evolving meaning being developed." He added: "I think anything that declares us to be a sanctuary city is a non-starter, and I'd rather not talk about titles but substance." The city's $200,000 rezoning effort (now underway in an early phase), though funded by a state grant and the Troy Redevelopment Foundation, a consortium of prominent nonprofits that voluntarily contribute to the city's coffers each year, was criticized by council president Carmella Mantello and others as unnecessary or at least not as important as filling potholes and funding NIP-like programs. The rezone is "critically important," the mayor countered, arguing that the zoning code should comport with the newly adopted comprehensive plan's goals. At present, "ours does not," he said, citing the substantial number of requests of the zoning board of appeals regularly receives for variances as evidence that the somewhat suburban-minded zoning code "is not consistent with the conditions on the ground at this time." He added: "People complain about the number of—just pick something, you know, used car lots in Lansingburgh. Well, that's the result of a zoning ordinance that hasn't been updated to reflect the desires of the community." The potential statewide legalization of adult-use cannabis is another reason for the city to rewrite the zoning code, so that it might "control where those retail outlets are located," he said.

The rezone is "critically important," the mayor countered, arguing that the zoning code should comport with the newly adopted comprehensive plan's goals. At present, "ours does not," he said, citing the substantial number of requests of the zoning board of appeals regularly receives for variances as evidence that the somewhat suburban-minded zoning code "is not consistent with the conditions on the ground at this time." He added: "People complain about the number of—just pick something, you know, used car lots in Lansingburgh. Well, that's the result of a zoning ordinance that hasn't been updated to reflect the desires of the community." The potential statewide legalization of adult-use cannabis is another reason for the city to rewrite the zoning code, so that it might "control where those retail outlets are located," he said. The city's MAC debt payments peak this year (around $7 million, a not-insignificant portion of the city's general fund), and will decline through 2022, when it will be fully retired . I asked the mayor how his administration would think about that diminishing obligation in a second term. "We've had 25 years of deferred maintenance," he said. "We have not put money in our assets because we've been saddled with such debt." The city has a backlog of capital projects to attend to, and the city has already started to "do union settlements that look out a few years, and they count on that debt being reduced," so the retiring of the MAC debt won't mean "six million new dollars each year for us to play with." The city's reserve is also "pitifully inadequate" and will need to be rebuilt, he said.

. I asked the mayor how his administration would think about that diminishing obligation in a second term. "We've had 25 years of deferred maintenance," he said. "We have not put money in our assets because we've been saddled with such debt." The city has a backlog of capital projects to attend to, and the city has already started to "do union settlements that look out a few years, and they count on that debt being reduced," so the retiring of the MAC debt won't mean "six million new dollars each year for us to play with." The city's reserve is also "pitifully inadequate" and will need to be rebuilt, he said. I asked the mayor to identify the biggest risks the city faces. He talked about the predominate funding sources for Troy (like other municipalities): (i) state Aid and Incentives for Municipalities, which has been stagnant for years, (ii) sales tax revenue, which is dependent on the broader economy, and (iii) real-estate taxes, which is "de facto capped," given the state tax cap, the political considerations of raising taxes, and "the impact on your community when you do raise taxes and the ability of people to continue to own homes here." Those three sources represent about 80 percent of Troy's revenue, Madden said.

He talked about the predominate funding sources for Troy (like other municipalities): (i) state Aid and Incentives for Municipalities, which has been stagnant for years, (ii) sales tax revenue, which is dependent on the broader economy, and (iii) real-estate taxes, which is "de facto capped," given the state tax cap, the political considerations of raising taxes, and "the impact on your community when you do raise taxes and the ability of people to continue to own homes here." Those three sources represent about 80 percent of Troy's revenue, Madden said. "This is my second campaign in my life and my last," the mayor said, when asked about his political future at the end of our interview. "I have no aspirations beyond this office and I will—health permitting, and I have no reason to believe it won't—I will stay for the full term" if reelected, he said.

287(g) Steering Committee

Public Announcement – Annual 287(g) Steering Committee Meeting Date: June 26th 2019 – Time: 09:30- 10:30AM ***On Thursday, June 26, 2019, from 09:30 am until 10:30 am., the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office will be hosting its annual 287(g) Steering Committee. This meeting is open to the public and will be held at the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office, located at 4000 Main Street, Troy, NY 12180. If you are interested in attending this meeting, you must notify ICE 287(g) Program Manager Richard Nicol at Richard.M.Nicol@ice.dhs.gov by Monday, June 10, 2019. If you plan to ask any questions or make a statement during the meeting, you must provide Officer Nicol with the questions or statements in writing and in advance no later than Monday, June 10, 2019. All public speakers will be given a maximum of one minute to speak due to time constraints. Note: for security reasons, you will be required to pass through a metal detector, so please leave extraneous items, including cell phones, at home or locked-up in your vehicle.***

The RCSO will, as necessary, engage in Steering Committee meetings and may engage in other community outreach with individuals and organizations expressing an interest in this MOA. ICE may participate in such outreach upon the RCSO's request. Nothing in this MOA shall limit ICE's own community outreach efforts.

Dylan Turek, the city's economic development coordinator, appeared at an Osgood neighborhood meeting on Tuesday to talk about the potential designation by the state Department of State of a vast swath of Troy's underutilized waterfront—essentially from the Menands Bridge to the Congress Street Bridge, between the Hudson River and First St.—as a "Brownfield Opportunity Area."Projects located within BOAs "may receive a priority and preference when considered for NYS grants and other financial assistance," according to a state DOS webpage . The designation also allows developers involved in remediating and redeveloping sites within the BOA to potentially access additional tax credits.The potential BOA is outlined in red in the aerial photo below. Overall, the plan depicted is a kind of aspirational document that more or less aligns with the new comprehensive plan adopted by the city council last year.Relocating the salt pile, identified as the part of the first phase of the above plan, remains a "huge priority" for the city, Turek said. A proposal related to potentially moving the pile to a waterfront site just north of the Wynantskill Creek was tabled by the planning commission in August 2018 and hasn't been discussed publicly by that body since then. I asked Turek about the status of that effort, but he didn't really offer specifics."There's a lot of different moving pieces there," Turek said. "It's a privately owned enterprise, obviously, so it's not ultimately up to the city necessarily to say to somebody, 'Hey, you have to move this.'"The city-affiliated Troy Local Development Corporation, which owns land near the Wynantskill Creek, including the former King Fuels site , recently issued a request for proposals seeking a firm to remove asbestos-containing materials at the site. Once that work is complete, National Grid is expected to embark on a more extensive, $30 million remediation at the site "to address historic subsurface contamination issues resulting from disposal of tar, slag, ash and other wastes from former plant and steel industries in the vicinity," according to a city-created factsheet.Turek said the city is hopeful that the former King Fuels property will be fully remediated within two to three years.According to the mayor's State of the City address in February, construction of the long-delayed South Troy Industrial Road , a new two-lane road that will run through the proposed BOA from Main St. near the county jail to Adams St., will start this year. I asked Turek if the development the above plan envisions for the area would increase, lessen, or have no impact on the need for this new road."Let's be clear: I don't see any of the light industrial uses that are currently here evaporating in the next five years," said Turek. The new road will be able to accommodate deliveries to (current or future) South Troy waterfront businesses, whose employees arriving via the Menands Bridge will also be able to use it as a commuting route. "It's flexible," Turek added.The city's effort to apply for the BOA program dates back about a dozen years but was never completed, Turek said. Currently, there are three designated BOAs in the broader Capital Region—in Cohoes, Fort Edward, and Rotterdam— according to the state Department of State's website Last night, I interviewed Mayor Patrick Madden over the phone for about a half an hour. Here are some pertinent exchanges from our conversation:An interview with Republican mayoral candidate Tom Reale appeared in TL30 , and an interview with Democratic mayoral candidate Rodney Wiltshire appeared in TL33 The primary election is Tuesday, June 25.On Thursday morning, I stumbled across this message posted on the Rensselaer County Sheriff's webpage (June 26 is a Wednesday, not a Thursday—this has since been corrected on the webpage.)I contacted both the ICE officer and, separately, Sheriff Patrick Russo (and his undersheriff) to ask if I might still be permitted to attend the meeting even though the purported deadline had passed. Nicol, the ICE officer, said I'm still welcome to attend. (Nicol didn't respond on Thursday to a subsequent message in which I asked if potential attendees could still contact him about attending and speaking.)Melanie Trimble, director of the Capital Region chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union, which has opposed the agreement , told me on Thursday morning that she had not been aware of the upcoming meeting.Sheriff Russo told the TU in April that he intends to renew the 287(g) agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which expires on June 30. The agreement allows specially trained corrections officers to check inmates' immigration statuses. Rensselaer County is the only county in New York state that currently participates in the program, a status that garnered attention from the New York Times last year It's unclear to me who, if anyone, might be on the steering committee and what its role exactly is. The agreement itself does not appear to say much about that:

Sometime between 10:15 A.M. yesterday, when I made my initial inquiries, and 4:15 P.M., this meeting agenda was added to the sheriff's office's webpage:

If you know anything more about the RCSO's steering committee, please feel free to get in touch.



HVCC Current/Upcoming Projects

The Gene F. Haas Center for Advanced Manufacturing Skills. "The college is in the process of completing this new $14.5 million facility on South Road," Kennedy said. More info is available here. The center will open this fall.

"The college is in the process of completing this new $14.5 million facility on South Road," Kennedy said. More info is available here. The center will open this fall. Overflow parking lot . "HVCC is installing asphalt pavement on an existing gravel lot located across Rt. 4 from the main campus," Kennedy said. "The lot is used to accommodate parking shortages during heavily populated times on campus." The county legislature on Tuesday authorized bonding in the total amount of $100,000 for this project.

. "HVCC is installing asphalt pavement on an existing gravel lot located across Rt. 4 from the main campus," Kennedy said. "The lot is used to accommodate parking shortages during heavily populated times on campus." The county legislature on Tuesday authorized bonding in the total amount of $100,000 for this project. Guenther Enrollment Services Center roof replacement & board room and ceiling renovation . The center's old roof "has been leaking over the past several years," Kennedy said. The board of trustees conference room will be overhauled "to better accommodate guests and upgrade technology," Kennedy said. The project "also includes the replacement of and acoustic ceiling in the Guenther lobby that has started to fail and is causing safety concerns to pedestrians in the lobby." The county legislature authorized $655,000 in bonding for the project.

. The center's old roof "has been leaking over the past several years," Kennedy said. The board of trustees conference room will be overhauled "to better accommodate guests and upgrade technology," Kennedy said. The project "also includes the replacement of and acoustic ceiling in the Guenther lobby that has started to fail and is causing safety concerns to pedestrians in the lobby." The county legislature authorized $655,000 in bonding for the project. Fitzgibbons Hall renovation. "Two nursing labs were renovated and turned into one large, modern nursing teaching facility that included a hospital like nursing ward, med center, and, computer learning center," per Kennedy.

This week, the Rensselaer County Legislature approved Hudson Valley Community College's $98.1 million budget, as the TU reported . It also authorized bonding to fund half the cost of multiple projects. I asked HVCC communications director Dennis Kennedy for a little more information on those and other current or upcoming projects at the school. Voilà:The college has also recently started working with local firm JMZ on a five-year facility master plan, which "will guide the college growth and future footprint and align it with student needs and current and future curriculum," Kennedy said. The county legislature authorized $115,000 in bonding for the plan.