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Mayor Lou Rosamilia Thanks Transition Committee
January 03, 2012
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, January 3, 2012
For More Information: Michael Fraser, 279-7131
TROY, N.Y. – As his Administration officially enters City Hall on its first day, Mayor Lou Rosamilia has concluded the transition process, and thanked his Transition Committee for its diligence and comprehensive review of the priority areas and challenges that face the City.
“It was important to me and to Troy residents that we were in a position to hit the ground running today. There has been a great deal of work done over the past eight weeks, and I commend the members of my Transition Committee for their thoughtful, realistic and progressive analysis of the issues facing City residents and my Administration,” Mayor-Elect Rosamilia said. “Their efforts were essential in establishing policy and program strategies and identifying opportunities to move our City forward.”
Transition Committee co-chairs Jeff Nesich and Wally Altes worked closely with Committee members Mark Streb, Mark Pattison and six task force directors: Peter Ryan, Bill Dunne, Jack McCann, Jean Howard, William Fagan and Reverend Cornelius Clark. Collectively, the group focused on short- and long-term issues in the areas of personnel, budget, public safety, neighborhoods, university relations and economic development.
Among the most significant findings and recommendations presented to the Mayor were the following:
• completion of plans to establish City Hall at a location that is cost-effective for taxpayers and one that will be owned – not rented – by the City;
• development of strategies to deal with long-term sewer and water fund issues;
• implementation of a plan to collect unpaid tax bills;
• improved relationships with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Russell Sage and Hudson Valley Community College;
• development of a Vacant Buildings Registry Web site as part of a more aggressive and balanced code enforcement and economic development program;
• creation of a Master Plan to attract, retain and grow business in Troy; and
• the return of School Resource Officers to both Troy and Lansingburgh High Schools.
Mayor Rosamilia announced that he will create at least four advisory groups that will continue the overall assessment of these and other issues and develop the strategies that address them. These groups will include, the Mayor's Advisory Board On Budget Oversight, a Youth Task Force that will involve young people in the discussion of City issues, an advisory committee to identify and assess potential options that would establish a permanent location for City Hall, and a task force that will develop strategies to address short-term and longer-term parking solutions.
A central theme of all task force reports was the emphasis on involving residents, business, not-for-profits, educational institutions and churches in the discussions of how to move Troy forward.
In an effort to “hit the ground running” on January 1, The task force on personnel vetted dozens of candidates in presenting recommendations to the Mayor to fill key positions in his Administration. These efforts resulted in the selection of a team featuring designees for Deputy Mayor, (Peter Ryan), Commissioner of Planning and Economic Development (Bill Dunne), Corporation Counsel (Ian Silverman), Deputy Director of Public Information (Michael Fraser) and Confidential Assistant to the Mayor (Kathleen Cassidy).
Mayor Rosamilia thanked the Transition Committee asking them “to stay close and involved,” with his Administration, stating, “The achievement of my goals as Mayor and meeting the needs of the City are off to a good start thanks to the dedicated efforts of this Transition Committee.”