December 30, 2008
Live Fire Calibration Testing of ShotSpotter Technology

[ADVISORY] The Troy Police Department is asking the local media outlets to get the word out to the TROY community that we will be conducting LIVE FIRE calibration testing of our ShotSpotter technology tonight Tuesday 12/30/08 between the hours of 10PM and Midnight.  We do not want to cause anyone any undue stress from firearms being discharged without notice. 

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December 30, 2008
City of Troy Consolidated Plan 2009-2010 Program Year

[Public Hearing] Notice is hereby given that the Department of Housing & Community Development of the City of Troy, New York will conduct a public hearing at 6:00 PM on Wednesday, January 14, 2009 in the City Council Chambers on the second floor of Troy City Hall, to solicit public comments concerning potential projects and outcomes for the City of Troy's Consolidated Planning grant funding for the 2009-2010 program year that begins on July 1, 2009. Consolidated Planning grant funding includes Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding, Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) funding, and HOME Program funding. All Troy residents and taxpayers, as well as neighborhood organizations, businesses and other stakeholders in Troy, are invited to attend this public hearing and speak regarding the targeting of 2009-2010 Consolidated Planning funds.

At the public hearing, the Housing & Community Department will accept public comments concerning the Department’s draft outcomes for the 2009-2010 Consolidated Planning year. Comments concerning other desired outcomes in the Strategic Plan, priorities for outcomes, and/or funding targets for the outcomes or categories of outcomes will be accepted. Copies of the Department’s draft outcomes for the 2009-2010 program year are available in the Department of Housing & Community Development Department on the third floor of Troy City Hall (ask for Timothy Mattice), Copies will also be available at the public hearing.

A Call for Implementers (RFP) will be developed after consideration of comments received at this public hearing. The Call for Implementers will ask for proposals from consultants, City departments, neighborhood organizations, public service agencies, and others to carry out projects in the 2009-2010 program year that will result in desired outcomes found in the Strategic Plan of the Consolidated Plan.

Timothy Mattice, Program Supervisor
Publication dates: January 5,7 & January 9,12, 200

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December 19, 2008
Parking Advisory: Mayor asks residents to park in City garages and lots to facilitate better Downtown snow removal.

[ADVISORY] Mayor asks residents to park in the City garages and lots to facilitate better Downtown snow removal throughout the weekend. People can park for free until 8 am Monday.

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November 7, 2008
Public Meeting Scheduled For Congress-Ferry Street Development

[Public Meeting] - The City of Troy will hold a public meeting on Tuesday, November 11th at 6:30 p.m. at the Italian Community Center to discuss the latest plans for development for the Congress-Ferry Street Corridor.

The City of Troy has hired Saratoga Associates to complete the design for the entire corridor, a project that has been more than four years in the making.

“This has been a project that has had many stumbling blocks, and tested the patience of many people,” Mayor Harry J Tutunjian said Friday. “A significant number of people have been working extremely hard on the Congress-Ferry Street redevelopment, and though it has taken longer than anyone hoped or expected, the potential still exists, and we hope that residents will come out Tuesday and voice their opinions about what they would like to see.”

The $6 million road reconstruction project is targeted for a late spring/early summer beginning. The City is hoping that the economic development end of the project will begin shortly thereafter. The United Group of Companies remains the selected developer for the corridor.

“Though the road reconstruction and development piece are essentially two separate projects, I do not think that ten years from now either will be considered a great success without the other,” Tutunjian said. “Feedback from all parties has gone into each project, and we remained excited about the possibilities.”

Saratoga Associates will run the public meeting, which will consist of an update of where the Master Plan for the corridor stands, as well as break out groups to collect data on what the residents and businesses owners of Troy would like to see in the corridor.

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September 15, 2008
Troy Homes Project - Phase II

[Public Information] The city of Troy is seeking HUD income eligible; bank pre-approved homebuyers that are interested in purchasing a new single family home in the city of Troy.

Interested homebuyers must meet the following requirements to be determined eligible to participate:

- Attend required Troy Homes workshop on September 30, 2008 at 6:00PM
- Must have an annual household income at the time of application and closing at or below 80% of the HUD median income.
- Must be pre-approved by a bank and obtain a mortgage pre-approval letter.
- Must have no more than 15% of total gross monthly income paid towards interest bearing household debt, (i.e. credit cards, auto loans, personal loans, and student loans.
- Must have good credit with a minimum credit score of 650.
- Must be current with creditors
- Must have a minimum of $750.00 in personal savings.

Eligible applicants will have their names placed in a lottery pool. Names will be randomly selected by lottery at 10:00a.m on November 6, 2008, City Hall second floor council chambers.

The city of Troy will conduct a Troy Homes workshop at City Hall on September 30, 2008 at 6:00p.m in the second floor council chambers to discuss program requirements, financing, and to provide general information.

Applicantions due OCTOBER 24, 2008 AT 4:00PM

Please call the Department of Housing Community Development at 270-4476 to access more information.

Troy Homes Project Flyer

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September 4, 2008
Water Advisory: Discoloration Could Continue Through The Week

[ADVISORY] Throughout this week there has been a minor discoloration in the drinking water supplied by the City of Troy. The slight discoloration is a result of minute elevated levels of dissolving iron and manganese from the Tomhannock Reservoir.

“There is absolutely no health risk involved with this discoloration,” Mayor Harry J Tutunjian said Thursday. “There is no need to boil water, and the water department is working to fix the problem as we speak.”

Officials said that the discoloration could last up to a week, as they work through what amounts to a natural occurrence. The water is continually tested and does meet state guidelines. Should any change occur, the City will alert the media immediately. Any help the media can give with the distribution of this notice is greatly appreciated.

Any media inquiries should be directed to the Water Commissioner Bill Bradley at 225-6942.

Residents with any inquiries may call the Water Department at 237-0611. See press release.

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July 11, 2008
Citywide Reassessment

[Important Information] Mayor's Weekly Message July 11, 2008

During the State of the City speech earlier this year, I announced that the City of Troy would be pursuing a revaluation for the first time since 1972.

I want everyone to know that I did not make this decision without weeks of contemplation. Unfortunately, we have come to a point where we cannot wait any longer. The intent of conducting a citywide reassessment is to have the City’s Assessment Roll be both fair and equitable, a point we are not near today.

A revaluation does not increase the amount of taxes collected; the purpose is to have the tax burden redistributed fairly.

As I said earlier this year, because we have not commissioned a revaluation in such a long time, our equalization rate has suffered. A lower equalization rate can negatively influence how much is allowed under STAR exemption amounts; how much of the county tax burden the City bears; how much the City residents pay in school taxes compared to the other towns within the school district, and the way state aid for schools is determined and distributed.

Earlier this week, we scheduled a meeting with the New York State Office of Real Property Services to help explain the process of a revaluation. The informational meeting was held primarily for the city council members to attend. Certainly the public was welcome, but the main purpose was for council members to have a one on one interaction with representatives the State Office of Real Property Services.

Since raising the issue at my State of the City address, many questions were raised by council members. I felt it was important to have a forum where they could ask the professionals their questions. Hopefully, they would then be able to become more informed and share the information with their constituents. The meeting was scheduled with permission and consent of the Council President nearly two weeks ago. Press releases were sent out days in advance to all media outlets. Informational packets were mailed to council members as well.

This was only the first step. There will certainly be more public meetings that I am sure many residents will attend.

As a matter of attempting to keep the public updated on the revaluation, we will be making updates to the City website.

Mayor, Harry J. Tutunjian

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April 14, 2008
Hydrant Flushing Program

[ADVISORY] The City of Troy hydrant flushing program will be conducted Monday, April 14, 2008 through Tuesday, April 22, 2008.

Customers may experience temporary discoloration in their water and possible reduced water pressure during these flushing operations. They are also advised to avoid washing clothes when flushing is taking place in their area.

Water main and hydrant flushing will be completed during the regular working hours with the exception of the business district. For additional information, call 237-0241. The schedule is as follows:

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March 31, 2008
Mayor Invites Public to Participate in the North Central Troy Opportunity Area Public Meeting

[Public Meeting] - Mayor Harry Tutunjian of the City of Troy is extending an open invitation for local residents and business owners to participate in the development of the City’s locally based planning initiative for North Central Troy. Public Community Planning and Charette workshops will be held in the Rainbow Room (851 River Street in Troy) offering hands-on participation as part of the development of the 2008 North Central Troy revitalization plan. The plan is being prepared with funds from a grant provided by the NYS Department of State in accordance with the Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) Program. With the Technical and Steering committees established, and data gathering phase near completion, the public visioning process can begin.

The Project Introduction and Discussion will be held on Wednesday, April 2 from 6:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the Rainbow Room. Community Planning and Charette workshops will be held on Wednesday, April 23 and Wednesday, May 7 from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at a location TBA. The Community Planning and Charettes sessions will provide an opportunity for members of the community to participate in one of several working groups. Each working group will be facilitated by a member of the technical committee, consisting of the City of Troy, NYS Department of State, The Hudson Group, LLC and Barton and Loguidice, P.C. and will focus on a particular set of design challenges beginning with discussion and proceeding into conceptualizing ideas for physical improvements in North Central Troy. Each working group will then present their visions and ideas for comment to the rest of the participants at the close of the session.

No technical expertise is required of public participants. A Technical Committee member will moderate, advise and provide the necessary graphic presentation skills. All the graphic art supplies required for the charette will be provided by the Consultant Team. Base mapping of the North Central Troy area will be generated in multiple forms and will be provided to each working group.

A summary of the results of these Community Planning and Charette Workshops will be presented at a later date to the public, and attendees will have the opportunity to review and comment on the ideas presented.

Complete Scope and Schedule for the BOA Program

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March 20, 2008
Hudson River Combined Sewer Overflow Long Term Control

[Public Meeting] - The first public meeting for the Hudson River Combined Sewer Overflow Long Term Control Plan will be held at 7pm on Monday, March 31, 2008 at Hudson Valley Community College in the Bulmer Telecommunications Center located at 80 Vandenburgh Ave, Troy, NY 12180.

Come and learn about the intermunicipal efforts to address water quality in the Hudson River. At this first public meeting learn more about: the study objectives, the scope of work, and the data collection process. Although the preparation of the Plan is a mandated responsibility of the Albany Pool Communities (Cities of Albany, Cohoes, Rensselaer, Troy, Watervliet and Village of Green Island), the surrounding communities will also be impacted and are urged to attend.

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February 19, 2008
Formation of a Troy-based Community Orchestra

[Public Meeting] - A public information meeting on the formation of a Troy-based community orchestra utilizing local and regional musicians will be held at 7:00 PM on Thursday, February 28, 2008 in the City Council Chamber on the second floor of Troy City Hall. Learn more about the Troy Orchestra and its mission. Participate, ask questions and provide your input. Meet the principals.

For more information, contact: Vito Ciccarelli at 518-270-4624, or Prudence Pechenik at 518-270-4401.

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January 8, 2008
City of Troy Consolidated Plan 2008-2009 Program Year

[Public Hearing] - Notice is hereby given that the Department of Housing & Community Development of the City of Troy, New York will conduct a public hearing at 6:00 PM on Wednesday, January 16, 2008 in the City Council Chambers on the second floor of Troy City Hall, to solicit public comments concerning potential projects and outcomes for the City of Troy's Consolidated Planning grant funding for the 2008-2009 program year that begins on July 1, 2008. Consolidated Planning grant funding includes Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding, Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) funding, and HOME Program funding. All Troy residents and taxpayers, as well as neighborhood organizations, businesses and other stakeholders in Troy, are invited to attend this public hearing and speak regarding the targeting of 2008-2009 Consolidated Planning funds.

At the public hearing, the Housing & Community Department will accept public comments concerning the Department’s draft outcomes for the 2008-2009 Consolidated Planning year. Comments concerning other desired outcomes in the Strategic Plan, priorities for outcomes, and/or funding targets for the outcomes or categories of outcomes will be accepted. Copies of the Department’s draft outcomes for the 2008-2009 program year are available in the Department of Housing & Community Development Department on the third floor of Troy City Hall (ask for Timothy Mattice), Copies will also be available at the public hearing.

A Call for Implementers (RFP) will be developed after consideration of comments received at this public hearing. The Call for Implementers will ask for proposals from consultants, City departments, neighborhood organizations, public service agencies, and others to carry out projects in the 2008-2009 program year that will result in desired outcomes found in the Strategic Plan of the Consolidated Plan.

Cconsolidated Project Plan 2005-2009
2008-2009 RFP DRAFT Outline (pdf)

Timothy Mattice, Program Supervisor
Publication dates: January 5,7 & January 9,12, 14,2008