BOUCHARD RETIRES

ONE DOWN

With a disciplinary hearing just days away, Capt. Paul Bouchard has retired from the Troy Police Department. Bouchard has more than enough time in on the job and this move will save his pension.

Retirement was logical for Bouchard and the move comes as no surprise. The interesting thing will be his testimony. We assume either side has subpoena powers and Bouchard's testimony seems highly relevant to O'Neil's defense as well as Centanni's.

In a related matter, Corporation Counsel David B. Mitchell seems to have flip-flopped on the sanctity of personnel matters. While once considering personnel matters 'sacrosanct' the City now wants the hearings open to the public.

The hearings against O'Neill and Centanni are scheduled to begin 9 a.m. Monday, Mitchell said, adding that the city wants the hearings open to the public. He said attorneys for the officers do not want them public. Deciding that will be the first order of business Monday, he said.

Back in January, it was the City's position that:

"We will not litigate this in the press, and we will not sling this out in the gutter. This is something we will handle judiciously." - The Record, Jan 20, 2007

So now it's fine to intimate the officers have something to hide?

This story appeared in the Times Union on Thursday but not in The Record. Interesting.


REPUBLICAN MAYOR SLAPS REPUBLICAN COUNTY EXECUTIVE

Mayor Tutunjian wants to reduce the city's share of 911 costs 82% over the next few years. That seems logical as Troy accounts for half of the 911 calls. If our math is right (82 x 48.2 - .9 + 5) that means the county should be paying Troy and that Troy has an ERA of 5.56.

County Executive Kathy Jimino has taken the unreasonable position that Troy should pay it's fair share of 911 costs. Tutunjian has proposed that Troy should reimburse the County with chicken and assorted diary products for the service.

Instead of noting their differences over the proposed contract, Tutunjian threw a gratuitous shot at Kathy:

"I met with the county executive earlier this week and she explained the dire situation that Rensselaer County is in financially," Tutunjian said. "Thanks to our commitment to making the tough day-to-day decisions, it is clear that the city of Troy is in much better fiscal shape that Rensselaer County is."

Jimino correctly pointed out:

"In fact the majority of the county's residents served by these programs reside in the city of Troy. On balance, the city of Troy disproportionately receives far more for their county property tax dollars than any other municipality in the county," Jimino said.

Troy also sees more returned in sales tax than it generates while East Greenbush gets burned. With 20% of it's costs covered by state and federal welfare, Tutunjian's claims can only be explained by the mayor's over-inhalation of snow plow fumes.

Last week we criticized Mayor Stratton for pitting municipality against municipality. Tutunjian's habit of promoting his stewardship at the expense of others leaves his claims grossly suspect.