The City of Troy, New York, "Where Henry Hudson Turned Around."

Friday, January 15, 2016

TEAM BUILDING



On Thursday, January 14, The Madden administration held a "team building event" at Pat's Barn in the Rensselaer Technology Park.

Spokesman John Salka explained: "It’s an opportunity for the city’s department heads to communicate with each other about challenges they’re facing and hear what others have to say."

Ken Crowe Two has the story. The event was scheduled for 9:00am to 12:00am, which left no time for paint ball or the barbed wire crawl.

Now - full disclosure - we have a biased against such events. In fact, we still have the rope burns. That said, team building events or exercises are far too corporate for our tastes, organized by people who say things like "windshield time" and "drill down." Since it does smack of the corporate, take a guess as to who came up with this idea?

Notably absent from the meeting were the current Comptroller and the current Commissioner of Economic Development. One would think that if the new team needed information about various challenges, the old team might have been invited. We know that there will be a new comptroller and a new (or no) Commissioner of Economic Development. However, those two individuals probably know more about the city government than anyone else at the meeting. Especially, with Bill Chamberlain gone. We don't know why they were spared but they are sending thank you notes.

Now, for the funniest thing in the story. It seems Mayor Pat invited City Clerk Patricia O'Brien. Instead of a gracious thank you, Council President Mantello "said it was made clear to the mayor that O’Brien is part of the legislative branch of government and is not an administration department head."

Now, Democratus has met a number of elected officials* including House members (never a Senator), council members, three mayors, a deputy mayor or two but never had the privilege of meeting Ms. Mantello. Her statement made one thing crystal clear: she's a talker. Anyone compelled to state the obvious is someone that feels compelled to talk and someone that lacks the self-confidence to not make a statement. Our guess is Madden knows that the City Clerk is a legislative appointee. He probably knew that even before the legislature appointed the clerk. What would possess someone to say what she said? It was made clear to the Mayor....what the fuck?

Ms. Mantello did not illegally change the time of the meeting. So, that's something.

So, she's a talker and we know what they say about talkers.

* In all honesty, each person met was polite, friendly and gracious except for one, but even then it isn't intentional: that person is simply genetically incapable of class or grace.

70 comments:

Anonymous said...

More carrying of the Bill Dunne water bucket

Anonymous said...

Czarina Carmzilla will say anything to get press and embarrass the mayor. Get ready folks. It's Rodney 2.0 with bigger teeth and rougher leather. Booyah.

Anonymous said...

Team building exercises? What is next, planting money trees? The reaction of the Council President to one of her people being invited is to get nasty? Talk about the clueless and the inept leading the parade. Which of these is MORE idiotic? Discuss amongst yourselves.

Anonymous said...

Carmzilla frothing at the mouth to flex her muscles. 15 days in can we start a Mrs Ed countdown clock till she gets voted out for good

Anonymous said...

Carmzilla is an interesting one. She fell out of the tippy top of the Harry tree and hit every branch on the way down

Phana24JG said...

So the Mayor has an event designed for "the city’s department heads to communicate with each other about challenges they’re facing and hear what others have to say," and neither the CFO, or Head of Econ Development are present? I get that they may not be in his long term plans, but given the precarious financial situation, this makes no sense.

Since virtually every "challenge" involves budgetary considerations, I would think these are are two of the more important voices that should be heard. Carm's reaction does not make a lot of sense as well.

Anonymous said...

Pat really made a statement in his first two weeks. We're broke, no comment, no comment and we're arresting police officers. Great start.

McJerkoff said...

It's going down now, folks. Madden arrested, fifteen cops tango down, 911, Gordon going to jail....oops. Wrong again.

Anonymous said...

Is Bill Dunne leaving?

Anonymous said...

From what I have heard there were no "team building exercises", it was a chance for the department heads to actually talk to each other and do some planning. Pretty standard fare for any organization. Not sure why it is idiotic for the leaders in an organization to take a few hours and do some strategic planning?

Anonymous said...

Good morning Monica

Anonymous said...

McJerkoff's out of material. More Dunne and 911. Yawn. Tired tweeter.

Anonymous said...

McJerkoff predicted Jim Gordon would be mayor. My sides are still sore from laughing at that one.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations Mayor Gordon, Tango Down, Boom! Dunne killed Nicole Simpson, Pete Ryan indicted this December...are you paying attention.

HAHAHAHA. If he spent more time working maybe those warrants would be paid off and we wouldn't carrying him. Still want to know why Billie moved so far away from him?

Anonymous said...

It's not just Billie, either. Poor Kevvy McCashless. You gotta feel bad for the tiny little fella. Even the trash gets dumped only once a week.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like this was Monica's dumbass idea.

Anonymous said...

Today's trivia question: how many taxpayer funded jobs does Carmzilla's special friend and legislative assistant Jason Scofield have? Winner gets an autographed copy of an illegal council meeting agenda.

Anonymous said...

This is 8:39, I can assure you that I am not Monica. And I stand by my earlier statement that it is not a dumbass idea for leaders in an organization to talk to each other and plan together. Only a dumbass would take exception to the heads of departments having a conversation.

Anonymous said...

It is January 16th and apparently "the man" is still at work and employed by the City of Troy. Thought that Mr. Madden said he would not have a part in his administration. Who is calling the shots ?
Mr. Mayor or Mr. County Chairman ?

Anonymous said...

How much did the off sight Team Building exercise cost the taxpayers of Troy ? Why wasn't this done in the City of Troy ? The ICC or the Masonic Hall could have been rented at a nominal cost and could easily accommodate those attending. Why not the Troy Senior Citizen Center in the large banquet hall on the first floor at perhaps no cost ? We have a fiscal crisis and the city is renting facilities off site and out of town ?

Anonymous said...

8:35 to 8:59 is Bill Dunne. The best one is him ripping Monica idea. You see Bill has a problem he constantly bites the hand that feeds him. This mayor despite constantly being told to get this malfeasance out of his administration try's to help him. But Bill can't help himself. He will be forced to leave this administration because as his exit date approaches he will become more and more bitter and reckless. The thing we have to hope for as city residence is that the last staw is not something that we can be sued over. Don't forget Pat is a lawyer and lawyers are suppose to know better than non- lawyers. Pat has been warned time and time again about Bill but still keep him. This could bite him in the ass.

Phana24JG said...

8.39, my guess is that 12.53 was referring to the TU where the second paragraph states "it’s a team building event,” explained John Salka, a spokesman for Madden."

There is nothing wrong with some strategic planning. What some of us wonder is why the strategic planning would not include two of the more knowledgeable people about Troy's revenue and expenditure histories, the short term-outlook, and the current operating budget?

Anonymous said...

RPI donated the space dumbass

Anonymous said...

Team building does smack of corporate bullshit but they are useful if you are a team player. Doubtful Democratus and some of the others are team players.

Three hours is not much time and psychologically, some find it easier to talk openly and honestly about issues when they are off site.

Carmella just can't help it. It's her nature.

I also heard Amy O was present and might be dep corp counsel.

Anonymous said...

So if the have to leave city hall to team build then what the fuck are they doing the rest of the time? Fuck team building how about doing what their payed for. No comment Pat is shaping up to be the next great Lou. Hope he's arrested Tuesday with the rest of the team tape builders at the PBA.

Mango Down said...

Uh oh, Tango Down Tuesday, for the third month in a row. Your needle's stuck. Everyone arrested, Troy closes, everyone's in jail. Go read some tweets and beat off, loser.

Anonymous said...

I hear that Kim "Carla" McPherson will dazzle everyone at the confirmation hearings on Thursday night. The McPherson strut will be all over the Dept Mayor and Corperation Council. First big night for this train wreck.

Anonymous said...

How could someone hold an event in a barn and not invite Carmella??

Anonymous said...

We entered a dimly lit room, with candles burning throughout. We then were asked to put on white robes,with the strong odor of lemongrass incense permeated our nostrils. We were then handed a booklet containing the words of songs. We then were asked to sing in unison while holding hands. Mayor Lou then entered through a cloud of blue incense smoke and we all held hands and said a silent prayer. Martin Dunbar and Steve Dworsky then spoke on fiscal responsibility in government. Granola bars and tofu sandwiches were then served, along with 7 ounce cans of Tab.Mr Salka then did an acoustic Oasis set, leaving not a dry eye in the room.

Kim AP said...

I'm Troy educated threw and threw!

Phana24JG said...

3.25, just one quick question. Aside from Salka, how many of the guys in attendance had manpurses?

Anonymous said...

You dems cannot be that stupid. If you don't like what McJerkoff tweets don't read it. But please don't ridicule him for you've now legitimized him. And I'm quite certain many of these dem embarrassments will come to light shortly. Talk football or baseball, hes a wimp with a keyboard.

Anonymous said...

You're the last person to be the arbiter of personal appearance.

Anonymous said...

Boy you really are upset with Kim McPherson. Get over it you sound like an Ass. She will do a great job because she is independent. If you don't like her try and run against here in two years when she runs for the Legislature. She will kick your Ass

Anonymous said...

I've got you --under my skin

Anonymous said...

I love it when Republicans get hot and bothered. It's so cute

Anonymous said...

I don't know Miss McPherson but why don't we all talk about the county legislature. Could be some huge dem primaries for those sweet 20K do absolutely nothing positions. There s not many people who can tell you how many represent Troy and even less who can name them. That's because they've been beaten into submission by none other than the dastardly Rich Crist. The first person who can successfully name them gets the grand tour of 1 Monument Square.

Anonymous said...

Yes, let's talk about the county legislature, particularly that naughty GOP majority. Drugs, theft, pending indictments... the family values party in action! Heck of a job, Richie.

Anonymous said...

I'll run against here

Anonymous said...

County Legislature was do nothing back when Christ was a Democrat. Only person Rich Christ has come close to beating into submission is his son. Thanks, Joel Abelove for not prosecuting Republicans!

Anonymous said...

My dog will run against her and win. And have better looking palm cards

Anonymous said...

Carmzilla on site in the Burgh to change the date of the water main break and to make it clear to the mayor that the water is wet.

Anonymous said...

Now now-- Let's not forget your boy Guluski collecting 35k in unemployment while sitting on the council drawing a check. You try doing the same thing, without someone running political cover for you--that's jail time. Reid's a scumbag too.

Anonymous said...

Per the Troy Record of 01/17/2016 the Troy IDA came close to running out of money in the 2015 year. The board chairman is quoted as saying "running out of cash could have been catastrophic for the agency." What a pragmatic thought.
It would appear that what the IDA has built is a house of cards. Where in the name of anything smacking of common sense and oversight is the financial audit and review process?
Incidentally, the paper mentions that the director is "the man" who continues in the new mayor's administration. Why is that?

Anonymous said...

LOL boy she really has you mad. Why don't you get a set of balls and put your name to your insults

Anonymous said...

Saw Harry whoring himself out in the Burgh today. Refuses to live in the burgh but he'll posture for cameras during a crisis. So desperate it's sad. And where was the new D1 councilman? Guess he'll be just as useless as the schmuck he replaced. Thought we'd see Gordo out there teaching folks how to call 911 but guess he's too busy trying to suck taxpayer money by filing frivolous lawsuits now that he's jobless and ostracized.

Anonymous said...

It's not a water main break. It's... CARMELLAPOLOOZA

Anonymous said...

Mark McGrath showed up in the Burgh today hoping might see some young chicks in bikinis in the water. Instead he saw Harry splashing in the gutters with his rubber ducky.

Larry Johnson said...

However, those two individuals probably know more about the city government than anyone else at the meeting. Especially, with Bill Chamberlain gone. We don't know why they were spared but they are sending thank you notes. RIP BILL !~~!

Larry Johnson said...

This is also for you Mark McJerk off Enjoy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdYZj9vmfi0

Anonymous said...

Why was she there, must have been cameras there. She indeed fell out of the Harry tree

Anonymous said...

Hey 6:24 pm,

Please explain what happens when an IDA runs our of money? How does it impact me, a regular ole taxpayer?

Thanks,

R.O.T.

Anonymous said...

7:40 I would, but my balls aren't as big as Kim's. And Carmzilla has the biggest of them all.

Vito said...

Harry Harry, who cares. Why isn't anyone talking about ME

Anonymous said...

10:23 you got it. Harry was there too. No doubt getting ready for another failed attempt at running for public office.

Anonymous said...

Amazing isn't it. Blaming others to try to deflect attention away from your own misdeeds and incompetence. Classic M.O. of Rich Crist and the Troy GOP

Anonymous said...

Loser

Anonymous said...

Hey Bob- how's the family business working out on 5th Ave???

Anonymous said...

While they were helping out-what were you doing dipshit?

Anonymous said...

I was there, dipshit. Where were you, watching Judge Judy reruns?

Anonymous said...

8:12--a child wanting to play with the big boys. Possible penis envy.

Anonymous said...

Probably sitting around bitching because the mail truck couldn't get his check to him. Come on put your name down loser.

Anonymous said...

Can't wait for Tango Down Tuesday. Will McCjerkoff apologize when Pat is not arrested. No. No balls. Here's a bet for you Kev. Madden not arrested you promise to pay those tax warrants, freeloader.

Anonymous said...

More like back hair and mid-life- crisis-mobile envy. Ummmm NOT.

Anonymous said...

Kevin NoCashion's tweets reek of desperation now that he knows no job will be forthcoming. Go embroider some clothes for your blow up doll, Kev. Before she dumps you too.

Anonymous said...

Keep diddling yourself in the dirty street water, Harry. It's the perfect spot for you.

Anonymous said...

Hey at least with "Corky" Scofield in the room, there'll always be a bible nearby...no common sense or pertinent input, but a bible....Wolf T. Flywheel

Anonymous said...

Where's your name?

Anonymous said...

Kim, didn't you write elsewhere that Tut is "the heart of Troy"? That was funny!

Anonymous said...

Yes it is! They still dont get the fact that we are on to them