Wednesday, February 03, 2016

DOUBLE DIPPING

Every now and then the issue of one person holding two taxpayer funded positions arises. Usually during campaign season. Famously, former DPW Commissioner Robert Mirch pulled off a hat trick and actually had three taxpayer-funded salaries. The brilliant part about Mirch was that he also had small government, anti-tax Republicans defend this practice on his behalf as he laughed all the way to the bank. In 2011 so-called 'double-dipping' became an issue when then mayoral candidate Lou Rosamilia hesitated when asked if he would collect a mayoral salary as well as a pension from Hudson Valley Community College.

His opponent, Carmella Mantello, did not hesitate staking out a position. In a Troy Record article (October 31, 2011) Mantello made her position clear:

While Democrat mayoral candidate Lou Rosamilia says he will stop teaching at Hudson Valley Community College and forego his publicly funded salary if elected, Republican challenger Carmella Mantello announced no employee in her administration will be able to draw more than one taxpayer-funded paycheck.

Rosamilia applied for an unpaid leave of absence from the local community college in the first few weeks of the fall semester and the request was granted at the college's board of trustees meeting on Oct. 25.

Then, according to a letter to Rosamilia from the college, he would need to notify the school by April 1, 2012 if he plans to return to active employment at the end of that semester.

The announcement of this plan of action comes on the same day that Mantello released a statement that, if she is elected, she would not permit any appointed city employees to receive more than one taxpayer-funded paycheck, including government funded pensions.

Mantello's reasoning was sound:

In these challenging economic times, with so many families struggling to make ends meet, it is only right that public servants draw only one taxpayer funded paycheck," she said, noting that Rep. Chris Gibson, R-Kinderhook, suspended his U.S. Army pension while he is serving in Congress.
"I call on my opponent to join with me and pledge to the people of Troy that double dipping will not be tolerated in City Hall."

Question: Does this still apply? Has Mantello evolved on this issue? Does it apply to those hired by the City Council?

If you can name the double-dipper (under Mantello's definition), win a years subscription to the Troy Polloi.

WATER MAIN POOL

This week's pool winner was Ed Dinwiddie, who selected People's Avenue in the Water Main Break Pool. The next drawing will be on Friday. Remember, you have to play to win. We got dibs on lower Congress Street.

55 comments:

  1. Anonymous6:40 AM

    I think you are referring to former Troy Polloi and Tiger Beat cover boy Jason Scofield.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous8:32 AM

      Ding ding! We have a winner. Question is... does fat cat Jason have two taxpayer jobs or three?
      Carmella= Hypocrite. Also not too bright.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous7:01 AM

    Hypocrites.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous7:30 AM

    Still no 5 point plan to fight crime? Where's the violent crime committee that was promised?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous7:48 AM

    Mark McGrath collects a sweet state pension. Does that count?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous8:07 AM

    Schofield and marge

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous8:40 AM

    Five comments so far and none about Bill Dunne. Harry's humps must be sleeping in today.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous5:32 PM

      Harry and his humps are all down at the Poughkeepsie Galeria Mall getting George the animal Steele, Jimmy Superfly Snuka and Chief Peter Muavias autographs

      Delete
    2. Anonymous9:06 PM

      That was improper...it's spelled "Maivia"
      ......Lemuel Phibes

      Delete
  7. Anonymous10:11 AM

    Mantello worked in the Legislature during her first stint on the Council. She has no shame.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous10:26 AM

    but you couldn't wait to mention Harry, get a life!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous12:05 PM

    Roy Smalling from Niverville

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous1:39 PM

    How is Schofield double-dipping? There is no stipend for TCSD School Board. Does he have a county job too?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous2:11 PM

      Oh yes, he sure does.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous1:30 PM

      He works for the County

      Delete
  11. Anonymous2:11 PM

    3 jobs

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous2:12 PM

    Is acholfields books county funded too?

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous2:16 PM

    "Double dipping" seems to have a negative tone.
    If someone spends 20 + years and vests a legitimate pension, then why shouldn't he/she collect the pension and still be able to work at something else? No show jobs are something else and are not being promoted.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Anonymous2:55 PM

      Thanks Carmella, but the point is that you trashed Lou for double dipping and got on your high horse claiming you'd never permit it in your administration, and then you turned around and hired the mini-Crist GOP hack Scofield knowing full well he's employed by the county. I guess the rules don't apply to you or your special buddies, right? What a hypocrite.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous8:25 PM

      The rules never applied to them 2:55. And when they get called out for such blatant hypocrisy, their immediate response is to attack Cox, Cooper, Amy O, Kevin McGrath or Mayor Lou over some entirely unrelated and unfounded allegations ! So Carmzilla is a hypocrite, not really big news. Carmzilla is the very definition of a grimy, power hungry politician who has no shame whatsoever

      Delete
    3. Anonymous9:23 AM

      is it really any different then you bringing up harry every chance you get even when its unrelated to the topic?

      Delete
    4. Anonymous1:31 PM

      Who's Harry?

      Delete
    5. Anonymous6:07 AM

      9:23, you seem.to bring up Harry at least two times a day. Nothing like seeing your name in print huh? You don't even care that you get destroyed by everyone or that nobody can stand you. As long as you see your name. When will you learn to just go away. You get your lunch money taking from.You every day you silly little troll

      Delete
    6. Anonymous5:58 PM

      the only person bringing up Harry is Cooper, he cant make it through the day.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous12:45 AM

      Yeah, Cooper is the only person who brings up Queen Tut! Talk about delusional!

      Delete
  14. Anonymous2:22 PM

    Being on the school board is an elected and not a paid position.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous2:30 PM

    Doesn't Jason work for the county as well? School Board doesn't count. No pay.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous3:25 PM

    I hope someone is keeping score on all her fails. This is just the end of her first month and the total to date is bigger than Harry's waistline.

    Wish someone would explain to me what Schofield's appeal is ...no wait I'd rather not know.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous8:25 PM

      Same as Adams appeal slick.

      Delete
  17. Anonymous4:31 PM

    Listen to you all. Like you thought of this. Making it your own argument. Now that's funny. Oh also I'm a Harry guy and like other Harry guys we work for a living so we can't post all day long.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous8:33 PM

      Yet there you are, posting during the work day.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous4:24 PM

      Own my own tax paying business slick, that employs 13 peeps -- 12 more than solar boy

      Delete
    3. Anonymous8:59 PM

      So you understand how people can post comments and still work, dipshit. What was your point again?

      Delete
    4. Anonymous9:30 PM

      I'm not being paid by the taxpayer. Dipshit? Why resort to name calling?

      Delete
  18. Anonymous4:53 PM

    Harry works?

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous5:03 PM

    I'm smart. I can do things - Fredo Tutunjian

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous8:23 PM

      Green is a good color for you.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous8:27 PM

      Fredo Tutunjian is priceless!

      Delete
    3. Anonymous9:22 PM

      As is Friedo McRat!!! U dont spells vary good

      Delete
  20. Anonymous7:16 PM

    Plus, he's the designated choice to play "Corky" in the reboot of "Life Goes On".
    ....Wolf T. Flywheel

    ReplyDelete
  21. Anonymous7:52 PM

    Flywheel, no one plays "Corky" like Peter Ryan, no one.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Anonymous9:42 PM

    Congratulations, Polloi! The "Corky" comment is a new low!

    C'mon, fellas. Surely somebody can come up with an insult more offensive, right? Because that's what it's all about, grown men anonymously firing sixth grade insults at the perceived "enemy" while the "Troy" in Troy Polloi is one or two unforeseen financial expenditures away from becoming Detroit on the Hudson.

    God help us.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous1:33 PM

      They're at least 12th grade insults. That's what she said anyway.

      Delete
  23. Anonymous11:14 PM

    ...and praise Jeebus!
    ....Atrippa Kellum

    ReplyDelete
  24. Anonymous6:12 AM

    How low can you be personally when you think you need to use Amy,Cox,Cooper,Lou and that rat bastard McRat to make a point. Sounds to me like Tom Wade did something to this person.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Anonymous11:09 PM

      What good does bringing up Amy, Cox, Cooper, Lou or Kevin do? Last I checked none of them are in office or running for office, none of them have teet jobs and none of them have made anywhere near the enemies Harry and company have in the city.

      Delete
  25. This whole double dipping issue is silly! If you worked long enough and are entitled to a pension, you take it!!!! Why wouldn't you? This is people just looking for a reason to botch and moan!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous4:36 PM

      One less thing that you'll ever have to worry about. Life is good. And I botch vary well thank you.

      Delete
  26. Anonymous8:24 AM

    It's clear there are 5 or 6!commentors here. Going back to McCashen.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous2:21 PM

      Yea right. You read this obsessively every day and it drives you nuts.

      Delete
  27. I agree the double-dipping issue can be misleading. There are a number of highly-qualified people who can certainly serve in govt positions. The issue here is consistency. If I read Demo's post correctly, Carmella really did not make it clear whether she was talking about the city in general or simply the Mayor's office. I think 9.42 nailed it when he pointed out this is hardly a major issue given our current status.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Anonymous4:17 PM

    Fuck the double dipping. Peter Fuckin Ryan is being paid $95,000.00 at the state. I just heard it on the radio. That man failed at his job was partially responsible for Lou running to retirement left the city of Troy in a mess and he gets a golden parachute. That silly bastard should be parking cars or feeding the porpoises at Frear Park but no. Tom Wade gets him a $95,000.00 a year job at the state. Unbelievable utterly ridiculous.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous9:38 PM

      I think the question that needs to be asked here, is will Pete still play at the Augusta like atmosphere on the Frear Park greens? At least the pencil crisis will be averted at the DOT.#2's for everyone.

      Delete
  29. Anonymous9:19 PM

    And all tut got was a part timer-- what's that all about?

    ReplyDelete
  30. Anonymous11:34 PM

    Hey, I hit a new low, excellent! 6th grade level insult? Cool, now I can run with the horses...and their ilk Ain't I a stinker?...Flywheel

    ReplyDelete