Model Meeting Story

For those of you who covered the Albany Common Council meeting April 21, here is the Albany Times-Union story against which you can compare your work.

Please note that first names are used, possessives and plurals are correct, questions about background are filled in. My one criticism is that the article does not explain what the Department of General Services actually does, as the name does not make it clear.

COUNCIL APPROVES JENNINGS NOMINEE

By Tim O'Brien

ALBANY -- The Common Council approved Mayor Jerry Jennings' pick to lead the Department of General Services Monday despite concerns over some employees trading trash for cash.

Nick D'Antonio won appointment to the $94,448-a-year job by a vote of 31-1. D'Antonio has been second in command at the department for about five years.

Some departmental employees and council members lauded the nominee for improving service and responding quickly to concerns. Others raised concerns about allegations in 2006 that D'Antonio cursed at former employee Roy Charland after he revealed workers were selling scrap metal for cash.

"In the last five years that Nick D'Antonio has come down to the department, new ideas he brought with him have energized the department," said Roy Bargallo, deputy chief supervisor.

Earl Filkins, president of AFSCME Local 1961, agreed.

"He did straighten out a lot of problems we had down there," he said. "He's done a great job."

Resident Elise Van Allen cited 2006 stories in the Times Union about the sale of discarded appliances for cash revealed by City Comptroller Tom Nitido. At the time, Charland said D'Antonio reminded him that his brother and son still worked for the department.

"Under the eyes of Nick D'Antonio, the citizens of Albany were defrauded," she said.

Council member Michael O'Brien said Nitido's report found no illegality. D'Antonio has said the funds were used for office parties.

"Commissioner Nitido said in his report use of the funds would have been permitted if carried out under the city's purchasing system" O'Brien said. "He also said he round no evidence of systemic fraud."

The report was referred to the district attorney's office. Councilman Corey Ellis said the district attorney's office would not say if the case is resolved so he was not comfortable voting for or against D'Antonio.

Councilman Dominick Calsolaro, the sole "no" vote, praised the 14-year city employee as responsive but said he was concerned he did not have an engineering degree or other more advanced degree.