Michael McNeff was Troy’s third comptroller in roughly 18 months. Before him came Jack Krokos, hired in January 2025 and gone by April. Before Krokos came Dylan Spring, hired in February 2024 and gone by July. Before all of them came a vacancy: Carmella started her term without a comptroller at all. The first time that had happened in 40 years. The revolving door cost Trojans more than $260,000 in outside accounting fees.
The Treasurer Who Kept the Books
While the comptroller seat turned over three times, Troy’s finances ran through Gabrielle Mahoney. Her permanent title: Chief Account Clerk. The Administration introduced her to the council as “City Treasurer/Chief Account Clerk.” By May 2025, she had been confirmed as temporary treasurer three times.
Why did she need confirming if confirmation was not required? The Environmental Facilities Corporation was withholding grant funds owed to Troy, including money for lead waterline replacement, because EFC’s legal counsel wanted documentation that the city’s chief fiscal officer was formally authorized. Corporation Counsel Morrissey called it a “comfort confirmation.”
Before the vote, Council Member Vera asked for a resume. Morrissey said he didn’t have one. “I don’t know if there is a resume at the present time.”
Mahoney was in the hallway during that exchange. A council member asked if she could come in and speak for herself. The answer was no.
The council voted 7-0 to confirm her.
The Vacancies Beyond the Comptroller
The comptroller’s office was not the only gap. By May 2025, the city also had no permanent DPU commissioner and no director of operations at the water plant. The water plant ran on a consulting contract with DCK Services, whose principal held the licenses required to operate it legally under state DOH and DEC requirements. A director of operations position had been posted at roughly $95,000. Nobody had been hired.
Three comptrollers. Eighteen months. No quarterly reports. And a water plant running on a consultant.
Sources: WAMC, WAMC comptroller history, Troy City Council Finance and Regular Meeting, May 1, 2025 (transcript); Troy City Council Finance Meeting, January 23, 2025 (transcript)