On the last day of the Republican-controlled council, December 30, 2025, a special meeting was called to authorize a $6 million bond for Frear Park improvements. Legislation had gone out the day before. No detailed site plans were presented. The Democrats who would take over three days later were not consulted.
The vote was 5-2. Four Republicans voted yes. So did Council Member Katie Spain-McLaren, a Democrat. Council President Sue Steele voted no.
“I would like more time,” Steele said. “I don’t feel that they have given us enough time to make an informed decision.”
Spain-McLaren said afterward: “I was comfortable with my decision and I guess I’m just hoping that I don’t regret it even though it’s certainly going to anger a lot of people.”
What the Bond Covers
The $6 million authorization was intended for two playground upgrades, including one accessible to children with disabilities, expanded parking, and a new restaurant to replace the closed Park Pub. The total project cost was estimated at $7 to $9 million. The city had already spent $700,000 in ARPA funds on a pro shop, kitchen trailer, and tent restaurant before this vote.
When asked at the meeting how much the city would actually borrow, Carmella said: “I’m not going to take a guess, but less. I’ll say less than six mil.”
The bond market was to happen in January. Groundbreaking was targeted for May.
No Plans on File
Resident Jessica Bennett called the city clerk at 3:00 PM on the day of the vote and was told no project plans were on file. State law requires SEQR documents to be available 24 hours before a vote. She had a recording of the call.
Bennett also raised whether the project had been properly classified under state environmental review law. Given the large acreage involved, it may have qualified as a Type 1 action requiring a full environmental impact review, rather than the lighter “unlisted action” treatment it received.
At the January 8, 2026 public forum, Ria Dale, a Frear Park resident and president of the Troy Public Library board, told the new council that park residents had never asked for a pavilion. They had asked for playground equipment.
The $3 Million Dispute
Bond anticipation notes were executed on January 15, 2026, five days before the new Democratic council publicly announced it had reached an agreement to use only $3 million of the $6 million authorization. Carmella disputed their claim of credit. She argued the city was only ever going to borrow $3 million, that authorization and borrowing are two different things, and that the bond anticipation notes were already executed before the Democrats could act.
The new council said it had secured more time for public input and reduced taxpayer exposure. Carmella called their statements “false and misleading” and warned they could damage the city’s credit rating.
What the Community Asked For
At the March 19, 2026 General Services Committee meeting, the Administration presented updated scope details: the restaurant and concession project would run approximately $5 million, with $3 million bonded and $819,706 in remaining ARPA funds. Community input sessions were planned for late April on playgrounds and mid-May on the restaurant.
When Trojans had been asking for playground equipment, the answer they got was a $6 million bond authorized on short notice, with no plans, by a council that had three days left in office.
Partisan angle: Carmella characterized the December 30 vote as bipartisan because a Democrat crossed the aisle. The two Democrats who voted no, including the incoming council president, were the ones who would be responsible for it. The Administration spent the following weeks accusing the new council of making “false and misleading statements” for trying to walk back a $6 million commitment they had no role in making.
Sources: Troy City Council Finance and Special Meeting, December 30, 2025 (clerk’s minutes IDs 1760, 1761); Yahoo News; Spectrum News, January 21, 2026; Mayor Mantello press release; Troy City Council Regular Meeting, January 8, 2026 (transcript)