The Troy City Council voted 7-0 to override Carmella’s veto of Resolution 72, which scheduled public hearings on proposed Local Law No. 4 of 2026. The proposed law would repeal and replace §C-40, redefining the mayor’s power to declare a state of emergency and bringing Troy’s charter in line with Article 2-B, Section 24 of New York State Executive Law.
Carmella did not veto the charter change. She vetoed the hearing.
The Flock Connection
Carmella’s opposition to §C-40 is not incidental. She declared a public safety emergency on April 1 to pay Flock ALPR after the City Council directed the city auditor to pause payments pending unresolved public concerns. The council and the auditor sued her in May over the declaration. The lawsuit has not been resolved.
Under New York State law, declared emergencies are limited to disasters: fires, floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, and other enumerated events. Under Troy’s current charter, the language is broader. §C-40 would close that gap.
The Mayor’s Position
Carmella said her veto was not against public comment but against the legislation itself.
“This particular local law, in my opinion, totally oversteps those boundaries, the legislative branch, (and) their legislative duties,” she said. “In case the City Council forgot, this is what I was elected to do — to run the day-to-day, 24/7. It’s not just me that this local law will impact. This will impact the present mayor and future mayors.”
Communications Director Alex Horton explained the Administration’s reasoning.
“To get to the base of the mayor’s decision to actually veto this is because of that overstep,” Horton said. “We just feel it oversteps so far that we can’t support a public hearing on something that oversteps that far.”
The Override
Council President Sue Steele did not mince words on the floor.
“Totally cannot fathom how anyone would veto a public hearing that would allow the public to have their say,” she said. “You may disagree with the subject matter, but we’re following the law and we are having a public hearing. To silence the public is not a good look.”
Steele added in a Facebook post after the vote: “I’m proud of the council voting to schedule the hearings and hear from the public.”
Public Comment
Resident Frankie Reynolds thanked the council for the override.
“It’s certainly disappointing that the mayor has chosen to waste time blocking public comment on something so straightforward as the definition of an emergency,” Reynolds said. “It raises serious concerns for me when a public servant like the mayor officially rejects the opportunity to hear from the public, from the residents they are paid to serve.”
Resident Frances Sweet agreed.
“The fact that it would curtail some of the mayor’s more extravagant emergencies, I think, is a good thing,” she said.
Partisan angle: Carmella said her veto was not about blocking public comment. Her Communications Director said the Administration cannot support a public hearing on legislation it opposes. The council overrode her unanimously. Troy will get its hearing.
Sources: Troy Record, July 11, 2026; Troy City Council Finance and Regular Meeting, July 9, 2026 (YouTube, Finance Agenda, Regular Agenda, Finance Minutes, Regular Minutes)