The Charter Violation
Troy City Charter § C-36 is direct: “The Mayor may designate a qualified person to serve in a temporary capacity in any appointive office, but no such position shall be filled in a temporary capacity for more than 90 days.”
Richard “Rick” T. Morrissey has served as Acting Corporation Counsel since at least December 2024. As of June 2026, that is at minimum 18 months in a temporary capacity, roughly six times longer than the charter allows. He has never been confirmed by the city council. No formal nomination has been submitted. The position has not been posted or advertised.
The person responsible for the city’s legal compliance is himself operating in violation of the city’s foundational legal document. This provision does not appear to have been raised before the city council.
Background
Before becoming Acting Corporation Counsel, Morrissey served as Deputy Corporation Counsel under confirmed Corporation Counsel Dana Salazar. The February 22, 2024 council meeting noted that “Rick Morrissey would remain through the transition” as Salazar took over the role. That arrangement placed him second in the office, below a confirmed attorney, for the duration of Salazar’s tenure. When Salazar left mid-to-late 2024, Morrissey stepped back into the lead role, this time as Acting Corporation Counsel, without a confirmation hearing.
Morrissey is a private attorney in solo practice at 64 Second Street in Troy. He attended the University at Albany. He was admitted to the bar in Massachusetts in 1992 and New York in 1995. His Massachusetts bar registration is now listed as retired. His New York license is active with no disciplinary history on record. His practice covers municipal law, litigation, real estate, and contract disputes.
The last confirmed Corporation Counsel was Dana Salazar, who was approved by unanimous city council vote on February 22, 2024, and stated at her confirmation that she would prioritize FOIL requests. Salazar was still active in the role as of June 2024. She departed mid-to-late 2024 and later announced a run for New York State Supreme Court.
Morrissey returned to the city’s legal function by December 2024 at the latest, this time without a council confirmation hearing, without a formal appointment, and under the title “Acting.” Under § C-36, the clock started. It expired 90 days later. He is still there.
What the Role Requires
Corporation Counsel is the city’s chief legal officer: responsible for all municipal litigation, advising departments on contract and labor law, overseeing legal compliance across city operations, and managing the city’s active legal matters across departments. The position requires council confirmation.
The Record in the Role
At the April 23, 2026 city council law committee meeting, Deputy Mayor Donnelly acknowledged the city’s legal office runs on one attorney: “Please go find me another attorney that wants to come here for $90,000 a year.” He called it “a problem we want to solve.” It has not been solved.
At the same meeting, Morrissey testified he could not recall the last time he received any training on Freedom of Information Law. He is the person who trained Communications Director Alex Horton on which FOIL exemptions apply to which requests. When residents appeal a FOIL denial, the appeal goes to Morrissey, the same attorney who oversaw the original response.
CSEA union representatives testified at the same meeting that they had been unable to reach Morrissey for months on basic labor relations matters. His answer, relayed by Donnelly: he works twelve-hour days.
The Record in Appeals
On January 22, 2026, at a Public Safety Committee meeting, a resident raised unanswered FOIL appeals. Morrissey acknowledged falling behind on them during an illness. Council President Steele pressed on delays lasting “months and months.” Morrissey said some appeals reflected genuine disputes over scope. The committee asked for improved responsiveness.
The person responsible for reviewing FOIL appeals is the same person who fell behind on them. Appeals for denied records go to Morrissey. There is no one else to appeal to.
The Appointment That Never Happened
The Troy City Charter requires council confirmation for the Corporation Counsel. Dana Salazar went through a confirmation hearing. Morrissey has not. Under § C-36, the administration had 90 days to either formally nominate him for confirmation or find someone else. It did neither.
Troy’s acting chief legal officer has been operating outside the bounds of Troy’s own law for more than a year.
Sources: Troy City Charter § C-36; Troy City Council Law Committee and Finance Meeting, April 23, 2026 (transcript); Troy City Council Law Committee, Capital Plan, and Budget Hearings, October 21, 2025 (transcript); Troy City Council Committee Night and Finance Meeting, January 22, 2026 (transcript); Troy City Council Regular Meeting, February 22, 2024 (Salazar confirmation); Martindale.com — Morrissey profile; Avvo — Morrissey profile