McDermott lost her position as Deputy Director of Human Resources at Rensselaer County after a falling out with the County Executive. Before Carmella created a city role for her, her employment included gig work and delivery service. The position of Deputy Director of Operations did not exist before McDermott needed one. It was created at $80,000 a year with no job description, no open application, and no council confirmation. A public commenter at the June 4, 2026 council meeting: “$80,000 of taxpayers money to pay someone to be the mayor’s friend.”
Outside her city role, McDermott runs the Troy Republican Committee’s social media page. Public testimony confirmed she has posted content described as queerphobic and transphobic, intentionally misgendered a community member who testified before the council, and encouraged others to post with hate. A second resident testified she used private customer delivery information to make mean-spirited social media posts.
Before Carmella created a position for her, McDermott testified against the council’s human rights and due process resolution addressing ICE activity in Troy. The resolution failed 3-4. Carmella hired her the following year.
McDermott is the cousin of Deputy Mayor Seamus Donnelly and Maria DeBonis, who served as City Clerk in Carmella’s first year. All three were placed in city roles through Carmella’s direction. All three spoke publicly in favor of the Proctor’s Theatre city hall relocation: the same deal Donnelly was managing through the LDC.
Sources: Troy City Council Regular Meeting, June 4, 2026 (public comment transcript); Troy City Council Finance Meeting, September 18, 2025 (transcript); WAMC — cousin relationship confirmed