Comptroller position still causing friction in Troy

The process of filling the comptroller position in Troy is still causing friction between Democratic City Council President Sue Steele and Republican Mayor Carmella Mantello.

Mantello has nominated Dylan Spring to be the new comptroller. Spring has served as chief financial manager for the Department of General Services in Albany for the last three years, according to a news release announcing his hiring.

However, Steele said on Thursday that the council has not been presented with his resume yet, so they are not familiar with his qualifications.

The city has scheduled a confirmation hearing for Feb. 22 at 5 p.m.

“We’ll be questioning him at that time. It’s a very important position, and it certainly deserves scrutiny,” she said.

The comptroller would oversee the city’s $105 million budget.

Steele said she found out about Spring’s hiring through the press release. She said she has requested his resume numerous times but has not yet received it. 

The city’s previous comptroller left in December for another position, according to Steele.

Steele had previously criticized Mantello for declaring an emergency to hire an outside auditing firm to do the end-of-year accounting as the city sought a new comptroller.

“As a council, we would have been more than willing to cooperate and hold a meeting, and it would be a much more transparent process than to declare an emergency,” Steele said.

Mantello declined a request for an interview by NewsChannel 13. She issued a statement defending the process.

“The process of finding a Comptroller has been handled the same as any other Mayoral appointment. The City Council will be presented with the candidates’ credentials, including the appropriate resume, for next Thursday’s City Council meetings which has always been the practice in the past as per the City Charter,” she said.

Spring began work on Monday and is serving as acting comptroller pending confirmation. His other experience includes working at the New York State Comptroller’s Office in supervising and auditing roles. Spring is a native of East Greenbush and graduated Columbia High School. He graduated from Sage College with a degree in business administration.
“Dylan brings a tremendous amount of experience in the financial and budgeting community, and we are thrilled that he has joined our team. I look forward to working with him to keep the City of Troy on strong financial ground,” Mantello said in the statement announcing his hiring.