Cohoes: Young Reporter's Dream Beat

Nothing tops the old Albany city Democratic machine for dirty politics and intrigue. William Kennedy has won a Pulitzer using Albany's colorful history as his literary backdrop. But for a young reporter like I was in 1990, the mini-machine of Cohoes Democratic party proved it was out to earn the silver medal to Albany's gold.

In 1990, I uncovered a series of baffling purchases by the Cohoes public safety division. The old ruling regime, led by former Mayor Ron Canestrari, was being challenged by new-comer/mayor Bobby Signoracci, whose minions were eager to help me uncover old, serious auditing flaws.

I wrote about how Cohoes city funds were used to buy a "Ghostbusters" video ... and much, much more!

Here is the story that prompted a month-long investigation:

Section: MAIN
Page: A1
Date: FRIDAY, February 16, 1990

COHOES PULLS PLUG AFTER GEAR VANISHES

By Laura Vecsey Staff writer

How could buying "Ghostbusters" software for personal computers and a "Voyage to the Planets" videotape help the Cohoes Civil Defense Department in its disaster-relief duties? The city administration will try to figure out the answer to that question and several more following a lengthy audit of the department's purchase of more than $100,000 in electronic equipment over the past five years. A lot of that equipment cannot be accounted for.

Missing are about 140 police scanners and antennas, as well as several cellular telephones. Also gone are two personal computers, which were supposed to be used to keep track of inventory.

Civil Defense Director Ned Guyer said whatever is not accounted for has been lost. "They (civil defense volunteers) would go to a fire or a drowning, they would lose things," he said.

While awaiting answers on the missing equipment, Mayor Robert Signoracci has shut off telephone service at the Civil Defense Department's Central Avenue office, taken back a city-owned car used by various volunteers and stripped the unit of its $30,000 budget.

Comptroller Edward Fennell, who conducted the civil defense audit as part of Signoracci's request to inventory everything the city owns, said the $30,000 appropriation was no longer justifiable "because it would appear as a result of the audit that they have more than enough inventory."

The Civil Defense Department, a volunteer group charged of late with crowd control at fires and directing traffic during church bazaars, has been a hindrance to the city's firefighters and police officers, according to union representatives from both of those departments.

"They are overequipped," said Cohoes Police Benevolent Association President Bill Heslin. "And in the opinion of the police officers, they served no legitimate purpose."

Cohoes Firefighters Union President Dave Kehn said the civil defense volunteers have been a financial liability to city taxpayers and a safety liability to firefighters.

"There was a drowning; they have a boat; they didn't show up," Kehn said. "There was a fire at a church and we needed them, they never came. They're unreliable, undependable. It's on the record. There's no secret about it."

"They had a lot of equipment," Kehn said. "But it has disappeared over the years and whoever is in charge I hope they can account for it. I'd be interested in seeing all that equipment."

Guyer, who noted his role was administrative, said he allowed his assistant, Ken Coliss, to take charge of all purchasing. Guyer said Coliss assured him that equipment was accounted for. "Ken and the fire chief did an inventory and found everything in order, at least that's what he told me" he said. Coliss was reported to be in the hospital and unavailable for comment.

According to the Civil Defense Department audit, the city can lay its hands on only about 60 of the 202 scanners and antennas purchased between 1985 and 1989. The scanners cost an average of $350.

In addition, an examination by The Times Union of claims paid by the city for civil defense purchases in 1989 revealed the department bought a personal computer and printers, subscriptions to computer magazines, a stereo tuner and a videocassette player.

City Treasurer Steve Niedbalec, the former city comptroller, said he did not recall the department's purchase of a personal computer. Guyer said Coliss bought two computers "to keep track of inventory." However, Coliss did not include the computers on the list of inventory he submitted to Fennell.

Niedbalec said he was told by Coliss that the VCR was needed to watch disaster-preparedness training films. Last June, the city paid $24.95 for a videotape entitled "Voyage to the Planets."

In addition, computer software programs called "Ghostbusters," "TV Gameshows" and "World of Golf" were ordered, along with a joystick, and were delivered to Coliss last fall. He apparently mailed back these items shortly before Fennell asked for the inventory list. Niedbalec said he never conducted an inventory of the equipment and signed off on payments because the money had been appropriated.

Signoracci said he will meet Saturday with Guyer to discuss the inventory and plan the department's reorganization.

"We can't point fingers unless we have an explanation first," Signoracci said. "I'd like to meet with the director. We'll take every step to get this stuff back."