L-R: Rea, Brown, Noble
KINGSTON – The City of Kingston’s new mayor, Steven Noble, is making good on several campaign promises, announcing several changes and citywide initiatives at City Hall on Wednesday.
Former Fire Chief Christopher Rea, suspended four years ago during the start of the previous Shayne Gallo administration, and officially fired last year, will be reinstated as an assistant chief, with a salary just under $74,000. The position, eliminated from the budget under Gallo, is restored by upgrading a vacant captain’s salary line.
“I felt it was the right thing to do,” Noble explained, adding that negotiations are continuing regarding Rea’s back pay, with Albany civil service lawyer Ronald Dunn. The back pay matter was under pending appeal during Gallo’s term, but is now rendered moot.
“This is only step one, to being made whole,” Rea said, calling it the first positive step in four years. “It’s been close to financial bankruptcy for my family,” he said, adding that he looks forward towards rejoining the city fire department, where he previously served 26 years. The job is expected to start February 1.
Big changes are occurring in the Office of Economic Development and Strategic Planning, with the resignation of director Gregg Swanzey last Friday.
Swanzey will be replaced by Brenna Robinson, current director of the city’s Community Development Office, Noble said, with the two offices merging into a combined Office of Economic and Community Development. Swanzey’s former administrative assistant, Lisa Bruck, becomes the new clerk in that department. The mayor said the city will be conducting an open hire for the city grants manager position. “Really in essence, economic development is community building,” Noble said.
The mayor also announced a proposal to create a new position for director of communications and community engagement. The job includes working with local tourism.
“I think it is critical to communicate much better and more effectively with our residents, and I believe this proposal will do that for all of us,” Noble said.
A part-time environmental educator position will be created to help fill the role in which Mayor Noble used to serve before his election. Gallo had eliminated the job from his final budget, sparking an unsuccessful battle on the floor of the common council last December.
Aldermen left $131,000 in the contingency fund to allow the new mayor to “think outside the box,” and provide wiggle room in the tight budget to restore some of the positions which fell under the axe.
Noble said his proposals, which must clear the Finance Committee, then the entire Common Council, cost only $108,000. The $22,000 leftover adds money to the remaining contingency fund, which would leave a balance of $420,000.
