First general services head chosen
Wojton worked in county executive’s office for 12 years
TROY, N.Y. » Less than a week after funding was finally affirmed with passage of a balanced 2018 city budget, Mayor Patrick Madden has appointed the city’s firstever commissioner of general services.
More than 18 months after the position was added to the City Charter among a package of changes approved by voters in November, Madden announced Thursday the appointment of Charles Z. Wojton to fill the $85,000-a-year position.
“Charles possesses the knowledge and experience required to tackle the challenges of delivering signature city services to the residents of our community,” Madden said in a news release announcing the appointment. “I know he will serve our city well in his new position.”
Wojton comes from the Rensselaer County Executive’s Office, where he worked under Madden’s sister, recently retired county executive Kathleen Jimino, for 12 years. According to the mayor,
Wojton served at different times as the county’s director of buildings, director of purchasing and director of special traffic operations. He started his career in county government in the Rensselaer County District Attorney’s Office, where he held several administrative positions before being chosen as the county’s StopDWI coordinator.
He remains a member of the Urban Area Working Group, the Rensselaer County Health Preparedness Committee and the state Association of Municipal Purchasing Officers and previously chaired the Rensselaer County Traffic Safety Board.
“I extend my thanks to Mayor Madden for appointing me to this important role,” said Wojton, who holds a bachelor’s degree in public administration from Empire State College, “and look forward to working with him and his administration to best serve the residents, families and businesses of Troy.”
Council President Carmella Mantello said Thursday she knew little of Wojton or his qualifications but said he will be thoroughly vetted during the council’s confirmation process.
“I have not received a resume or any other information other than the press release from the mayor’s office,” Mantello said. “I am most interested in hearing what experience Mr. Woj- ton has with management with public works in the city, including recreation and code enforcement.”
Mantello also pointed out that Wojton will be the person responsible for implementing the new $160 solid waste fee also included in the new budget, as well as preparing the accompanying solid waste management plan promised by the mayor when he proposed the fee.
Though the commissioner of general services position was established officially on July 1, 2016, Madden and the council chose not to fill the position until this year because of fiscal problems that led to a 14.5 percent tax hike in the 2017 budget and implementation of the solid waste fee in lieu of a similar tax hike this year. However, Madden argued the position was needed to oversee the city’s Public Works, Parks and Recreation and Public Utilities departments and included funding in the 2018 plan.