Utica Resident collapses and dies at council meeting

It was an ordinary Wednesday evening at the Utica City Council Meeting. Residents are allowed to speak and voice their concerns regarding the City. At the podium was a gentleman well known to the audience and council as Jack his real name is John Hallinan. John was addressing to council suggesting the city try to get federal economic stimulus funds to replace damaged and missing street signs. As John was about to address another "pet peeve" something was not right.
John then started to speak but collapsed shortly before getting to say what it was.
In the audience attending the evenings meeting was Utica Fire Chief Russell Brooks.
As he performed CPR on John, with the Rev. Richard Dellos standing over them.
John's breathing and heart then stopped, Brooks said.When emergency responders from Utica’s ambulance service arrived, they used a defibrillator on John before putting him on a stretcher and taking him to a local hospital. He later died, Brooks said.
The meeting was canceled for the rest of the evening and a prayer group formed and prayed for Mr. Hallinan

Utica continues to spend even in todays climate of depression causing taxes to go up up and up....

City of Utica NY continues its practice of spending even when we are forced to count every nickle and penny. When is Mayor Roefaro going to stop his tax and spend routine. This City is raising taxes faster than any other City of its size and maybe even larger Cities don't tax as much as this Mayor has done in his last two years in office. Residents and councilmen alike are concerned they want the City to be fiscally responsible. Mayor Roefaro acknowledged that spending continues to increase. With the declining economy, it’s difficult to juggle rising costs and other mandates, he said.
If the City would take example from Rome,NY or other NY Cities that make a budget and stick to them then we might see city leaders who must be cautious to not spend past their means.
After all a budget is a budget would you say not?