Troy Mayor Carmella Mantello speaks recently at Canal Park in Troy. Mantello wants Planning Commissioner members of her own choosing; other mayors have done it.

TROY — In 2004, the city of Troy had a Planning Commission. That year, then mayor Harry Tutunjian disbanded the commission and made it a board with members he chose.

Eight years later, a new mayor, Democrat Lou Rosamilia, replaced that Planning Board with a Planning Commission of his picking. Now, the city's current mayor, Republican Carmella Mantello, is replacing the Planning Commission with a Planning Board.

Around and around we go, raising a question: What's the difference between a Planning Commission and a Planning Board?

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Answer: It's a distinction without a meaningful difference. The change is just a way for mayors of one political party to dump members appointed by mayors of the other party, replacing them with people they prefer. At this point, it's akin to a tradition.

"It's Troy and it's politics," said City Council President Sue Steele. "That's all it is."

Steele and other council Democrats oppose Mantello's move, which has sparked anger. But since they're outnumbered, there's nothing they can do to stop it.

The council's Republican majority, putting the........

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