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Eric Weller, the current chair of the SSHA’s Board of Commissioners, addressed the council on a number of issues, including salaries paid to the authority’s executive director and other employees, which the council says ballooned to excessive heights without seeking their permission.
Commissioner of Finance Michele Madigan asked Weller about a recent report by the Saratoga County Economic Opportunity Council that there could be another possible “infestation.” Weller responded that the word “infestation” shouldn’t be used so freely, as it suggests the problem could be much worse than it actually is.
Madigan continued by asking how Weller and the housing authority were handling the issue, adding that code enforcement would be looking to the matter. According to Weller, the current process involves first killing the bugs before cleaning up their remains, but added that the problem is incredibly difficult to contain, given the quickness that bed bugs can spread.
The topic of reforming the city’s charter was once again brought up during the meeting, with the official ballot language regarding the potential change in city government officially voted on and approved by the council. The ballot initiative was started by the local organization Saratoga Citizen over two years ago, and after hundreds of signatures and weeks of political wrangling, eventually got their wish.
The group hopes to change the current form of Saratoga Springs government from the current commission-mayor form to a manager-council form. If the initiative passes, Saratoga Springs will hire a city manager to run all departments such as finance, public works and public safety. This would effectively eliminate the need for specific professionals on the council such as lawyers and accountants, and allow more interested candidates to run.
Two full copies of the changes to the city charter will be on display at all Saratoga Springs voting locations come Election Day, November 6. The League of Women voters will be holding a forum on the charter change October 25, where members of both Saratoga Citizen and the group formed in support of the current form of government, SUCCESS, will be on hand.
