City Council Wrap-Up: Saratoga Springs Adopts Resolution Supporting Israel; Jury Verdict in Mount v. City
SARATOGA SPRINGS — City Council Meeting: Oct. 17. Mayor Ron Kim led a moment of silence for the nation of Israel and a remembrance of civilians lost and those being held hostage, and the council’s four-hour meeting concluded with the board’s unanimous approval of a resolution condemning “atrocities committed by the terrorists of Hamas,” and the “unqualified support of the State of Israel and the Israeli people.”
Tuesday night’s meeting marked the final official gathering of council members prior to the Nov. 7 election; all five council seats and both city supervisor positions are to be voted upon, and new two-year terms will begin January 2024.
Democrat mayor Ron Kim is running for re-election. Both challengers to the mayoral seat – Republican candidate John Safford and One Saratoga candidate Chris Mathiesen, as well as Supervisor candidate Michele Madigan (D, One Saratoga), and local Democratic Party Chairman Otis Maxell spoke during segments where public comment was allotted. City Republican Committee chairman Michael Brandi released a statement that said litigation was served on the City at the Council meeting, and that he had commenced court proceedings to compel the city to address two FOIL (Freedom of Information Law) requests he is accusing the city of ignoring.
Welcome to Saratoga Springs
City Supervisor Matt Veitch offered a presentation showcasing new signage anticipated to be placed at entry and exit points in and out of Saratoga Springs in the near future.
“When you travel out of the city of Saratoga Springs you always see a sign welcome to the next town – welcome to Wilton, welcome to Greenfield – and it’s always bothered me as a native Saratogian that we don’t do the same thing on our side,” Veitch told the council.
The welcome signs that do exist display a variety of styles, fonts and sizes, Veitch pointed out. The new signs – large ones at major thoroughfares such as the exit 14, exit 15, and Route 9 entrances to the city, smaller ones to be placed on the more rural entry and exit points, will have more uniformity and consistency in style. The front side will feature a welcome for people coming in to the city, and a “thank you for visiting” text will appear on the back.
Veitch said he worked with city DPW Commissioner Jason Golub, as well as the county Public Works department among others and that the county set aside funds for the signs to be created. The large signs will be put out for bid by the county, Veitch added.
Free Pop-Up Health & Wellness Clinic for the Creative Community
Finance Commissioner Dillon Moran announced a Free Pop-Up Health Clinic will take place 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 22 at Caffe Lena.
Services will Include: Vision Care Clinic Including Exams and Eyewear, Custom Molded Earplugs, Blood Pressure Screening, Dietician Consultation, HEPC/HIV Screening, Insurance Navigation, Cancer Screening Services
Saratoga Hospital volunteer medical professionals will provide testing, evaluation, health & wellness education, as well as assistance obtaining access to ongoing care during a one-day pop-up clinic, free to anyone in the creative community. This includes artists, musicians, designers, photographers, filmmakers, writers, and all others who work in a creative capacity.
The goal of this service is to enable individuals in the creative community who are uninsured or underinsured to access healthcare in a trusted environment so they can enjoy the best possible quality of life.
For more information, go to: caffelena.org/health-clinic/.
City Connections
Jen Dunn, of the city Planning Department, delivered a 15-minute presentation regarding the department’s Missing Links Sidewalk Program. Dunn defined “Missing Links” as stretches of city pathways where sidewalks lead nowhere and discussed the remedies to fill in those gaps.
Missing Links Program Brings 1.8 Miles of New Sidewalks to the City Saratoga Springs, New York, October 17, 2023 – Mayor Kim congratulates the Planning Department on the, which strives to fully connect downtown to more neighborhoods and places in Saratoga Springs.
Between 2022 and 2023, the project completed 1.8 miles of ADA compliant sidewalk segments and crosswalks within a one-mile radius of the City’s urban core. The majority of the project’s funding was provided by a $1.52 million grant through the 2019-2024 Federal Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). After reimbursements are received later this year and next, the ultimate cost to the city will be approximately $382,000.
Jury Verdict in Mount vs. The City of Saratoga Springs
A few hours prior to the start of the Oct. 17 meeting, the jury in Mount vs. The City of Saratoga Springs, after a two-week trial, ruled in favor of the city. During the council meeting, city Mayor Ron Kim spoke about the trial outcome, with slight variations to the commentary released to the press earlier in the day.
“Darryl Mount’s death 10 years ago was a tragedy. The loss of a young man and fellow Saratogian left a void in our community,” Mayor Kim said. “I’m glad a jury finally had the opportunity to weigh the evidence and reach a decision, and I am gratified the city will now not face further liability. It’s always been my view that because of the failure to conduct an investigation 10 years ago into the death of Darryl Mount, a jury trial was the only way for a final decision to be made. Jury trials are a foundation of our democracy, as much as voting is. Clearly, the jury deliberated, listened to the facts, listened to the adversarial proceeding and rendered a judgement. It is unfortunate that we had to wait 10 years for this decision.”
A resolution declaring the City of Saratoga Springs a Safe Haven for Trans Youth was tabled with the understanding it will be brought to the table for discussion and vote at the council’s next meeting on Nov. 8.
SOS to Open 10th Season of Code Blue on South Broadway
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Shelters of Saratoga has announced the 10th season of the Code Blue low-barrier winter homeless shelter – this year located at the former Grand Union Motel at 120 South Broadway – will open this month.
The Code Blue shelter was previously located 4 Adelphi St. That location is currently operated by RISE Housing and Support Services as a 24/7 year-round shelter, on a temporary basis. It houses approximately 30 beds. The city of Saratoga Springs is actively reviewing proposals recommended by the city’s homelessness task force in the hope of securing a long-term permanent shelter location.
The new Code Blue facility – which opens during the cold winter months - offers a nightly meal and semi-private accommodations critical for a healthy night of sleep.
“Code Blue is a life saving measure that protects people from harsh cold, snow, and ice common in our area, providing nightly respite and safety,” Duane Vaughn, Executive Director of Shelters of Saratoga, said in a statement.
In the 2022-23 season, the shelter provided 61 cots and served 271 adults. “Our Code Blue shelter was full almost every night. The new location increases our capacity by 23%, providing space for up to 75 people,” said Vaughn.
Code Blue is a state-mandated program administered by Saratoga County.
Code Blue was initiated after the tragic freezing death of Nancy Pitts in 2013. Shelters of Saratoga operates the program in collaboration with local human service agencies, state and local government, faith groups, volunteers, and businesses that support shelter operations and the nightly meal program. The shelter opens when the nightly temperature drops below 32 degrees, beginning in the fall and extending through early spring.
Shelter Needs: Nightly volunteers are needed from 5:30-7 p.m. to serve dinner to guests. Interested volunteers can sign up at sheltersofsaratoga.org.
For those interested in donating, the shelter is in need of the following items: Granola bars; Individually packaged snacks; Drink mix; Condiments; Peanut butter; Jelly; Stewart’s gift cards. Donations of goods will be accepted at 120 South Broadway, Saratoga Springs (center building) beginning in November.
For more information or to get involved, visit www.sheltersofsaratoga.org or contact Shelters of Saratoga directly at 518-581-1097 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Board Approves Contract to Produce New “Significantly Enhanced” Aerial Images Countywide
BALLSTON SPA — Recognizing the need to update its aerial images, the county board of supervisors approved an agreement at its monthly meeting on Oct. 17 to authorize a Rochester, NY based company to conduct a new countywide aerial imaging/GIS mapping program.
Last produced in 2019, those previous aerial photos are used by local municipal assessors and various county departments - the Office of Emergency Services, the Sheriff’s Department, the District Attorney’s Office, and Real Property Tax Services, among them.
The new captures will feature “significant enhancements in aerial image resolution and an improved delivery platform,” according to the county resolution.
The contract with Pictometry International Corp., a/k/a Eagleview Technologies Inc. is for a three-year term at a cost up to $225,000.
County Board Authorizes Settlement Agreement, Resolving Claims in 2017 Crash
BALLSTON SPA —At its monthly meeting Oct. 17, the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors approved authorizing terms of a settlement agreement to pay $40,000 to Deborah Papula in connection with a motor vehicle accident that occurred July 2017 on a county owned road.
Papula was a passenger in a vehicle driven by her husband, Peter Papula, when their car was involved in a two-car crash that occurred near the intersection of Lester Park Road and Middle Grove Road, according to a report published by The Saratogian in early August 2017. Peter Papula was taken to Saratoga Hospital where he later died from injuries suffered in the crash, and Deborah Papula was transferred to Albany Medical Center Hospital in critical condition, according to the report.
This week’s approved county resolution specifies that the Settlement Agreement resolves all claims in the aftermath of the crash – “litigation thereafter having been commenced against the County and other parties, a preliminary litigation having occurred, and legal proceedings having not yet concluded” – and resolves all claims without any admission of liability on the part of the County.
RISE Wins Bid to Operate Former Senior Center Building on Williams Street
SARATOGA SPRINGS — RISE Housing and Support Services has been awarded their bid to operate the 7,800 square-foot building on Williams Street that previously housed the Saratoga Senior Center.
Following the senior center’s relocation from 5 Williams St. and in the aftermath of thwarted plans to house a 24/7 year-round permanent homeless shelter on the site, the city – which owns the building - on Sept. 1 offered the building via a public bidding process to non-profits for a short-term lease.
As stipulated in the RFP, the term of the lease will be for 6 months and starts in November, with optional month-to-month leasing for up to an additional six months.
The winning bid by RISE was $500 per month.
The building will serve as temporary administration offices for the human services agency, as their own offices are currently under construction, and will not be used to shelter homeless people, the city said.
$60.5 Million Budget Proposed
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The city’s first presentation of the 2024 budget calls for a $60.5 million spending plan – a 6.2% increase over this year’s plan, and the inclusion of a 2.99% tax increase.
Finance Commissioner Minita Sanghvi revealed the $60.5 million 2024 Comprehensive Budget during a 40-minute presentation on Oct. 3, and set a tentative budget public workshop schedule through the month of October for all departments.
By rule, a budget needs to be approved by a majority of the five-member council by Nov. 30, or the $60.5 million plan presented Oct. 3 goes into effect for 2024.
Among the main issues impacting city finances, Sanghvi pointed to inflation - higher prices of everything from construction materials to health care costs; decisions made by previous administrations to not raise property taxes or conduct reassessments for more than a decade, and the number of new hires made by the current administration.
“We’ve not collected delinquent taxes for a decade,” Sanghvi said. “Ten years ago, the city’s real property tax revenue was $15.99 million, and the adopted budget was $40.44 million. In 2024, property tax revenue will be $17.6 million, and the comprehensive budget is $60.5 million.”
A proposed 2.99% tax increase will have the following impact on taxpayers: $3.32 per month higher for a home valued at $200,000 in the inner district, and $3.25 higher for the same house in the outer district. That monthly impact grows with the value of the home; for example, a home valued at $400,000 inner district would cost homeowners $6.64 more per month, etc.
In a Budget Call letter sent to commissioners on June 20, Commissioner Sanghvi recommended the total preliminary “requested” budget made by each department be similar to the “adopted” budget amount approved this year, or about $57 million. This year’s requests ultimately arrived with a $70 million tag. That amount was whittled down to the $60.5 million plan presented Oct. 3.
Personnel and benefits costs overall account for more than 80% of the spending plan. The city’s 2024 Comprehensive Budget includes no new hires.
Sales tax revenue is estimated at $19.5 million for the calendar year 2024, an increase of more than $2 million compared to this year’s plan.
The city has made 30 new hires over the past two years. “No more hiring until we find new revenues,” Sanghvi said. “There is a lot our administration has been working on these past two years and that’s where we needed to hire people - but we also have to figure out what we need to do to continue our growth in services along with new revenues.”
Those new revenue streams could potentially flow from collecting occupancy tax on short term rentals, cannabis sales tax, parking, reassessment, and community preservation funds. Additionally, the city council is working on collecting delinquent taxes amounting to more than $3 million, Sanghvi said.
Tentative schedule - departments have until October 6 to inform the Finance Department that they would like to reschedule the date of their meeting – are slated as follows:
Department of Public Safety 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 11); Department of Public Works, Recreation Department (11 a.m., Friday, Oct. 13); Accounts Department, Finance Department (9 a.m., Friday, Oct. 20); Mayor’s Department, Civil Service (11 a.m., Monday, Oct. 23); Summary of Amended Budget Workshop (5 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 25).
Public workshops for all departments regarding the 2024 budget will take place at City Hall through the month of October. Each will also include a brief public comment period. For an updated listing of times and dates, visit the city website at: Saratoga-springs.org.
SLOW DOWN: City to Explore Reduced Speed Limits
SARATOGA SPRINGS — City Mayor Ron Kim announced the city will begin to explore implementing a 25-mph speed limit in certain areas of the city.
“Research has shown that faster driving speeds correlate to more serious injuries and fatalities for pedestrians in the event of a crash,” the mayor told the council on Oct. 2.
The recommendation came from the city’s Complete Streets Advisory Board, citing the promotion of safety as a top priority and implementing a 25-mph speed limit within the city’s inner district. The recommendation, submitted to the city on Sept. 29 by CSAB Chair Ken Grey and Co-Chair Ted Orosz, specifically points to the area between West Ave and Henning Rd (east/west), Crescent Avenue and Route 50 (north/south) and west of route 50 to include Skidmore College.
“This initiative can be refined based on neighborhood analysis. Reduced speed limits will also assist changing behaviors, including the slowing of truck traffic on Broadway and doing our part to become a climate smart community,” the SCAB letter states, and references communities in Seattle, Washington; Denver, Colorado; Kennebunkport, Maine, and New York City as having implemented reductions in speed limits and achieving positive outcomes.
“In the Capital District the city of Albany and Town of East Greenbush are implementing these changes, and the Town of Malta is considering implementing them,” according to the CSAB. “We believe this is an important measure for enhancing the walkability, bike-ability and safety of Saratoga Springs.”
“The next step is we are going to retain an engineering study of our traffic and report back to the City Council,” Mayor Kim said Oct. 2 “We will have several Public Hearings where people can express their opinions (and) the hope is that in a few months we will be able to make a decision about this after public hearings and back-and-forth dialogue.”
Attempt to Rescind Resolution Acknowledging City’s History of Racism and Hate Fails
SARATOGA SPRINGS — On Oct. 3, Public Safety Commissioner Jim Montagnino brought forward a resolution for council consideration regarding the May 2 council adoption of a measure that acknowledges the city of Saratoga Springs “has supported and allowed racism and hate” during its history.
That initial resolution was approved by a 4-1 council vote, with Montagnino casting the lone vote against. In his asking for the resolution to be rescinded, Montagnino contended that such “unnecessary admissions of liability” may invite future litigation against the city.
The Oct. 3 resolution to rescind failed to receive a second motion to bring it to the council table for either discussion or vote, and the matter was concluded.
9-Year-Old Missing Girl Found Safe; Saratoga Man Charged with Kidnapping
SARATOGA COUNTY — Nine-year-old Charlotte Sena, who went missing Sept. 30 while on a bike ride in Moreau Lake State Park, was located safe and in good health by state police shortly after 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 2.
Craig N. Ross Jr., of Ballston Spa, was charged with kidnapping in the first degree, a felony, on the suspicion of abducting the girl. Ross, 46, was taken into custody, arraigned at Milton Town Court and sent to Saratoga County Correctional Facility without bail. Additional charges are anticipated.
The Oct. 2 arrest followed the issue of an AMBER alert on Oct. 1, and an investigative “search of multiple residences where (Ross) is known to reside,” authorities said.
“When you hit that 48-hour moment, you realize it’s going to be tough, and you start thinking the worst. But what happened was extraordinary,” NY Gov. Kathy Hochul said during a press conference following the arrest.
Timeline of arrest: at 4:20 a.m. Oct.2, a car pulled up to the Sena family home, which was being guarded by State Police, and a ransom note was left in the mailbox. Fingerprints on the letter were entered into the New York State database in search of a possible match.
“The hit came at 2:30 (Monday) afternoon. There had been a DWI in 1999 in the city of Saratoga (Springs),” Gov. Hochul said. “A fingerprint was found that matched what was found on the ransom note.”
Further research led police to a residence with a camper located behind it. Ross’ mother lives in the residence - described as a double wide house, and Ross lived in the camper.
“They have what they call a dynamic entry, a tactical maneuver, and within the camper, they located the suspect,” the governor said. “After some resistance, the suspect was taken into custody, and immediately the little girl was found in a cabinet, cupboard. She was rescued. And she knew she was being rescued. She knew that she was in safe hands.”
“Ultimately, it was the two SWAT teams, one federal and one state, that landed in helicopters in Ballston Spa to rescue Charlotte,” said Hochul, who thanked law enforcement officials, several fire departments, city, county, state and federal agencies, and some 400 volunteers for their diligence in the search for the girl.
New Development, Demolition Proposals
SARATOGA SPRINGS — New business presented to the city’s Zoning Board of Appeals this week include the seeking of an area variance to permit the construction of a mixed-use building at Station Lane, and another to permit the demolition and construction of a new single-family modular home on South Franklin Street.
Station Lane: at the northwest corner of West Avenue and Station Lane, the “West Ave Site Plan” project proposes the development of a four-story mixed-use building, with a footprint of approximately 23,500 square feet.
The first floor is proposed to house retail space, a restaurant, and nine apartments. The remaining three floors will provide 59 multi-family rental units. The basement level will provide 60 parking spaces.
At 72 South Franklin St., the applicants are seeking to remove the existing structure and build a new modular home on the property. New setbacks would be needed for the development of the new home.
