City Council Observes Passing of “Skip” Scirocco, Announces Plans for Filling Vacant DPW Post

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs City Council this week hosted its first meeting since the passing of longtime DPW Commissioner Anthony “Skip” Scirocco. An empty chair sat at the council table in Scirocco’s usual place. 

The council observed a moment of silence, adopted a resolution honoring Scirocco’s life and legacy of a near-quarter century of service to the city, and extended sympathies to his family.

A list of many of Scirocco’s accomplishments were recited, and the council moved to rename the historic Saratoga Music Hall as The Anthony J. Scirocco Music Hall. 

Democrat city Mayor Ron Kim remembered Republican Public Works Commissioner Scirocco on a personal level. 

“About a month after the election, my father passed. We had a wake and much to my surprise Commissioner Scirocco came. And it shouldn’t have surprised me because he’s that kind of good decent human being,” Kim said at the council table during the April 19 meeting. “We can talk about all the great things that Skip Scirocco did for the city, but where he really surpassed that was in being a decent, good human being. Certainly, we need that. And we will miss him.”    

Council Approves Search Committee to Assist in Current DPW Post Vacancy 

The council approved a resolution to create a five-member Commissioner of Department of Public Works advisory Search Committee, tasked with interviewing candidates for the temporary appointment to the vacant DPW post. The Committee will ultimately make a non-binding recommendation to the Council of the person deemed as best qualified for the appointment. 

The five members of that ad hoc Search Committee, appointed this week by members of the city council, are: John Franck, Kristen Dart, Barbara Thomas, Timothy Holmes, and Alexis Brown. 

Those believed to have expressed interested in the post to date are: Jason Golub, Anthony Scirocco, Jr., Billy McTygue, and Robert Bullock. 

Overall, the term of office lasts through the end of 2023. As per City Charter rules, any appointment to the post made by the council will remain in effect through the 2022 calendar year. 

A Special Election – anticipated to take place this coming November – will determine who will serve the post for the 2023 calendar year.