The topic of the day during the public comment period was the proposed sale of water to subdivisions in the Town of Wilton. Former city attorney Peter Tulin asked if the loose wording of the contract suggests that there could be a “stealth” project to develop more of that particular area in Wilton.
Former Director of Public Works, Bill McTygue, echoed those sentiments, warning of a possible shortage in water during the hot summer months should the city continue to sell water to other municipalities. Other commenters said that there should be a complete explanation of the sale provided by Public Works and should make more efforts towards transparency.
Members from the East Side Public Safety Committee represented by Nancy Goldberg returned to the council chambers to deliver copies of a petition signed by over 430 people on the eastern ridge of the city who continue their efforts toward building an emergency response facility closer to their side of the city. Goldberg cited the city’s own statement that it takes between nine and 21 minutes for emergency vehicles to arrive when called.
“We feel it is past time for the city to take action to protect its citizens,” said Goldberg. “We respectfully request that the council immediately take all and any measures possible to purchase land and construct a station. Since we’re in the budget period, we have to say that we feel it is past time that the safety of our community takes precedent over parking garages, beaches and trails.”
Goldberg did include that parking garages, beaches and trails were all “very nice” but that they need to know their well-being is protected. She added that the East Side Safety committee is willing to go to 1,000 signatures if it is necessary to do so.
National Grid sent representatives to make a presentation regarding winter time tree line clearance in the city, opening their PowerPoint slide show with the image of a wire igniting against the branch of a tree. They went over the procedures they use when pruning branches to avoid issues during the winter, adding that they do what they can to avoid ruining trees in the process, but indicated their first priority is safety.
One member of the council joked that it must be “National Grid night” during the meeting, as the electric provider was the subject of another issue regarding a lease with the city for a parcel of land near the Weibel Avenue Ice Rink. The city had a lease agreement with National Grid that expired in 2009 and has not negotiated another since.
Advocate group Saratoga Citizen took issue with the lack of a lease agreement, stating that the city could have been costing the city upward of $80,000. The group’s outspoken leader Patrick Kane estimates that the “lost opportunity” could have cost the city a grand total of $300,000 in rent from the electric company.
Mayor Johnson took a moment to address that claim, though did not refer to Saratoga Citizen by name. He dismissed the claims as “a bunch of malarkey,” and “propaganda.” He added that the contract recoups from the years spent without a lease.
Speaking of Saratoga Citizen, their efforts to change the city’s form of government from mayor-commission to one where a city manager runs all departments, has a home on the back of the ballot city residents will find when they head to the polls November 6.
The presentation made by Sustainable Saratoga focused on the possibility of a solar array being built and operating out of the Weibel Avenue Landfill. Representative Larry Toole outlined a plan that would take “land that isn’t useful for anything else and make it an asset to the city.” His presentation outlined how to pursue the money necessary for such a project, which hinge mainly on receiving grant money from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).
Toole’s presentation indicated that with the proper grants received from NYSERDA, this project could be completed without the city putting up any of its own money.
The presentation also included several ways the city could stop pursuing the project should it become unreasonable to achieve or too costly.
It was fitting that on the night of the second Presidential debate between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, two members of the city council on opposite political parties also had choice words for one another.
Mayor Scott Johnson and Commissioner of Finance Michele Madigan, Republican and Democrat respectively, were at odds over whether Madigan has the authority to amend the Capital Budget.
Johnson was taking issue with the removal of certain line items in the budget but the conversation devolved into who had the authority to speak at that given moment.
They ultimately agreed to disagree and move forward with the meeting.
Finally, Public Safety Commissioner Chris Mathiesen announced an open public meeting for October 23 at 7:30 p.m. at the Saratoga Springs Public Library to hear what city residents have on their mind regarding his department.
