Saratoga County Supervisors Discusses Payment Plan

BALLSTON SPA — The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors discussed extra pay for essential employees at their April 21 meeting. 

After much discussion, the supervisors adopted a resolution to send the extra pay plan to the Human Resources Department for consideration. The goal is to gain more details including how much the extra pay will cost the county and who the extra pay was promised to. 

Since mid-March, the board has been torn over the extra pay plan. According to the March 17 meeting minutes, Town of Moreau Supervisor Theodore Kusnierz asked the County Administrator, Spencer Hellwig, for the salaries and rates of pay. Hellwig responded the cost per week is approximately $350,000.

The county became more divided when earlier this month, the newly formed bipartisan Saratoga County Public Health Northway Corridor Task Force held an informal meeting. Task force members include Clifton Park, Halfmoon, Malta, Wilton, Moreau, Ballston and the City of Saratoga Springs.

The task force had the initial plan, which would cost the county over $300,000 per week be reconsidered and stated they were not getting any answers on the extra pay plan. They voted to push the plan to an independent investigator. However, many of the supervisors from small towns opposed the independent investigator, not having an estimate on the cost. 

The board approved to have an outside investigation conducted into the extra pay plan. The resolution was by Clift Park Supervisor Jonathan Schoef. Supervisors said they wanted to push this issue behind them and focus on the COVID-19 restrictions placed on the community, which has extended through mid-May.