Author: Saratoga TODAY

SARATOGA SPRINGS —Commissioner of Accounts Dillon Moran and the city Accounts Department is hosting a workshop 6-8 p.m. on Oct. 5. at the Saratoga Springs City Center to discuss short-term rentals. 

“Our community has a long history of rentals. It is important to define short-term rentals and discuss concerns associated with changes in the rental marketplace including a lack of affordable and workforce housing, changes in residential neighborhoods, and public health and safety challenges,” said Commissioner Moran, in a statement. 

“Saratoga Springs is a destination, but more importantly, it is a community. Short-term rentals are affecting our community, and there is a need for thoughtful discussion.” 

The workshop takes place at the Saratoga Springs City Center.

BALLSTON SPA —The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors represents all 19 towns and both cities in Saratoga County and oversees a $381 million budget. 

The board meets monthly. Notes from the board’s last meeting on Sept. 22.  

• A memorandum of agreement was authorized with the city of Saratoga Springs for the construction of a storage bay to house the Saratoga County Hazardous Materials Fire Truck. According to the MOA, the city will receive $300,000 – $30,000 per year for 10 years – to offset the cost of the construction of the new Fire Station #3 on Henning Road to include a storage bay to house the county HazMat truck.

• The Board of Supervisors accepted $56,377.69 in funding from the New York State Board of Elections for the reimbursement of expenses related to the expansion of early voting. The New York State Legislature recently enacted amendments to Election Law that requires county election boards to provide postage-paid return envelopes for absentee ballot applications and ballots, and appropriated grant funds to be distributed by the BOE to county boards to defray the additional expense of this expansion of early voting. 

• The county approved using $100,000 in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to design and build a veterans’ hall / county government building at the Saratoga County Fairgrounds. 

• The county Board authorized the acceptance of a $1.4 million grant from the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. The grant is to be used for improving the interoperability and operability of emergency communications systems for a 24-month performance period, from Jan. 1, 2022 to Dec. 31, 2024, and breaks down to just over $900,000 for Communications Equipment, and $500,000 for Equipment Maintenance.

• The Board adopted a resolution proclaiming October as “Domestic Violence Awareness Month” in Saratoga County. Each year, more than 10 million adults experience domestic violence, and nationwide domestic violence hotlines receive more than 19,000 calls on a typical day, according to the resolution. During the Covid-19 pandemic calls increased nearly 45% to the New York State Hotline.

Authorized 

Agreements: 

• $23.6 million with Capital District Physicians’ Health Plan, Inc. (CDPHP) for the provision of medical and prescription health care insurance and administrative services for County employees from Jan. 1, 2023 through Dec. 31, 2023.

• $3.8 million with MVP Health Plan, Inc. for the provision of medical and prescription drug health care insurance for Medicare eligible retirees from County employment under MVP’s Medicare Advantage Plan for the term Jan. 1, 2023 through Dec. 31, 2023.

• $925,000 with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, Inc. (MetLife) for the provision of dental health care insurance for County employees and the offering of voluntary dental health care insurance plans to County retirees for the term Jan. 1, 2023 through Dec. 31, 2023.