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Author: Thomas Dimopoulos

Saratoga County Board of Supervisors Stage First Meeting of 2023  

Written by Thomas Dimopoulos on . Posted in News.

Fatalities Graph, depicting COVID-19 related deaths by month grouping, reported to Saratoga County Department of Health in 2020 (dark blue), 2021 (light blue), and 2022 (green). Source: SCDOH.

BALLSTON SPA — Citing a “significant increase in mortality in Saratoga County” as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the county board of Supervisors on Jan. 14 amended a previously authorized contract agreement with NMS Labs from $75,000 to $110,000 to cover the increase in costs in the services the lab provides. 

The 2022 agreement with National Medical Services directs NMS Labs to provide post-mortem toxicological services to the Saratoga County Corners. 

The county Law and Finance Committee and the County Coroners recommended that the contract for 2022 services be amended to increase the authorized contract amount.  

The Board of Supervisors this week additionally approved amending an agreement with Saratoga Hospital from $65,000 to $75,000 due to increasing numbers of cases handled by the County Coroners at Saratoga Hospital in 2022.  

The county department of health updates its COVID-19 surveillance dashboard weekly. To date, since 2020, there have been 1,521 hospitalizations and 395 COVID-19 related deaths. The breakdown of fatalities by year: 44 in 2020, 223 in 2021, and 128 in 2022.   

First-Of-Its-Kind – Affordable Housing in N.Y. 

Written by Thomas Dimopoulos on . Posted in Featured, News.

“Putnam Square” – a vacant lot on Putnam Street, depicted in this image captured Jan. 17, 2023 with the Saratoga Springs Public Library in the distance, is a target site for the development of a five-story building housing affordable residential units.  Photo by Thomas Dimopoulos.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The City Council unanimously approved a resolution to seek $1 million in grant funding – via the Restore NY Communities Initiative Municipal Grant Program – that anticipates taking a currently vacant parcel at 53 Putnam St. and redeveloping it into a multi-story building with affordable/mixed-income housing units that will house low-income individuals and families.   

At least 20 units in the anticipated 60-unit building are expected to be made available “for low-income individuals and families to own and occupy their own home,” according to the city. 

“It’s a win for environmentalists, a win for developers, investors and a win for the city of Saratoga Springs,” city Mayor Ron Kim said during the council’s discussion of the matter on Jan. 17.  

The project is located on a NYS Brownfield Environmental Remediation lot, sited opposite the Saratoga Springs Public Library. 

Dubbed as “Putnam Square,” the project anticipates development as a public/private partnership between Putnam Resources, and the city along with a variety of local non-profit organizations. The estimated overall project cost is just over $15 million. More than $3 million has already been invested by developers to acquire, manage and clean the site.  

“If this works the way it is currently positioned, it will be the first of its kind in the state,” said Commissioner Dillon Moran, drawing a contrasting comparative with the typical home-by-home basis actions, which takes a while to develop, by organizations such as Habitat for Humanity.  

Mayor Kim said that “one-third or more” of the 60-unit building will be offered at HUD affordable prices at a percentage of the region’s determined area median income, or AMI. The AMI for all cities across the country fluctuates, and is defined each year by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  

I Hear America Singing

• The City Council approved the appointment of Joseph Bruchac as Poet Laureate of the city of Saratoga Springs. Bruchac was born and raised in Saratoga Springs and has authored more than 120 books, along with numerous poems and short stories. 

The appointment marks the first by the city of a Poet Laureate and carries the duties of serving as a representative of the Saratoga Springs in creating literary and artistic works in commemoration of the city, its history, and its people. The position, which carries through 2025, was unanimously approved by the Council and will be under the supervision and guidance of the Mayor’s Office, in consultation with the arts commission. 

Saratoga New Year’s Fest Will Be Back for 2023/24

• Bob Millis, primary producer of the inaugural Saratoga New Year’s Fest staged Dec. 31-Jan. 1 told the Council that the event was an overall success and will return for its second year. 

“We hit all of our markers. We attracted people from across the Northeast, we put them in hotels, we sent them to downtown venues and we generated sales tax,” Millis said. “It was such a great success we have committed to continuing the event into the future.”   

School Resource Officer(s)

• The council approved an addendum to the agreement between the Saratoga Springs City School District and the city of Saratoga Springs that will – beginning on Jan. 30 – have the city assign an additional School Resource Officer to the District’s Elementary Schools.

“The school district had a Safety Survey Report that recommended the addition of two School Resource Officers – one to be provided by the Sheriff’s Department for the two elementary schools outside the city limits, and a recommendation that the city provide an SRO from the Saratoga Springs Police Department for the four elementary schools that are in city limits,” city Public Safety Commissioner Jim Montagnino told the council Jan. 17. “That recommendation was adopted by the school board last week.” The measure was approved by the Saratoga Springs City School District Board of Education by a 5-4 margin.

The school district will pay $74,285 as reimbursement toward the cost of the Elementary SRO, prorated from the Elementary SRO’s start date through the end of the contract. The district currently employs two SROs, one at the high school and one at the middle school campuses.

The four district elementary schools within Saratoga Springs city limits are: Caroline Street Elementary School, Lake Avenue Elementary School, Division Street Elementary School, and Geyser Road Elementary School.

The elementary schools SRO will be on duty from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each school day, at or between the elementary schools. In all, the city has seven officers currently trained as SRO’s on staff, Montagnino said.

Celebrated Film Director to Stage Book Release Event at Northshire in March

Written by Thomas Dimopoulos on . Posted in Entertainment.

Writer, director John Sayles will celebrate the release of his new book “Jamie MacGillivray: A Renegade’s Journey,” in Saratoga Springs in March.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — John Sayles has directed more than 18 films – “Matewan,” and “Eight Men Out,” among them, written screenplays for iconic ‘80s horror movies “The Howling,” and “Alligator,” and directed a trio of Bruce Springsteen’s most famed music videos – for the songs “Born in the USA,” “Glory Days,” and “I’m on Fire.” 

As an author, Sayles has written numerous novels and short stories since 1975. 

“In a two-hour movie I don’t tell the audience here’s a character, okay, here’s another one, now see the world the way they see it. In a book you can do that,” Sayles explained, in an interview published by Creative Screenwriting in 2016.  

Sayles will celebrate the release of his new book, “Jamie MacGillivray: A Renegade’s Journey,” with an appearance at Northshire Bookstore Saratoga in March.    

“Jamie MacGillivray: A Renegade’s Journey,” will be published by Melville House (736 pages, $32) in late February. The story is set in 18th Century Scotland and America and begins in the heat of a vicious war. At the Battle of Culloden, in Scotland in 1746, Jamie MacGillivray narrowly escapes a roadside execution only to be recaptured and sentenced to indentured servitude in colonial America “for the term of his natural life.” 

Sayles is slated to celebrate the book’s release at Northshire Bookstore on Broadway in Saratoga Springs, in late March. 

Saratoga Springs: Under Development Year-Round

Written by Thomas Dimopoulos on . Posted in News.

Site Sketch Plan submitted Jan. 4 to the city regarding Excelsior Avenue Apartments, at 182 Excelsior Ave. – a project that seeks to demolish an existing main house apartment and carriage house, and develop three, three-story apartments with 12 units, totaling 36 apartment units.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The construction of new developments and the demolition of aging structures, appeals made of current zoning requirements and applications that seek area variances are presented to the city’s Land Use Boards throughout the year. 

Ultimately, the recommendations and decisions made by those boards, staffed by resident city volunteers, go a long way into shaping what Saratoga Springs will look like.  

Those three Land Use Boards are:

• The Saratoga Springs Planning Board. A seven-member citizen board appointed by the Mayor to seven-year staggered terms.  Next meeting: 6 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 26. 

• The Saratoga Springs Design Review Board. A seven-member citizen board appointed by the Mayor to five-year staggered terms. Next meeting: 6 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 18. 

• The Saratoga Springs Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA). A quasi-judicial seven-member citizen board appointed by the Mayor to seven-year staggered terms. Next meeting: 6:30 p.m., Monday, Jan. 23.  

City Supervisor Tara Gaston Will Not Seek Re-election in November

Written by Thomas Dimopoulos on . Posted in News.

Saratoga Springs City Supervisor Tara Gaston.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Tara Gaston, one of two supervisors representing the city of Saratoga Springs, announced this week she will not seek re-election this fall. 

“This is a decision I made for several reasons,” Gaston posted on her social media channel this week. “I will complete this term as supervisor, but that will not end my service to our community – even if looks a little different.” 

Gaston, who was elected to three consecutive two-year terms starting in 2018, is one of 23 elected representatives serving on the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors.   

The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors will host their next monthly meeting at the county complex in Ballston Spa at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 17.      

Saratoga Springs Posts Vacancy Announcement Seeking City Attorney 

Written by Thomas Dimopoulos on . Posted in News.

Glass door entryway to Saratoga Springs City Hall, Jan. 3, 2023.
Photo by Thomas Dimopoulos. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The city of Saratoga Springs on Jan. 6 posted a job vacancy announcement stating that it is seeking a City Attorney. 

“It’s for a new position,” Saratoga Springs Mayor Ron Kim said, adding that longtime current city attorney Tony Izzo will be staying on. 

“The volume of work is intense, and what is clear is we need additional assistance,” the mayor said.

Job Summary: The City Attorney position for Saratoga Springs is established by City Charter to serve as general legal advisor and provide direct advisory legal services and guidance to the Mayor and all City Council members along with various boards, committees, commissions, and departments as necessary. The City Attorney will have prime responsibility to monitor and enforce the laws and policies of Saratoga Springs before State, Federal, and administrative law bodies.

The posted salary is  $95,000 to $120,000 dependent on experience, for an average workweek of 30 to 40 hours. Education and experience qualifications are required, and the deadline for the submission of resumes in Jan. 31.  

Current Openings

Exams for the position of Police Chief, and exams for the position of Assistant Police chief will take place March 25. 

As opposed to the city attorney posting – “Vacancy Announcement” – the chief and assistant chief positions are posted as “Current Openings – Exam Announcement.” 

The Chief salary is posted as $135,856 in 2023 and $138,573 in 2024. 

The Assistant Chief salary is posted as $129,737 in 2023, and $132,332 in 2024.

Chief qualifications include a minimum of 2 years continuous permanent experience as Assistant Police Chief, or 5 years as Police Lieutenant, or 6 years as Police Sergeant – in the city of Saratoga Springs Police Department. There are additional educational requirements. 

Assistant Chief qualifications include 3 years as Police Lieutenant, or 6 years as Police Sergeant – in the city of Saratoga Springs Police Department, as well as educational requirements.   

Completed applications including a $25 exam fee for either position must be received in the Civil Service Office by Feb. 15. 

For more information about these and other jobs, visit the city website at: saratoga-springs.org

Liberty Saratoga Apartments Gets City Support for Development of 200-Apartment Workforce Housing Complex

Written by Thomas Dimopoulos on . Posted in News.

Rendering of potential 200-unit housing project at Crescent Ave. and Jefferson St., submitted to the city October 2022. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS —The City Council last week announced its support for the development of a 200-plus apartment complex on the city’s south side geared to attracting local teachers, young professionals, nurses, hospitality industry workers and firefighters and police. 

The complex’s one-bedroom apartments are anticipated to range from $995 to $1,200 a month, while maximum rents in two-bedroom units could range from $1,200 to $1,650. The current rental average in Saratoga Springs for a two-bedroom unit is $2,245. 

Last year, Liberty Affordable Housing Inc., of Rome, N.Y., submitted its application to the city for a zoning map amendment in its effort to develop approximately 200 apartments in two, four-story structures on a portion of a wooded 30-acre lot on the corner of Jefferson Street and Crescent Avenue.

Last week, Saratoga Springs Accounts Commissioner Dillon Moran announced that amendments to the city’s zoning and comprehensive plan had been granted by the Saratoga Springs City Council.

“The development of this project offers a significant boost to the number of apartments at a time which there are few options available. Healthcare and hospitality are core to the economy of Saratoga Springs, and the workforce should be able to live within the community that they work,” said Moran, in a statement.

The workforce housing community caps rents at a percentage of the region’s Average Median family Income, or AMI. The median family income in the Capital District region is $106,000. The project targets 60-80% of the AMI. To qualify to apply for an apartment at Liberty Saratoga the tenant/household verified income would range from just over $44,500 to nearly $85,000, and points to $900- $1,120 costs for a studio, $995-$1,200 for one-bedroom, and $1,200-$1,650 for two-bedroom apartments. 

The property will be owned and managed by Liberty Affordable Housing Inc., and Liberty Saratoga Apartments are slated to be designed by local firm Phinney Design Group. The two four-story buildings will include conservation of almost 20 acres of land including 9 acres of wetlands that create a natural buffer to other residential neighbors.

The development is supported by NYS funding which requires compliance with green building programs such as EPA Energy Smart, NYSERDA’s New Construction Housing Program, NYS HCR Mandatory Green Building & Energy Efficiency Practices, and the 2020 Enterprise Green Communities Criteria. 

Saratoga County Board of Supervisors Reaffirm Leadership Status Quo

Written by Thomas Dimopoulos on . Posted in News.

BALLSTON SPA —The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors reelected Moreau Town Supervisor Todd Kusnierz as its chairman and Clifton Park Supervisor John Shopf as vice-chair, at the board’s annual Organizational Meeting on Jan. 4 at the county complex in Ballston Spa. 

The reaffirmation by 18 of the 20 supervisors in the room marks Kusnierz’ third consecutive one-year term, with Stillwater Supervisor Ed Kinowski casting the lone vote against, and Saratoga Springs Supervisor Tara Gaston abstaining from the vote.  

“Thank you to my colleagues for the opportunity to serve a third term as your chairman. It has been a distinct honor and pleasure to represent your interests on behalf of Saratoga County residents,” said Kusnierz, who was accompanied by members of his family at the meeting.  “Together we have enacted policies that have helped make Saratoga County the fastest growing county in upstate New York…last year we passed 390 resolutions, smashing the previous record of 347 that was set in 2021.” 

Kusnierz also recognized Town of Edinburg Supervisor Jean Raymond – serving her 36th year on the Board – as the longest-serving supervisor in the county’s history. 

The 23-member Board of Supervisors represents towns and cities throughout the county and serve as the legislative and executive authority of county government. They will oversee a $378.3 million county budget for Saratoga in 2023.

During the meeting, supervisors approved their meeting schedule for 2023; meetings will take place at 4 p.m. on the third Tuesday of every month (except for next month’s gathering on Feb. 23) at the county complex.          

The Board also approved its Rules for Meetings in 2023. Specific to Public Input: 15 minutes will be set aside at every regular meeting to allow members of the public to address the Board of Supervisors on matters relating to Saratoga County business. 

Anyone wishing to speak must sign their name and address on a sign-up sheet prior to the start of the meeting, and each speaker will be allotted three minutes time. Public comments may also be sent via mail or email to the Clerk of the Board. The rules are similar for anyone wishing to speak during a designated Public Hearing regarding a specific matter. 

Public commentary is segmented near the very end of the meeting, just prior to adjournment. Supervisor Gaston recommended that the public input segment be relocated closer to the start of the meeting to ensure that commentary may be made prior to the board’s vote on a particular resolution, but the amendment received no second to the proposed motion from the board. Chairman Kusnierz added that there was ample time for the public to communicate with board members in advance of a vote.    

Various director and board member appointments were also announced to service a variety of county sub-committees.  

The Chair of the Board is charged with appointing members to the county’s 12 Standing Committees; Those committees are typically where the initial work is debated regarding topics later sent to the Board of Supervisors for their ultimate approval.  The Law and Finance Committee specifically is the last Committee meeting scheduled prior to the Regular Meeting of the Board of Supervisors, and Items approved by the Law and Finance Committee constitute the agenda of the Board of Supervisors Regular Meetings. 

On Jan. 4, Kusnierz announced the appointment of Clifton Park Supervisor Jon Shopf as Chairman of the Law & Finance Committee, and Supervisors Matt Veitch (Saratoga Springs), Phil Barrett (Clifton Park), Diana Edwards (Day), Joe Grasso (Charlton), John Lant (Wilton), Kevin Tollisen (Halfmoon), as committee members.   

Members for several other Standing Committees – including Buildings and Grounds; Economic Development; Health and Human Services; Public Safety, and Public Works were not announced Jan. 4, but the positions will be filled “in the immediate and near future,” and in advance of February committee meeting dates, Kusnierz said.    

• Four new Directors were appointed two-year terms to the Board of the Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership, Inc. They are: Justin Baker, of Saratoga Springs; Phillip Barrett, of Clifton Park; Jeremy Connors, of Halfmoon, and Jeffrey Jones, of Clifton Park.  The Board of Supervisors in 2014 authorized the formation of the Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership, Inc., as an economic development local development corporation in accordance with Not-For-Profit Corporation Law.

• Four new members were appointed two-year terms to the County of Saratoga Industrial Development Agency. They are: Tom Lewis, Philip Klein and Rod Sutton, all of Saratoga Springs, and Michael Mooney, of Gansevoort. 

• The Board of Supervisors additionally adopted resolutions appointing new Commissioners to county Sewer District 1, new Directors of the county Capital Resource Corporation, and Soil & Water Conservation District, and new Board Members to the county’s Community Services Board, Fire Advisory Board, Fish & Wildlife Management Board, Traffic Safety Board, Water Authority Board. 

New Year’s Water Main Break; City Distributes More Than 75,000 Bottles of Water 

Written by Thomas Dimopoulos on . Posted in News.


City officials distributing water to residents on Jan. 2, 2023 at the Saratoga Springs High School parking lot. Photo by Thomas Dimopoulos.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Several city officials gathered in the Saratoga Springs High School parking lot Monday, Jan. 2 to distribute cases of water to residents, following a weekend water main break that caused issues across the city.

On Jan. 1, the Department of Public Works issued a Boil Water Advisory as a result of a water main break in the vicinity of Excelsior and East avenues, and DPW Commissioner Jason Golub announced repair crews were addressing the issue.   

“Forty-six and one-half pallets, 70 cases in a pallet, 24 bottles in a case,” said Tara Gaston, who alongside fellow city Supervisor Matt Veitch worked the north side of the distribution line. Overall, that’s some 78,000 bottles of water, give or take, throughout.

City Mayor Ron Kim and Accounts Commissioner Dillon Moran were stationed at the south side; DPW Commissioner Jason Golub, various deputy commissioners and an assortment of other city officials also worked the lines.  

“This highlights what we already knew – our infrastructure is aging and needs to be replaced, and the other thing it highlights is a need for a centralized communication system,” Golub said.  

43 pallets worth were purchased by the city from DeCrescente Distributing Company, and 3-1/2 pallets were donated by Saratoga Eagle, Gaston added. 

On Jan. 3, the city informed residents that the situation has been resolved. “Satisfactory total coliform bacteria sample results have been received by this office,” read the statement. 

Given a Choice: Where City Residents Voted to Spend $100K

Written by Thomas Dimopoulos on . Posted in News.

Project results in rank order, and age group of city residents taking part in a voluntary vote that asked which projects they would like to most see funded.   

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Eight-hundred and sixty-four city residents voted on funding nine projects during Saratoga Springs’ Participatory Budgeting process, which took place earlier this month. 

The pilot program, introduced by Finance Commissioner Minita Sanghvi, made available $100,000 in funding and invited residents to cast votes Dec. 3- Dec. 11 on a variety of projects they would most like to see addressed. 

The nine projects placed on the ballot this inaugural year of the program were selected by the Participatory Budgeting Committee from a larger pool of 20 proposals submitted by individuals and organizations. Current committee members are: Mary Estelle Ryckman, Chair; Norah Brennan, Vice-Chair; and members Jeff Altamari, Devin Dal Pos, Douglas Gerhardt, Tim Holmes and Danielle Lepper. 

The majority of votes came from the 65 to 74-year-old age group, and “Urban Forestry Project” scored as the highest vote-getter overall.   

The 846 votes – 843 were made via online, and 3 via paper ballot – represent about 3.5% of city residents over 18 years of age. Typically, localities can expect 1-2% response rate in the first year of Participatory Budgeting, Sanghvi said. 

The Saratoga Springs City Council approved the spending plan for all nine of the projects at its meeting Dec. 20. The program is anticipated to be renewed in 2023.