SARATOGA SPRINGS – City officers and employees are entitled to legal defense related to claims  made against them and alleged to have occurred while they were on official business. 

An Article in City Code enacted by the City Council in 1987 provides for the legal defense of city officers and employees should state or federal legal action arise related to an alleged act or omission that took place in the scope of official duty or public employment. 

This week the City Council began discussions aimed at potentially attempting to establish detailed policies for the documentation and processing of future requests made by city officers and employees. 

“We have been challenged to come up, as soon as possible, with a resolution to clarify our policy with regard to these issues” Saratoga Springs Mayor John Safford said this week. “We are working to come up with a resolution that will be acceptable to everyone and give us some guidance as we move into the future.” 

Some of the suggested policies were posted in advance of the July 16 City Council meeting, although it was unclear how many of the council members were involved in crafting the policies suggested.  

The suggested polices would include submitting in writing to the city attorney a statement containing hourly rates proposed by the employee’s legal defense team as well as an estimate of total fees, charges and other expenses. The proposal would then be considered at a public meeting with the council charged with authorizing payment for the services to begin. A Special Public Meeting may be called if a situation requires urgency to address the matter.  Should the amount exceed the estimate as the work progresses, a separate review and approval need to take place prior to those services taking place. 

It is anticipated the council will return to discussion regarding the matter in future meetings.    

SARATOGA SPRINGS – The newly implemented seasonal parking program, which charges non-city residents up to $2 per hour to park in city owned parking garages and lots has thus far generated approximately $82,000 in new revenue. 

“We are still ramping up,” DPW Commissioner Jason Golub said this week. “We’ve only had one week into the track season, and I hope to see revenues continue to increase.”

The installation of pay stations as part of the seasonal parking program got underway in mid-June and will run through Labor Day. The pay plan is in effect in three city-owned parking garages – Walton/Woodlawn Parking Garage, Woodlawn Ave. Parking Garage, and Putnam St. Parking Garage, and three city surface parking lots – specifically located at Woodlawn Ave., Spring Street, and High Rock. 

“The launch was a bit chaotic, but I don’t have an issue with it and it was bound to happen,” says Dave Barker of Impressions of Saratoga – which is celebrating its 45th year in the Spa City.  

City residents, as well as downtown businesses and their employees, are allowed to park in the pay station areas without cost, via a permitting process. 

“As an employee, I don’t have to pay for parking and I appreciate they’re doing that for the employees downtown,” said Jericha Harriman, store lead at Northshire Bookstore on Broadway.   

The city has issued 11, 256 parking permits – and of those are 3,300 business permits, Golub said. A total of 266 businesses have registered for permits. The Saratoga Springs Public Library has also recently gone to a paid parking plan as well regarding its 75-or-so available spaces in its lot just off Henry Street.  

Not everyone is pleased with the seasonal paid parking plan. John Nemjo, owner of Broadway’s Saratoga Outdoors – formerly Mountainman Outdoor Supply Company, and its sister store Life is Good Saratoga, has been in Saratoga Springs for more than 15 years. Nemjo was opposed to the seasonal parking plan since its conception and says he hasn’t seen anything to change his opinion. 

“A lot of people in Saratoga have avoided downtown for years during track season and this is just another incentive for people to not come downtown,” says Nemjo, adding that sales are down since June and attributing that downtick, at least in part, to the paid parking format implemented in city owned lots and garages. He also expressed displeasure with the lack of a clarity indicating that the program is operational only during the summer months.  

“All people know is: there’s paid parking in Saratoga Springs. We have a year-round customer base of locals who live in Saratoga Springs and locals who live beyond the city limits, the core and the bread-and-butter of this city’s retail community. All these people in surrounding communities – they don’t get free parking passes,” Nemjo says. “We’re locally supported 12 months a year, and you’re chasing those people away.”   

The City Council unanimously approved the plan in April, and the city anticipates nearly $1.6 million as first-year estimated revenue, with about $450,000 in expenses.

“We will continue to monitor the program through the summer and work with the DBA (Downtown Business Association), the City Council and residents on making sure that we understand where we’ve done a good job, and where we’ve done not such a good job and can make improvements,” Commissioner Golub said, crediting the city’s Public Works and Public Safety departments for getting the plan up and running in short order.   

When the seasonal parking program concludes in September, the pay machines will be removed.  

Residents or downtown businesses seeking a parking permit are directed to go to the city’s website – at saratoga-springs.org – or physically visit the Department of Public Works office at City Hall. Library patrons are directed to visit sspl.org to review the library’s permit process.   

BALLSTON SPA —Saratoga County Board of Supervisors Chairman Phil Barrett announced on July 10 that the County’s CSEA membership has voted to approve a five-year contract. The County’s negotiating team and CSEA leadership reached the agreement on June 18 following two mediation sessions. 

The contract covers Jan. 1, 2024, through Dec. 31, 2028. 

Highlights of the CSEA collective bargaining agreement include:

•Wage Increases: A $4,000 increase at signing, which equates to a 7.3% pay increase based on the average CSEA salary, and a 2.95% annual wage increase in each year from 2025 to 2028. Retroactive payments will be made to employees on payroll from January 1, 2024.

•Compensatory Time: New language allows for automatic rollover of 40 hours of comp time to be used the next year, with the County retaining the right to buy out comp time in excess of 40 hours with notice by November 1st each year. 

•Health Insurance Premium Contributions: Gradual increase in employee contributions toward health and dental premiums based on hire date beginning in 2026 for those who currently contribute less than 20%. Fifteen-percent contributors increase to 16% in 2026, 18% in 2027 and 20% in 2028. Five-percent contributors increase to 6% in 2026, 8% in 2027, and 10% in 2028. 

•Health Insurance Co-pays: Co-pays will remain the same for the remainder of 2024 with nominal increases beginning in 2025 for office visits, specialist visits, emergency room visits, and prescriptions. 

•Additional Holiday: The addition of Juneteeth as a paid holiday, providing employees with a total of 12 paid holidays each year.

•Vacation: An updated vacation schedule based on years of service to extend additional day per year of service for years four through 11.

The agreement also includes other adjustments and administrative changes. The full contract will be made available on the human resources page at www.saratogacountyny.gov once it is ratified. This is the fourth contract the County has negotiated in the past two years: twice with CSEA and once each with UPSEU, and PBA.

Passing an unhoused person on the street do you ever wonder what happened in their life that led to their current circumstances? And what’s next? What goes through your mind when you see an unhoused teen or young adult? Often, they are runaways, maybe escaping a home with abuse, or they are simply not welcome at home anymore.  Sometimes they’re attending school, ‘couch-surfing’ with friends sleeping somewhere different every few days. 

When a kid doesn’t have a stable place to live, they become extremely vulnerable—to the elements, to school absenteeism, to drugs/alcohol, to mental health consequences, to violence, to hunger and poor health, to criminal behavior for survival, to trauma, and to sexual victimization. 

The offer of a hot meal or a safe place to stay may seem like a gift just when everything feels like it’s going wrong. But that’s commonly the bait traffickers use to lure someone. After a couple of meals or a few nights, there’s an expectation of sexual favors as payment for their ‘generosity’. This starts a pattern of requiring sexual favors in exchange for basic life needs or requiring the youth to engage in sex acts with others. Per federal law, a commercial sex act means any sex act on account of which anything of value (including food, shelter, protection, gifts or clothing) is given to or received.   If a person younger than 18 is induced to perform a commercial sex act, it is a crime regardless of whether there is any force, fraud, or coercion. 

Being homeless increases the risk of being trafficked- studies show 20-40% of homeless youth are trafficked (sometimes within 24 hours of becoming homeless). Early victimization can ensnare someone into being trafficked for years or decades. Traffickers exploit all genders with LGBTQI+ persons experiencing the highest rates of victimization. 

The situation may feel hopeless but there’s help available.

 “I felt trapped and didn’t know even where to start. Getting safe housing was the first step to a new life.” – Wellspring trafficking survivor 

Saratoga County resources:

Wellspring– If you have been sexually victimized or have experienced relationship abuse, Wellspring is available 24/7 for hospital accompaniment, counseling legal advocacy, reporting to law enforcement.  All services are free, confidential and non-judgmental. There is no expectation whether to report the crime to police. An advocate will discuss your rights and options and you can make the decisions that are right for you. Free confidential services are also available for anyone who has someone in their life whom they are concerned may be being victimized. Call 518.584.8188 wellspringcares.org

CAPTAIN CHS– Safe Harbour Anti-Human Trafficking Program, Street Outreach and Youth Shelter and Housing Assistance Programs- The Safe Harbour program offers case management and an enhanced array of services to youth who have been trafficked, sexually exploited, or at risk of victimization. Working with the Street Outreach team, case managers assist with critical emergency and long-term services, stable housing, advocacy, and other supports that can help them heal. 518.371.1185 captaincares.org

SCHUYLERVILLE — The Schuylerville Garden Club will present its annual National Garden Club Inc. Standard Flower Show entitled “A Little Bit Country” 1-5 p.m. on Saturday, July 20, and noon – 4 p.m. Sunday, July 21 at Saratoga Town Hall, 12 Spring St.  (corner of Spring & Broad) in Schuylerville, NY.

There will be Floral Design, Horticulture and Artistic Crafts competitions which will be judged by trained judges. A Photography division will be judged by the people attending the show. The public is invited to submit photos to the photo division and horticulture specimens to the horticulture division.  See the website for details.  All divisions reflect the “Country” theme.    

The Schuylerville Garden Club, established in 1938, has presented many annual Flower Shows and won numerous national and state garden club awards for the shows. 

Admission and refreshments are free.  For more information, visit: www.schuylervillegardenclub.org.