SARATOGA SPRINGS – The post-election campaign financial disclosure statement regarding newly elected city Mayor Ron Kim has been posted by the state Board of Elections.

The disclosure statement was due 27 days following the Nov. 2, 2021 election. When that period passed without the post report, two attorneys filed a formal complaint against Kim with the state Board of Elections. Michael Brandi was one of the attorneys who had sent a letter to the state Board of Elections Enforcement Counsel.

Tuesday morning, following the posting of the report, Brandi said: “the complaint has been made and the Board of Elections has the ability to look at the facts and pursue enforcement. What that looks like, the ball is in their court.”
On Jan. 5, the state BOE Enforcement Counsel responded to an email from Saratoga TODAY seeking comment about the status of the matter.  “The disclosure of Enforcement Division materials not only has the potential to impede or obstruct investigations, but potentially undermines principles of fundamental fairness in investigations and prosecutions. Therefore, we do not comment concerning whether the Division received complaints, the status of complaints, or whether investigations are undertaken.” Signed: Michael L. Johnson, Chief Enforcement Counsel.  

Late last month Kim told the Times Union that he had filed his post-election report, but a technical issue prevented it from being viewed.

Campaign finance disclosure statements for candidates may be found at: the NYS Board of Elections campaign finance page.

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SARATOGA SPRINGS — It was one year ago, nearly to the day, when then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that the first confirmed case of the so-called UK strain of COVID-19 virus has been detected in Saratoga Springs. The strain was traced back to an individual affiliated with a Saratoga Springs jewelry store and all individuals who visited the store from Dec. 18 through Dec. 24, 2020 were encouraged to contact the Department of Health and immediately receive a COVID-19 test.

Additional variants have appeared in 2021 – “Delta” and “Omicron” (titled after letters of the Greek alphabet) among them. 

As 2021 draws to a close, Saratoga County Public Health Services reports more than 27,000 known cases of COVID-19 among county residents since the first infections due to the original virus were tracked in early 2020, and more than 250 deaths among county residents since that time. 

The chart depicts month-to-month deaths in Saratoga County in 2021. 

In mid-January 2021, Saratoga County Public Health Services reported they were “investigating an issue with the county COVID dashboard,” and as such, to provide the most accurate portrayal of 2021 data, the description begins in February 2021. 

The first death of a county resident linked to COVID-19 was reported in late March 2020.  On Feb. 1, 2021, the SCPHS reported 10,604 confirmed cases in all, and 120 total deaths. Today, nearly 11 months later, those total numbers are 27,915 and 258, respectively, through Dec. 21, 2021.    

BALLSTON SPA — The village of Ballston Spa has been awarded a $153,000 competitive grant from the New York Department of State Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) Program for a BOA Nomination Plan.

Brownfields are neighborhoods or areas within a community negatively affected by real or perceived environmental conditions. The properties often are underutilized because the contamination, or perception of contamination, has impeded investment and redevelopment. 

New York State Department of State’s (DOS) BOA Program was created by the Superfund Law of 2003. Through the program, brownfields are transformed from liabilities to community assets that generate and support new businesses, jobs, and revenues for local economies, as well as provide new housing and public amenities.

The village of Ballston Spa intends to develop a BOA Nomination Plan for a 176-acre area encompassing a substantial portion of the downtown center along NYS Rt. 50, and two adjacent water bodies – the Gordon and Kayaderosseras Creeks. The village intends to prioritize four areas for redevelopment within the BOA to create transformative redevelopment of the central core of the village, increase access to waterfront property, and return underutilized properties to productive use.

The purpose of the funding request is to prepare a Brownfield Opportunity Area Nomination Study in compliance with the NYSDOS brownfield redevelopment program. Once the BOA Nomination Study is complete, the village will request BOA designation from the Secretary of State, which allows developers who are participating in the voluntary Brownfield Cleanup Program to receive a tax credit “bump-up” to redevelop the sites in a manner that is consistent with the community’s vision and Secretary-approved plan. 

The grant of $153,000 requires a $17,000 match from the village and will allow the hire of a consultant. The study is expected to take approximately 14 months to complete.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Four new “fast-charging” stations for electric vehicles were amped-up in Saratoga Springs this week. 

The EVolveNY EV charging stations were installed at the Saratoga Springs City Center parking lot on Maple Avenue, and join four other operational fast chargers in the immediate region, located at Stewart’s Shops’ Spier Falls location, just off exit 17 of the Northway. Stewarts plans to install 4 more fast chargers at its Clifton Park, and at its Latham locations in the near future. 

The New York Power Authority is dedicating $250 million through 2025 to the EVolve NY program, with the goal of making electric vehicles easy to own in New York State and decarbonizing the state’s transportation sector, and is part of the state’s broader goal to have at least 800 new EV fast charging stations installed through 2025.

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The fast chargers will be located along major state highway corridors, usually within five minutes of the roadway exit, and will be compatible for all types of current EV models.

Charging will generally take between 15 and 30 minutes, depending on how empty the EV battery is at the beginning of the charge event, the desired battery charge level and the vehicle’s charging speed, according to the state Department of Transportation. 

The recharging process of electric vehicles varies, with different levels of EV charging and different EVs charging at different speeds on each level. Level 3  -DC Fast Charging, Tesla Supercharging – gets the job done in under an hour at public charging stations, according to an Oct. 4, 2021 article published by Forbes titled: “What Are The Different Levels Of Electric Vehicle Charging?” 

For information about Saratoga Springs’ city-operated Public Charging Stations, go to: www.saratoga-springs.org/2419/EV-Charging-Stations.  For more information specifically about the fast-charging stations and an interactive national Electric Vehicle Station Locator map, go to: www.evolveny.nypa.gov. 

SARATOGA COUNTY — Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner (D-Round Lake), announced Saratoga and Washington counties are slated to receive more than $9.7 million for 14 important community projects. The funding was provided through Round XI of the Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) initiative.

“Thanks to this influx of state funds, Saratoga and Washington counties can repair critical infrastructure, improve recreational opportunities and breathe new life into local towns and villages. With the 2022 legislative session right around the corner, I’ll keep working to support our local recovery and help us all build back stronger,” Woerner said, in a prepared statement. 

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the REDC Round XI funding, which provided an additional $196 million to support 488 projects statewide, earlier this week. In Saratoga County, the local projects that received funding include:

• $2.75 million to upgrade Saratoga County’s Water Treatment Plant by installing efficient technology for the biological removal of ammonia from wastewater. This project will repair aging infrastructure, protect the Hudson River from pollution and allow regional manufacturers to continue expanding in the region.

• $2.5 million to expand STEM and Health Care Workforce Development by enabling Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC) to create new training facilities that expand workforce development programs in healthcare and advanced manufacturing. 

• $2 million to reduce energy consumption at the county Water Treatment Plant through biogas production created by new digesters.

• $800,000 for Albany-Schoharie-Schenectady-Saratoga BOCES to expand its Occupational Health and Safety Service program.

• $500,000 for Wright Electric Inc. – a company specializing in reducing the environmental impact of aviation – to establish the new Wright Laboratory, which will create high-paying jobs in the Capital Region.

• $250,000 for the town of Moreau to break ground on the Big Boom Trail by creating trailhead parking, the Waterfront Trail Loop, a kayak launch, fishing piers and an overlook area. The first of a three-phase project, this new trail will connect bicyclists and hikers from Nolan Road to Moreau State Park and to the Palmertown Ridge Trail System.

• $153,000 for the village of Ballston Spa to develop a Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) program nomination for a 176-acre area that includes a large portion of the downtown center along Route 50 and Gordon and Kayaderosseras creeks. The village intends to redevelop this area to increase waterfront access and return underutilized land to productive use.

• $100,000 for the town of Wilton’s Artisanal Brew Works facility to invest in new equipment, a new facility and restaurant service to meet the burgeoning demand for craft beverages.

• $100,000 for the town of Halfmoon to expand an Empire State Trail trailhead near Crescent Vischer-Ferry Road, Old Canal Road and Crescent Bridge and create a new parking area.

• $85,000 for the town of Saratoga to install a new segment of the planned Champlain Canalway Trail, allowing a portion of that trail and the Empire State Trail to pull off the heavily trafficked Route 4 corridor.

• $24,000 for the city of Mechanicville to develop an engineering report to identify sources of inflow and filtration, evaluate alternatives and recommend improvements to the city’s wastewater collection system. 

Additionally, in Washington County: $428,500 for the village of Greenwich’s downtown revitalization efforts. 

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BALLSTON SPA — Saratoga County Public Health Services department (SCPHS) is holding the following free COVID-19 booster clinics at Saratoga County Public Health, located at: 6012 County Farm Rd., Ballston Spa, unless otherwise noted.   

Monday, Dec. 20:
Moderna Booster, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1:30-3 p.m. at Clifton Park Senior Center (6 Clifton Common Blvd, Clifton Park). 

Tuesday, Dec. 21:
Pfizer Booster 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1:30-3:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 22:
Moderna Booster, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1:30-3:30 p.m. 

Tuesday, Dec. 28:
Pfizer Booster, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1:30-3:30 p.m. 

Wednesday, Dec. 29:
Moderna Booster, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1:30-3:30 p.m.

To be eligible for a booster vaccine, you must have had your second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at least six months prior to the booster clinic date you select or the Johnson and Johnson vaccine at least two months prior to the booster clinic date you select. The vaccines are free. No proof of insurance required. 

Please visit www.saratogacountyny.gov/covid and click on “COVID-19 Vaccines and Boosters” to register for any clinic. Seniors may also call the county’s COVID-19 Booster Clinic Call Center at 518- 693-1075 to register for a clinic. Saratoga County’s COVID-19 Booster Clinic Call Center is available weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and weekends from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. to help seniors make booster appointments within the county.   

BALLSTON SPA — The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 8 voted to approve the 2022 county budget. 

The $381 million budget depicts an increase of $10 million over 2021 and offers “significant investments in public safety, health and human services, infrastructure, open space and conservation while once again lowering our property tax rate and staying below the property tax cap,” according to a prepared statement released by the county. The 2022 budget also makes available $5 million in community support grants and devotes another $1 million to economic development and tourism for the county.

“This budget lays the groundwork for smart initiatives and investments that will ultimately help Saratoga County residents continue to enjoy a strong local economy in one of the safest and healthiest counties with one of the lowest tax rates in New York State,” said Theodore T. Kusnierz, Jr., town of Moreau Supervisor and Saratoga County Board of Supervisors Chair.

More than $4 million was approved in new investments in the county Sheriff’s and District Attorney’s offices for body and car cameras, judicial discovery laws, officer training, and mandated jail programs, and more than $3 million to support health and human services initiatives and the county’s Public Health Services department’s transition to a full-service Department of Health. Approximately $1.1 million was approved for economic development, heritage promotion, and tourism.

The 2022 sales tax revenue is projected at $141 million, a slight decrease from anticipated 2021 revenues.