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Saratoga Springs DPW crews hoisted wreaths atop city streets this week in anticipation of the holiday season.

BALLSTON SPA — The Village of Ballston Spa is looking to update its Comprehensive Plan to best define the needs of this evolving community and articulate a vision that will guide decisions affecting physical development and redevelopment within the village.  The Comprehensive Plan is expected to focus most significantly on effects of IT and climate change, buildings and village character, non-conforming land uses, village infrastructure, quality of life, & local and regional economics. 

A steering committee has been formed to work in conjunction with a professional planning consultant to identify and study several topics over the course of the next year in order to create a final plan for approval by the Village board of trustees. 

The committee is currently looking for additional members from the Ballston Spa community who would be interested in contributing their knowledge, skills and ideas.  Meetings will be held twice a month, on the first and third Thursdays, at 7 pm at the Saratoga County Office building at 50 West High St.  All meetings are open to the public and will be Zoom accessible. Interested persons can contact steering committee chairperson Karen Martell at karenmartell27@gmail.com or the Village Office at 518-885-5711, villageclerk@villageofballstonspa.org.

BALLSTON SPA — The “Artisan Market” at Brookside Museum will be returning in 2021, operating from “Small Business Saturday,” Nov. 27 through Dec. 24.

Like its predecessors, the 21st installment of the market will feature only handcrafted products created by local artisans.

Brookside Museum, headquarters of the Saratoga County History Center, is located at 6 Charlton St. The 2021 hours are as follows: Thursdays, noon – 5 p.m.; Fridays, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Face coverings are required. Hand sanitizer will be available. The Saratoga County History Center is dedicated to preserving local history, educating the public, and serving our diverse Saratoga County communities. All money raised by the Artisan Market will fund SCHC public programming and collection maintenance.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — There are more than 60 cities, 500 villages, and 900 towns in New York State, and each has until Dec. 31 to opt-out of two new state initiatives calling for on-site cannabis consumption lounges, and dispensaries authorized to sell cannabis in their respective communities. 

On March 31, New York State legalized adult-use cannabis by passing the Marijuana Regulation & Taxation Act, or MRTA. The legislation created a new Office of Cannabis Management governed by a Cannabis Control Board to oversee and implement the law, issue licenses and develop regulations outlining how and when business can participate in the new industry. 

Regarding the two initiatives as it correlates to alcohol, Dispensaries are akin to a liquor store, while On-Site Consumption lounges are more akin to a bar, explained Vince DeLeonardis, attorney for the City of Saratoga Springs – which is currently poised to be welcoming of both. 

To opt out of allowing adult-use cannabis retail dispensaries or on-site consumption licenses, a municipality must pass a local law by Dec. 31. A municipality may choose to opt-out of both or just one of the two types of license. If interested in permitting marijuana retailers or social consumption sites, municipalities need not do anything. 

Public hearings regarding the matter are underway in many of Saratoga County’s 19 towns, 9 villages and two cities. 

A decision is anticipated early next month In Malta, said town Supervisor Darren O’Connor. “It’s on for a public hearing on Nov. 29 and then it will be on the agenda on Dec. 6 for the Board to decide what to do, if anything.”

The town of Wilton is opting out and will not allow dispensaries or on-site consumption sites town, said Supervisor John Lant. 

The town of Clifton Park has scheduled a public hearing to take place on Dec. 6, and town officials in Milton are meeting this week when it is anticipated the board will allow both parts of the measure.

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“If we do nothing then both are allowed, but we’re going to go through the motions of saying that we’ll allow both to happen in the town,” said Milton Supervisor Benny Zlotnick. “Obviously there will be some benefit in sales tax with sales of that product, but we have no idea what that might be. Public opinion seems to be in favor of on-site consumption, so that’s what we’re going to do. The public comments we have had said we might as well allow both because if other places are going to have it and we don’t allow on-site consumption, then people will drive right by our businesses to go to those locations.”     

A local excise tax will be imposed on the sale of cannabis products by a retail dispensary to a cannabis consumer at 4% of the products’ price. The tax is distributed to local governments based on where the retail dispensary is located, with three-fourths of that tax revenue going to the specific municipality and one-fourth to the county. 

If a town and a village within a town both allow adult-use sales, the revenue will be distributed based upon an agreement between the town and village or divided evenly. In the city of Saratoga Springs, for example, on that .04 tax of every dollar, the city would receive .03, and Saratoga County would receive .01. 

During a recent meeting in the village of Ballston Spa – a meeting ultimately overshadowed by Mayor Larry Woolbright’s sudden resignation announcement – the mayor and all four village trustees said they were unanimously in agreement of allowing dispensaries, and by a 3-2 count agreed to allowing on-site consumption lounges as well. “For now, I’ll consider that we’ve made our call and are not opting out,” Woolbright said, following the village board discussion. 

If a town passes a local law to opt-out, it only affects the area of the town outside of any village within the town. 

In the town of Saratoga, the board will move at its Dec. 13 meeting to prohibit on-site consumption venues via a Local Law, but will allow cannabis sales at dispensaries, said town of Saratoga Town Supervisor Tom Wood. “So, that would be only the town of Saratoga and does not include the villages of Schuylerville, or Victory,” Wood said. “I haven’t talked to (Schuylerville Mayor) Dan Carpenter or (Victory Mayor) Pat Dewey, so I don’t know what their intensions are.” 

As for area businesses located in municipalities that allow the sale of cannabis, Stewart’s Shops chain of convenience stores will not be among them. 

“We will not be pursuing a dispensary in any of our shops,” said Erica Komoroske, Stewart’s Shops’ director of public affairs.

Even as municipalities allow adult-use retail dispensaries and/or on-site consumption licenses, towns, cities and villages may pass local laws and regulations pertaining to local zoning and the location of licensees, hours of operations, and adherence to local building codes. Municipalities may not, however, opt-out of adult-use legalization. Possession and use of cannabis by adults 21-or-older became legal in New York State earlier this year. Adults over 21 can possess up to 3 ounces of cannabis and 24 grams of concentrated cannabis in their personal possession, according to the state Office of Cannabis Management, and up to five pounds of cannabis at their personal residence.

People can step outside and smoke, as law passed. Some municipalities have prohibited smoking of all kinds in and around its municipal buildings.

BALLSTON SPA — In a move that promises to increase the quality of life for local residents as well as provide a future opportunity to secure tourism dollars for municipalities throughout the county, the Board of Supervisors on Nov. 16 unanimously approved and adopted an official Saratoga County Bike Route Map. 

The map was created through the collaborative input of representatives from area cycling clubs and government leaders in Saratoga Springs and
Saratoga County. 

“It’s the culmination of about three years of work with a subcommittee of city residents and county officials,” said city Supervisor Matt Veitch, following the adoption of the measure. “You’re going to start to see those green bike route signs on roads all over the county, so it will be great to see people start doing some bike tourism, all over the county.” 

Veitch thanked current city council members Michele Madigan and Robin Dalton, city supervisor Tara Gaston and former city commissioner Peter Martin, as well as other city and county officials and bike advocacy groups. 

“This is a great start for improving the health and quality of life benefits that we bring to our residents, as well as the potential for tourism dollars,” said Martin. “I’ve taken many day trips that have included just about every part of the map route.” 

Martin cited states such as Colorado, which have multi-day biking tours that provide positive economic impact for local communities. 

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“I’ve had the pleasure of riding several times on one of these tours – it’s called Ride The Rockies – and is in its 38th year. It’s estimated to generate a quarter of a million dollars of revenue – per day – for the towns and villages it travels through.” In Iowa, the RAGBRAI (Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa) is in its 47th year, and draws 15,000 cyclist to its 7-day, 500-mile trip. “The economic impact in 2021 was estimated to be $25 million in direct spending in the cities and towns the tour runs through.” Martin said. 

“You have a real opportunity here. Our county roads are a real resource,” echoed Ed Lindner, of Bikeatoga. “This beginning is an important step, and you need to build on it.” 

Budgets: City Approves 2022 Plan, County Public Hearing Nov. 30, Vote in December 

• Having made revisions to the Saratoga County tentative 2022 budget, the Board of Supervisors, as required by county law, approved a public hearing regarding the revised tentative 2022 budget. The public hearing will take place 4:45 p.m. on Nov. 30 at the county complex, 40 McMaster St., Ballston Spa. The county initially proposed its $381 million budget in October. It is anticipated budget adoption will take place Dec. 8. The 87-page 2022 Tentative Budget with Amendments may be viewed via the county website at: saratogacountyny.gov/wp/wp-content/uploads /2021/11/2022-Budget-Workshop -Report.pdf.   

“I did try in our workshop to amend the budget to provide more funding for non-profits. That did not pass,” said Supervisor Tara Gaston. “We’ve heard from non-profits in the city and throughout the county interested in some support recovering from COVID, and I would recommend they come speak to us in order for supervisors to hear that and potentially amend the budget before we pass it in December.” 

• In the City of Saratoga Springs meanwhile, the City Council on Nov. 16 adopted a $54.2 million operating budget for 2022. The City Council will seat four new members on Jan. 1. DPW Commissioner Anthony “Skip” Scirocco is the one returning member. The current council members, completing their respective two-year terms and it is anticipated the final two meetings of this current council will take place on Dec. 7, and Dec. 21.   

At its monthly meeting on Nov. 16, the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors released a list of useful numbers best providing county residents access via phone to local and regional representatives and departments. 

Administrator 518-884-4742

Aging, Office for the 518-884-4100

Alcoholism Program 518-587-8800

Animal Shelter 518-885-4133

Board of Supervisors 518-885-2240

County Clerk 518-885-2213

District Attorney 518-885-2263

Elections 518-885-2249

Emergency Services 518-885-2232

Employment & Training 518-884-4170

Fire Coordinator 518-884-4702

Friendship House 518-885-4521

Historian 518-884-4749

Human Resources 518-885-2225

Mental Health 518-584-9030

Motor Vehicle 518-885-2227

Planning Board 518-884-4705

Probation 518-884-4120

Public Defender 518-884-4795

Public Health Services 518-584-7460

Public Works 518-885-2235

Real Property Tax Service 518-885-2219

Sewer District 518-664-7396

Sheriff 518-885-2450

Sheriff Non-Emergency 518-885-6761

Sheriff Civil Division 518-885-2469

Social Services 518-884-4140

STOP DWI Coordinator 518-884-4180

Treasurer, County 518-884-4724

Veterans Service Agency 518-884-4115

Weights & Measures Cosumer Affairs 518-884-4747

Youth Bureau 518-884-4180

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The NY 77th Infantry Regiment monument was re-installed on its base in Congress Park this week.  The base had been vacant since the summer of 2020, when the city says the statue was vandalized. 

The 77th Infantry Regiment was mustered in on Nov. 23,1861, and mustered out June 27, 1865, according to the state Military Museum and Veterans Research Center. The companies were principally recruited at Ballston, Saratoga and Wilton. 

The piece required significant repairs to the zinc statue, according to a statement issued by the Saratoga Springs Department of Public Works, which coordinated its re-installation.   

SARATOGA SPRINGS —The state Attorney General’s Office has opened an investigation related to multiple arrests made in September in connection with protest-related activities that had occurred in Saratoga Springs in July, attorney John Aspland, who is representing the city of Saratoga Springs in the matter, said in a statement released this week. 

Aspland’s statement, in its entirety, is as follows: “The City of Saratoga Springs has received correspondence from the Civil Rights Bureau of the New York State Attorney General’s Office concerning allegations of possible violations of state and federal law as it relates to recent protests that occurred in our city.  The OAG has commenced this investigation to assess whether the protestors were targeted with excessive force and retaliatory arrests.  The City takes these allegations seriously and we will endeavor to work with the OAG to address these allegations and demonstrate the appropriateness of the actions taken by the members of the police department in response to the recent protests. The City will be working with its outside counsel in addressing the OAG’s concerns.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS — An application is under consideration this week by the city Planning Board regarding a site plan review of a six-story multi-tenant commercial building and associated site at 269 Broadway.