SARATOGA SPRINGS — More than 75 million people visit New York’s 180 state parks, 40 historic sites and numerous beaches every year. Less than 200 officers are charged with protecting those visitors, and in recent years the number of officers representing the N.Y. State Park Police has dwindled at an alarming rate.

“They are truly ambassadors for New York’s parks,” said Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner (D-Round Lake), leading a presser alongside members of N.Y. State Park Police from across the state, at the Hall of Springs this week.  “But in the past few years, terrible things have happened,” said Woerner, citing employee promotions and transfers being frozen, investigative and detective positions eliminated and dispatch services removed altogether from the Saratoga Zone and placed instead with state police. 

“We had 266 in July 2019 and we have about 188 today. Our attrition rate is at least four times the national average. What we are seeing is elimination through attrition, but no one has told us we are being phased out,” said Frank McGarity, associate director of the state Park Police Sergeants’ Association for the PBA. 

“In December 2019, Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued a memorandum which basically said the N.Y. State Police would have operations control over N.Y. State Park Police,” said McGarity, who has 20 years on the job, 16 of them in Saratoga. “Since the memo where are we? There are no transfers, no promotions, no hirings.” 

The last hire was in October 2018, McGarity said and 78 Park Police officers lost in the past three years. The Park Police has had a patrol force since 1885. 

Of the 31 women officers who were on staff, 11 left, resulting in about 20 currently on the job and representing just over 10% of the overall force statewide. In March, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a 30x30 Initiative, setting a goal of ensuring women comprise at least 30% of new recruitment classes in all agencies by 2030.

Part of the reason for the shortage is the disparity in wages – which are less, and retirement benefits, which require five additional years of service before eligibility kicks in – compared to other protection agencies in the state, officials said. Rules limiting pay, promotions and transfers all play a role in the difficulty of recruiting and retaining officers. 

“I hate to use that word, but our own agency is ‘defunding’ us,” said Troy Caupain, PBA Secretary & Park Police Officers Director.   

Park Police officers are highly trained specialists, they handle very large crowds, assist park users, search for and rescue missing persons, make arrests, conduct criminal and non-criminal investigations, and provide emergency services wherever they are needed. Special services the State Park Police also offer include marine law enforcement and education duties on New York waterways, snowmobile enforcement and education, and high angle and swift water rescue teams.

The cost of training an officer is $130,000, and the majority of those who have left over the past few years have stayed in law enforcement, making the move to other policing agencies. Local municipal departments across the state are doing much of the employee poaching. For local departments they are getting someone well-trained who doesn’t have to go through a police academy course, and therefore have limited costs associated with doing so. For officers, they are offered better opportunities given the park police restrictions on promotions, transfers and benefits. 

Some changes that would help the park police recruiting efforts would be lowering the retirement eligibility to 20 years to be on par with other agencies, a geographic pay upgrade, and hiring a director of law enforcement, McGarity said. “We do not have what you would call a Chief – we do not have a director of law enforcement, we do not have an assistant director of law enforcement.” 

This past January, Gov. Kathy Hochul suggested the park police should be separate from state police, but no definitive action has been made since that time. 

“I don’t think the average New Yorker understands how devastating this quasi-merger between the parks police and the state police has been on our park police,” Woerner said. “Our Governor has said she thinks it’s time to separate the Parks Police and the State Police. I couldn’t agree more - but now is the time to make that real - before we start our very busy summer season.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Jason Golub was unanimously selected by the four sitting members of the City Council on May 3 to temporarily fill the vacancy as the council’s fifth member and as Commissioner of Public Works.    

The vacant seat is a result of the death last month of longtime DPW Commissioner Anthony “Skip” Scirocco. 

“I want to take a moment to thank Commissioner Scirocco for his service to the community. I have big shoes to fill,” Golub said, thanking the council for their vote to appoint him DPW Commissioner.  “I am supremely confident that we can do great things in this city.”

The position pays an annual salary of $14,500. City Mayor Ron Kim - who had previously served as Public Safety Commissioner on the City Council - credited Scirocco for putting together “a great staff” staff in the current DPW department. He also cautioned that the biggest challenge that may be faced by Golub – a newcomer to the council - is the amount of time the job demands in real life, if not in job description.

“I can tell you this is a full-time job. I’m not sugar-coating that. The Commission form of Government, how it’s been set up, essentially requires an awful lot of your time,” Kim said.   

The five members City Council – which includes four commissioners and a mayor – each have one vote of equal weight to decide city matters. In most cases, simple majority rules.

Golub, an attorney, served as a co-chairperson of the ad hoc Saratoga Springs Police Reform Task Force, which operated in 2021. He grew up in New Haven, Connecticut, and has been a resident of Saratoga Springs for the past seven years, according to an interview published in The Skidmore News in 2021 during which he said he found Saratoga politics “too transactional,” where officials were more focused on holding their offices than in the needs of their constituents.

A five-member Public Works Search Committee chaired by former council member John Franck selected Golub as their recommended candidate to fill the position, although the City Council was not bound to their recommendation.  The ad hoc committee met on April 29 with Golub and two other candidates - Anthony Scirocco, Jr., and Billy McTygue, and presented their non-binding recommendation to the council on May 1. 

A Special Election will be held to fill the term for the calendar year 2023, after which normal two-year electable terms for all five council members takes place. That Special Election could be held in November, a traditional election date. The City Council is tasked with setting the date for the election. 

Golub said he is interested in pursuing the council seat in that election. “I hope I get to work with all of you over the coming weeks and months and I earn your support in the election come next November,” Golub told the council at its May 3 meeting. 

Former DPW Commissioner Tom McTygue addressed the council during the public comment segment of the meeting. He spoke in support of his brother, Bill McTygue, who was vying for appointment to the seat and suggested he will encourage him to campaign for the elected position later this year. 

CRB Approved, Members Sought

The City Council approved Public Safety Commissioner Jim Montagnino’s updated 9-page Civilian police Review Board ordinance, as well as an application form for those interested in their appointment to the CRB. It may be found on the city’s website as a link under the City Council Agenda May 3 at: www.saratoga-springs.org/AgendaCenter. 

Ways To Grieve

Accounts Commissioner Dillon Moran announced the Assessment Office will be holding a “How to Grieve your Assessment” class for 2022 to take place 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday May 10 in the City Council Room. Advance sign-up is not required. Grievance Day is Tuesday, May 24.

Additionally, a 2022 Grievance Packet to be filled out is available on the city’s web site. How to get there: go to: saratoga-springs.org. Highlight “Government.”  Under “Departments” find and click on “Assessments.” Click on “Grieving Your Assessment.” Scroll down and click on “Grievance Packet.” Easy peasy. 

WILTON — A national development company is looking to build nearly 400 apartments and townhouses alongside the Wilton Mall. 

Pending the town’s modification of its current code, Paramount Development is looking to purchase two lots totaling just over 13-1/2 acres on the northeasterly side of the mall for the $100 million-plus project. 

The Florida-based company has developed 200 rental apartment communities in dozens of states, said Tom Snell, a partner with Paramount Development who recently met with Wilton town officials. The focus is on high-end or luxury apartments. “What we see in the Wilton Mall is something that’s got some momentum. We do really well around retail,” Snell told the Wilton Town Board. 

The current owner of those acres is Santa Monica, California-based company Macerich - which has owned and operated the mall land since 2004. They own about 95 acres in all. In the adjacent properties, JC Penney owns just over two acres, and LBW Saratoga – occupied by BJ’s, owns just under another four acres. 

The potential project, which would occur on northeast side of the mall past Dick’s Sporting Goods, envisions nearly 400 residential units consisting of just under 300 apartment units and approximately 90 town house units to be developed in multiple phases atop the nearly 14 acres of property. A pool, basketball court and wine club are also planned. A joint petition has been filed on behalf of Paramount Development and Macerich with the town to amend the zoning code. 

“We have been working on this for about a year,” said David Carr of the LA Group, which is headquartered in Saratoga Springs. 

Carr said the plan is to remove the BonTon building and develop two phases of apartments and townhouses. “The mall property is made up of 101 acres. It’s made up of four parcels. There’s one large parcel and three inner parcels. There’s a pad parcel around BJ’s, and JC Penney, and around Dick’s Sporting Goods. The thought is to remove BonTon, develop the first phase, which would be about 250 units in four buildings, with underground parking and amenities within the perimeter road,” Carr said. 

“If you’ve been to the mall the retail industry has gone through a dramatic change - and not in a good way,” Wilton Mall Property Manager Mike Schafer told the board. “In 2018 our BonTon closed, in 2020 our Sears closed.” At its peak in 2016, the mall generated about $95 million in sales. As of February of this year it’s down to $55 million. “That’s about a $44 million sales tax loss with the retailers that we’ve lost. So that’s a real sales tax revenue loss for the town. The sales in the mall dropped in half,” he said. 

“As a landlord and an owner, we need to reposition the mall for future growth to maintain the tax revenue here in Wilton. We see adding residential as a catalyst to help attract and get future tenants including dining and entertainment, which right now we frankly don’t have any,” Schafer said. “Right now, we are still in decent shape but the residential addition to the property at the end of the mall that, right now, is getting no interest. So, we’re looking for a zoning overlay to allow for the residential and other uses.” 

Paramount is still finalizing their plans for their project. Pending the board’s agreement to adopt the zoning amendment, Paramount would submit a subdivision and site plan application to the Planning Board for review. The Board raised the notion that the project perhaps be crafted as a Planned Unit Development. Should the project continue to move forward, a public hearing will be held.   

Town Discusses How to Spend Funding Received via American Recovery Plan 

The town discussed how to apply $870,000 in funding it has received this year via the American Recovery Plan Act. The amount matches last years’ funding. Wilton has received a total of just over $1.7 million via the federal plan in two years.  That funding must be targeted for use by the end of calendar year 2024 and spent by December 2026, or it must be returned. 

Subsequent to its discussion, the town board unanimously adopted a resolution to allocate $100,000, from the grant, for not-for-profits with acceptable applications who service, reside, or have a branch in the town of Wilton.    

SARATOGA SPRINGS - The New York State Liquor Authority (SLA) summarily suspended the license of Saratoga Hospitality at Gaffney’s LLC, doing business as Gaffney’s, on May 3.  

“There is a clear pattern of behavior which not only threatens public safety, but has become a drain on police resources,” said SLA Chairman Vincent Bradley. “The SLA has an obligation to ensure this violence does not continue, and this emergency suspension should serve as a message that this agency will not hesitate to take immediate action when a bar poses a threat to public safety.”

The suspension followed numerous reports of violent incidents “emanating from inside the establishment,” according to the SLA, the most recent occurring May 1 when a patron was stabbed during a large altercation involving numerous patrons.  “According to Saratoga Police, video footage shows the brawl and stabbing taking place inside and then spilling into the street.”

The suspension was ordered by Chairman Vincent Bradley, Commissioner Lily Fan, and Commissioner Greeley Ford at a special meeting of the Full Board Tuesday, putting into immediate effect the prohibition of alcohol either being sold or consumed on the premises of the popular Caroline Street bar.

The SLA charged Gaffney’s with operating a disorderly premises based on the alleged May 1 incident, and said it will, during the suspension, prosecute this and multiple other violations based on prior charges which are currently scheduled to go to an administrative hearing. 

The May 1 incident marks the third stabbing incident at Gaffney’s since October 2021 and the fourth seriously violent incident emanating from the premises since that date, according to the state Liquor Authority. 

Currently suspended, the maximum penalty for the charges is revocation of the license. However, the SLA’s decision to summarily suspend a license is not a final determination on the merits of the case. The licensee is entitled to a prompt hearing before an Administrative Law Judge.

Gaffney’s issued a statement via its public relations firm Wednesday: “We respect and intend to comply with the suspension order. We will work with the State Liquor Authority and the City of Saratoga Springs to rectify this unfortunate situation with the hope of reopening as soon as it is practicable to do so.” 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — A youthful Brian Eno, his face aglow with vibrance and wonder bumps jackets with Barbara Streisand draped in a Superman T-Shirt and sporting a pair of tube sox. Two rows over, Peter, Paul and Mary share smiles in front of a brick wall in Greenwich Village marking their debut, circa-1962. Next to them, the Clash scowl alongside a brick alleyway of north London’s Camden Market marking their debut, circa-1976. A collection of string instruments are being released from their protective casings a few yards away. Memories of Matt McCabe, the previous longtime occupant of this space, permeate the room. 

“I’m a violin maker by trade,” explains Thomas Dunn. “Six generations of violin making is where I come from so there are a lot of traditions here: the oldest family of violin makers in the world, being able to carry on a Saratoga tradition, and honoring Matt’s memory. That’s something that’s cool for both of us.”

That “us” is Thomas Dunn and Jason Planitzer. The two men have embarked on a collaborative effort to open a new shop at 480 Broadway, located next to City Hall and the Saratoga Music Hall in the space previously occupied by Saratoga Guitar. 

Dunn’s expertise is musical instruments. Planitzer’s is in vinyl records. “We were both looking for a space, met, liked each other’s vibe and thought: maybe we could do something together. So, we decided to share this space and make this kind of the music center of Saratoga,” Dunn says. 

They are hoping to open the shop as early as this weekend. Once fully operational, it will include new and used instruments for sale for players, musical instrument lessons, instrument repair and restoration work and a full line of accessories – from strings and picks, to pedals and more. 

For music fans and vinyl collectors, the store will also feature a collection of albums.     

“The stars aligned, and we are able to carry on the tradition,” says Planitzer, originally from Pittsburgh and relocated to upstate with his wife in January after having lived in Brooklyn for 15 years.

Off-Track Records

“I’ve collected since I was in college, that’s 20 years now, and during the pandemic my collection got a little out of hand,” he says with a laugh. “It grew exponentially.” 

Planitzer said he hopes to start with 2,000 to 3,000 mostly used records. An already existing relationship with music distributors will enable him to carry some new vinyl as well. “We will buy, we will sell, we will trade. Same as with the guitars and the stringed instruments,” he says. 

Despite the ever-changing soundscape of technologies over the previous decades, there remains and indeed is growing a market of people who love vinyl records. In 2021, a resurgence in vinyl records continued for the 15th consecutive year, according to the Recording Industry Association of America.  And new vinyl revenues grew 61% to $1 billion over the past calendar year – having last exceeded that $1 billion mark back in 1986, according to an article published by Variety in March that is titled: Vinyl Sales Soar. 

“I work in film and television, I’m a location scout; I read scripts and then go find the places where they film. That’s what I did in New York City for the past 14 years and now more and more film work is coming upstate – shooting in Schenectady, Troy, in Albany,” Planitzer says. He calls his part of the collaboration with Dunn: Off-Track Records.  “This is something I can do in addition to film work, much as I did in Brooklyn. At that time, I worked at a record shop - it’s called Record Grouch – and that was a blast. I love getting music from a shop. I get a lot of music online now, and I think we all do, but there’s nothing like going into a shop.”

6^th Generation Violin

Dunn is carrying on the traditions of the Frirsz family of luthiers who began making violins in the mid-1800s. Originally from Hungary, they are known as the oldest family of violin makers in the world, spanning five generations. Fourth generation family member Maximilian relocated to North America and eventually set up a shop in midtown Manhattan where he became known as one of the foremost luthiers and restorers in the country. Max’s son, Nicholas, took over the business in the 1980s and relocated to Saratoga Springs in the ‘90s. 

When he was a teenager, Dunn began working with fifth-generation master Nicholas Frirsz on small repairs and learning how to make violins. In 2011 Dunn became Frirsz full apprentice. Dunn calls his segment of the collaborative space Sixth Generation Violin - carrying on the family methods, traditions, and secrets of violin making. 

“Those connections we built up over six generations,” Dunn says. “And we will have a range of new and used instruments for sale, from high-end instruments of unique boutique makers and luthiers, custom-made, to student rentals – violins, cellos, guitars, ukuleles, fretted instruments.” 

 A room where musical lessons will be offered is being developed in the back of the store, and Dunn says an instructor will include someone who formerly worked for Matt McCabe. 

The men say they aim to provide a personal touch and human care for the community of music lovers and practitioners in the region. 

“We’re excited to be here and hope to be a part of the Saratoga music community for years to come,” Dunn said. 

Planitzer and Dunn say they hope to open this weekend and plan to be open most weekdays during regular business hours and weekends from noon to 5. For more information about Sixth Generation Violin and Off-Track Records, visit the store at 480 Broadway, or call 518-893-9188.