City Council

At the Saratoga Springs City Council meeting on Tuesday, February 2 a resolution and vote to enable access by Police and Fire personnel to the Department of Public Works depot and gasoline tanks on weekends passed by a 4 to 1 vote, with Commissioner of Public Works Anthony 'Skip' Scirocco dissenting.

The resolution, titled "Discussion and Vote: Vesting of DPW gas pumps" was introduced by Commissioner of Public Safety Richard Wirth. He and the other Commissioners were dissatisfied with the plan in response to city-wide layoffs and budget shortfalls, instituted by DPW Commissioner Scirocco that eliminated access to City gas pumps on weekends beginning on January 1, 2010.

Since the first of the year, Public Safety vehicles have had to buy gasoline at regular retail outlets on weekends, which involved a higher cost (estimated at $1 more/gallon) than was available via bulk contract rates to the City.

Commissioner Scirocco's position was that as a matter of public safety extra funds for a position of weekend dispatcher must be allocated from somewhere, presumably from outside his existing budget, given the depot's above-ground gasoline tanks, and its proximity to both Division Street elementary school and Saratoga Hospital. He said his only alternative was to pay overtime to have coverage on weekends at the depot.

The other Commissioners felt it was necessary to intervene in this matter because they felt that Commissioner Scirocco was not properly managing his department's budget, and that funds could be found in the DPW budget to assure that the depot was covered. Absent cooperation in this matter, they acted to move for vesting the depot in the hands of Public Safety, providing for installation of a camera and swipe card system which, when installed, would enable access for Public Safety personnel (police and fire vehicles) to get gasoline on the weekend, and monitor the depot via video surveillance 24/7.

The discussion between Commissioner Scirocco and the other Council members was often acrimonious. Commissioner Scirocco protested the intervention, saying that he was entitled to 'run his own department.' He also at one point indicated that he might utilize a DPW dump truck to prevent access to the depot, and that the other Commissioners were seeking to 'run him off,' from his position, and that he had previously warned the council that this problem was likely to occur. At another point he also claimed to have the ability to find money to have someone in place to serve as a dispatcher by this weekend.  

Council members countered that it was the way Commissioner Scirocco was in fact running his department in 2010 that made this extreme action necessary. They were united in their contention that this was the only responsible way to proceed.

Mayor Scott Johnson regarded the situation as "a swipe card and camera system that allows police access on weekends is a matter of promoting better efficiency in government. We could not allow the situation to remain as it is {without the ability for access to the Depot} throughout the year...and because someone is given the responsibility to manage a property does not mean that you own it and can run it any way you want. This facility belongs to the public."

Commissioner of Public Safety Richard Wirth commented that the "vesting resolution was necessary, though regrettable." He said that he and the Council had attempted to work out a negotiated solution with Public Works, but took the vesting action when they believed that no negotiated solutions were forthcoming.

Commissioner Wirth at this time does not know whether any provision will be made for Public Safety personnel to have access to the depot and its gasoline this weekend. He is proceeding with putting out and examining bids for a 2-camera, 2-swipe card system which will control and monitor both the front gate and housing for the gas pumps, and he estimated that the new system could be installed in as little as 2 weeks.

Highlights of other City Council Business:

Commissioner of Public Safety Richard Wirth, accompanied by Police chief Christopher Cole, announced that Officer Aaron Benware had been promoted to Sergeant. The oath of office was administered to Sergeant Benware in the Council Room.

Matthew Jones, Esq. presented the West Avenue Special Assessment District's annual report, noting that in 2010 and 2011 the district is going to forgo its annual levy and instead pay back a $25,000 portion of its loan each year.

Mayor Scott Johnson introduced a measure to name Justin Hogan to the City Ethics Board which was unanimously accepted. Mayor Johnson also appointed Staci Mannion to the Design and Review Commission to replace outgoing DRC member Pat Kane.

The citywide moratorium on Demolition was extended to April 30^th. This followed a public hearing on the matter just prior to the City Council meeting.

A resolution was passed in support of Happy Software, Inc. and its application to the Upstate Regional Blueprint Fund for financial assistance.

Authorization was issued for the Mayor to sign an agreement to retain the law firm of Fitzgerald, Morris, Baker and Firth.

The 2010 'authority to bond' resolution was passed unanimously by roll-call vote. The 2010 tax resolution was also passed unanimously.

Two public hearings were set for February 16 prior to the next City Council meeting - 6:45 p.m. on proposed water and sewer rates, and 6:55 p.m. on amending the capital budget for the Spring Run Trail.