Many City residents, both for and against Charter Reform
are dismayed at the behavior of Michele Madigan & John Franck both at the
Council table and in the newspapers.
Both are elected City officials voted into office by those for and
against the change. Both represent all
Saratogians not just those against the Charter change. They should be the voice of reason at the
Council table, they can state their vote of no confidence of the new form of
government but the way they have been acting this year makes me wonder if they
have just lost their minds and have been overcome by so much hate that they can’t
control themselves and both have looked that way in the media and especially
the eyes of the citizens of Saratoga.
Why didn’t Commissioner Franck disclose when a Commissioner his CPA firm
was hired to do a study in Mechanicville and he himself was paid thousands of
dollars to do this study and told the City (who happens to have a Commission
form of Government) that the study and he were recommending that Mechanicville
switch to a City Manager form of government. This is a quote from his recommendation
“It is the team’s view that a City Manager per se, may be unaffordable in
Mechanicville’s present financial situation.
Alternatively, a city administrative officer, accountable to a Mayor and
City Council, could be established, rationalize administrative functions, be
affordable and be accountable to the elected officials of the city. In either case, a significant revision of the
City Charter is warranted.”
This revelation should have been disclosed by Franck, his
professional credibility was put on the line as it is now. He should have at least disclosed this
information to the citizens of Saratoga instead of making himself one of the
embarrassments of our government.
He now raises questions about the Commission of trying to
buy the election. He should know but
because of his actions this year that the City through an approved budget to
the Commission HAS to pay for informative mailings, the Commission does not
have to get Council approval to send out these mailings as another brilliant
Council member (Scirocco) indicated and tried 3 times to make a motion without
success and have the Asst. City Atty phrase it in the form of a resolution that
the Council had to see everything and approve any literature before being
mailed out, WRONG. The Council cannot
interfere with a Commission.
The bottom line is this, 3 unopposed Commissioners thanks
to the inept Democratic and Republican Party’s, are insanely opposed to change
while 2 outgoing Commissioners want the change.
The whole thing smacks of keeping power and don’t
believe Madigan’s promise not to run in 2019.
She has been one not to be believed and I wouldn’t take anything she
says ‘to the bank’.
Flip your ballot over and vote YES for Charter Change, it
is one of the only things that makes sense along with keeping Mark Baker out of
City Hall.
Talking about Skip and our great water supply. Do you think the taste of our water has gone
down the last few years? I have been
told by many that they can’t stand the taste of the drinking water.
Both images below were provided by Property owners in
Gyser Crest.
