Complaints filed against commission members
SARATOGASPRINGS, N.Y. » A former deputy mayor filed three separate ethics complaints last week against members of the Charter Review Commission.
Hank Kuczynski filed the complaints with the city’s Board of Ethics. The board is scheduled to meet Wednesday.
Kuczynski said Pat Kane, Gordon Boyd and Jeff Altamari each violated their Oath of Office in separate incidents over the last six weeks.
Kane, who serves as vice-chair of the commission, left a voicemail on Commissioner of Public Works Anthony “Skip” Scirocco’s cellphone during a City Council meeting last month.
In the complaint, Kuczynski wrote he felt obligated to file the complaint because commission chair Bob Turner refused to address Kane’s violation of the Oath of Office. Kuczynski said the voicemail was vulgar, boorish and questionable and it violates the ordinances, laws and regulations of the city.
Boyd, who serves as treasurer of the commission, appeared in a flyer from a registered Political Action Committee called It’s Time Saratoga, which urges residents to vote for the proposed charter.
Kuczynski said since Boyd is a major contributor to this PAC, he has violated his Oath of Office. The complaint read: “[Boyd] is advocating and propagandizing as amember of the Saratoga Springs Review Commission. He is only allowed to educate.”
Boyd responded to the complaint Thursday afternoon.
“This kind of behavior from [city Commissioner of Accounts] John Franck’s longtime political ally is no surprise,” said Boyd. “He pulled this stunt in 2006 and 2012 by threatening similar lawsuits using city money every time the charter has come
before the people for a vote. When his power is challenged, he comes out swinging.”
Altamari used private funds to pay for the citywide mailing of the final document of the Charter Review Commission. The mailing was done prior to the City Council voting 3-2 against using taxpayer money to mail the charter because the council deemed it to be advocacy rather than education due to the inclusion of the fiscal analysis; some council members said the analysis was flawed.
Kuczynski said he believes Altamari ignored the ordinances, laws and regulations of the city. Kuczynski asked six questions for the Board of Ethics to review based on Altamari paying for half the mailer that included the return address of the Office of the Mayor.
“It sounds tome like once again, the commissioners in power and their friends, are trying to influence the independence of the Charter Review Commission by suppressing voter information and education,” said Turner. “The 15 citizens of the Charter Review Commission have volunteered the last 18 months and have followed State Law and abided by their Oaths of Office at all times.”
Facebook complaint
On Thursday, Franck filed a complaint with the state Office of the Attorney General about the Charter Review Commission’s Facebook page advocating for a “Yes” vote on the proposed charter.
In the complaint, Franck said a post— an image that appears to say “Yes On A New City Charter” and provides instructions on how to vote for the charter — clearly violates a state law, which says the commission can educate voters but cannot advocate for a particular position.
Turner responded Thursday afternoon.
“We have not received any official notification from the Ethics Committee. As far as I understand, any citizen can come to the Ethics Committee at any time. We have also not seen John Franck’s allegation. The Saratoga Springs Charter Review Commission Facebook Page was created by private citizens who seek to educate and inform their fellow Saratogians about the new charter,” said Turner. “The Charter Review Commission’s official website is at https://saratogacharter.com/. It has links to the charter and the studies and reports produced by the independent commission. Minutes and videos of the 38 Charter Review Commission meetings can be viewed on the city website at www.saratoga-springs.org/2144/ Charter-Commission.”