Charter Commission had great teamwork

Democrats and Republicans, Commissioners and Deputies all worked together to update the Saratoga Springs City Charter which will be on the ballot Nov. 6.

Thanks to Mayor Kelly and the knowledgeable team she appointed to this year’s Charter Review Commission for proposing changes to make the commission form of government even more efficient and effective.

It was refreshing to listen to the in-depth discussions as the Charter Review Commission members went lineby-line through the charter and made improvements for the voters to consider in the November referendum. Videos and minutes of all of their meetings are on the city’s website if you’re curious about their discussions and how they reached decisions.

City Commissioners and Deputies will be holding outreach meetings this month and next where you can ask them questions about the proposed changes to the current charter.

It was great to see everyone working for the good of our city rather than protecting their departments, thereby disproving the negative silo-descriptions circulated during last year’s referendum campaign.

I hope that voters will approve of this commission’s work and vote yes in the referendum this November to update our current form of government.

Richard Sellers Saratoga Springs like depression or anxiety, please join us for the Capital Region Walk for R.I.T.A. to bring awareness and raise funds for suicide prevention on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018 at the Saratoga Spa State Park-Orenda Pavillion. To register or make a donation go to www.afsp. org/rita. We offer other walks in the Capital Region, including in Schenectady on October 13. For more information you can go to www.afsp.org/crnywalks or email CapitalRegionNY@afsp.org.

Funds raised support the Capital Region NY Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. We provide local suicide prevention, education, awareness, training and support programs free of charge throughout the 15 counties served and support the organizations bold goal to reduce the annual suicide rate in the United States 20 percent by 2025 through research, education, advocacy, and support.

I hope you will join us for at least one walk this fall season. Each walk is truly an uplifting experience filled with messages of healing and hope.

Together we can save lives. Sally Gangell Saratoga Springs