RESIDENTS REJECT CITY CHARTER PROPOSAL
Put Charter debate to rest
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Saratoga Springs Charter reform advocates say it’s time to give such efforts a rest, following the latest failed proposal to alter or amend city government.
Last year, by 10 votes, residents approved keeping the current commission form of government instead of having a city manager.
On Tuesday, by a resounding majority, voters rejected a plan to amend the commission system. Plans called for adding two City Council members, with legislative authority only, in addition to implementing widespread restructuring in various departments.
“The form of government was not on the ballot,” said Vincent DeLeonardis, the city attorney and Charter Commission chair. “It was just an effort to update and amend the current form of government we have and the form of government voters decided to keep last year. It is unfortunate that information had to compete with misinformation and disinformation.”
“The outcome is what it is,” he said. “The very subject of Charter is very contentious in this city. It has a very long-rooted and deep history. I respect that. I respect the fact that debate over our form of government is going to continue. I think there was some confusion in this round about what was on the ballot.”
Residents were asked two questions. In response to the first, Shall the Charter be amended? – 64.4 percent of voters said no (6,537 to 3,610).
More than 68 percent
(6,876 to 3,188) of residents also voted no in response to a second question, Shall the Charter be amended to allow for two additional Council members?
Mayor Meg Kelly said she believes the proposals were good ones, but that voters are basically tired of dealing with Charter issues.
“I think citizens are Chartered out,” she said. “They don’t want the bickering, they don’t want the fighting any more. There’s a lot of negativity around the Charter and there shouldn’t be. There’s two groups that are at odds. I think they’re splitting the community and we need to give the Charter a rest and not think about it every election.”
Kelly said there are no immediate plans to revisit such issues again next year, and that she believes it’s time to get on with the business of running city government.
“We’ll go on, we’ll be at work tomorrow,” she said. “Right now my group just wants to get to work.”
Richard Sellers, a spokesman for the group SUCCESS, said he, too, believes there was considerable misunderstanding prior to the election about what was proposed and the potential benefits of change. “The second question, pertaining to adding two legislators, was a major factor causing confusion and uneasiness,” he said. “Commission supporters were very happy that their preferred form of government would continue regardless of the vote’s outcome.”
Mark Pingel, a spokesman for the group It’s Time Saratoga, said in a statement, “The voters of Saratoga Springs recognized that the proposed changes would not improve the functioning of city government. It’s Time Saratoga is proud of whatever small part it contributed to bring about this outcome. Now it is time to get back to ensuring that the direction and leadership guiding Saratoga Springs will ensure this wonderful city remains a great place to live and work.”