Saratoga County committee debates recycling payments, approves routine contracts and appointments

The Saratoga County Law and Finance Committee on Jan. 15 debated whether to raise the countys per-municipality payment for municipal management of county recycling centers, then voted to approve the original five-year intermunicipal agreement at $35,000 for 2025 and a package of routine contracts and appointments.

The most contested item was the five-year intermunicipal agreements with the towns of Clifton Park, Corinth, Moreau and the City of Saratoga Springs for recyclable-collection management. The agreement as introduced authorizes $35,000 per municipality for 2025, with the amount to increase by $1,000 per municipality per year for 2026 through 2029. Supervisor Butler argued municipalities provide a convenience to residents and pressed for full county coverage: "If it's a 1 for 1, call it fully mandated cost. Right? I would, as a supervisor, want the county to cover the entire cost." County Administrator Bolger and other supervisors described how the $35,000 figure dates to 2014 and said the $1,000 annual increases were intended to gradually adjust for inflation.

Supervisor Butler moved to amend the agreement to raise the starting payment from $35,000 to $37,500 per municipality in 2025; Supervisor Murray seconded the amendment. After discussion and a roll-call, the amendment failed (4 yes, 5 no). The committee then proceeded with the original unamended agreement as placed on the agenda and approved the full Law & Finance slate.

Other items the committee approved included:

- An amendment to an agreement with PrimeCare Medical of New York to add one nurse at the Saratoga County Correctional Facility. The county will amend the budget and decrease fund balance by $14,349.82; the amendment includes one additional nurse at a stated cost of $11,679.74 per month, effective Feb. 1, 2025. Administrator Bolger summarized the cost and implementation.

- A $53,315 agreement with BPI Mechanical Service Inc. to replace three HVAC units and perform related electrical work at the Saratoga County Mount McGivney 911 Communications Tower shelter; the county said the units are at the end of their useful life.

- An extension of a part-time attorney position under the County Attorneys office (the position held by Laura Kruegler) through Dec. 31, 2025, at the current rate of pay.

- A memorandum of agreement with the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services for a one-time distribution of flood-mitigation equipment (no county budget impact specified).

- Adoption of an introductory local law (Intro. No. 5, Print No. 1 of 2024) to amend the 2025 Saratoga County compensation schedule to provide salary and cost-of-living increases for certain county officials; a public hearing on that local law was scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on the same day.

- Appointments recommended by the county administrator under county policy: Megan Johnson as Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services (effective Oct. 31, 2024) and Julie Bosley as County Auditor (effective Jan. 22, 2025). The committee noted Megan Johnson had served as acting commissioner and had been unanimously approved by the Community Services Board and confirmed by the required interagency review.

Late in the meeting, after an executive session on proposed or pending litigation, the committee added two items to the agenda and approved amendments to retain outside counsel: a $100,000 amendment to Lipis Matthias LLP and a $100,000 amendment to Goldberg Segala to assist the County Attorneys office with litigation in LK Doe 1 v. County of Saratoga and Nutter v. County of Saratoga.

The committee also approved the meeting minutes from Dec. 11, set the agenda for the Jan. 21 board meeting, and adjourned.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to amend the intermunicipal recycling payments to raise the 2025 per-municipality payment to $37,500: moved (Supervisor Butler), seconded (Supervisor Murray); outcome: failed, recorded tally 4 yes, 5 no (roll call conducted).

- Motion to approve the Law & Finance agenda items as presented (including the intermunicipal agreements at $35,000 for 2025 and the $1,000 annual increases for 20262019): moved and seconded on the floor; outcome: approved (voice vote/recorded as carried).

- Approval of amendment to PrimeCare Medical agreement (add one nurse; budget decrease $14,349.82; nurse cost $11,679.74/month effective Feb. 1, 2025): approved.

- Approval of contract with BPI Mechanical Service Inc. for HVAC replacement at the Mount McGivney 911 shelter in the amount of $53,315: approved.

- Approval to extend part-time attorney position (Laura Kruegler) through Dec. 31, 2025: approved.

- Approval of five-year intermunicipal recycling-management agreements with Clifton Park, Corinth, Moreau and the City of Saratoga Springs (2025 amount $35,000 per municipality; +$1,000 per year 20262019): approved (after failed amendment).

- Approval of MOA with NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services for distribution of flood-mitigation equipment: approved.

- Introductory local law (Intro. No. 5, Print No. 1 of 2024) to amend the 2025 compensation schedule: public hearing set for 4:30 p.m.; taken up as introductory/local-law step on the agenda.

- Appointments: Megan Johnson, Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services (effective Oct. 31, 2024); Julie Bosley, County Auditor (effective Jan. 22, 2025): both approved/recommended per county appointment policy.

- Two $100,000 amendments to retain outside counsel (Lipis Matthias LLP and Goldberg Segala) for county litigation (LK Doe 1 v. County of Saratoga; Nutter v. County of Saratoga): approved.

What the committee debated

The committees longest discussion focused on how the county should allocate costs associated with recycling centers the county had moved to municipal management. Supervisors from municipalities that run sites with part-time staff said $35,000 is a modest offset for personnel costs; supervisors representing larger municipal operations noted county staffing or county-paid sites may be funded at 100% by the county. Administrator Bolger noted the $35,000 figure dates to 2014 and that the $1,000 annual increases were intended to gradually adjust that base to account for inflation.

Several supervisors urged more study and broader vetting of any change to the base payment before making a higher, general adjustment for all participating municipalities. On that point Supervisor Ostrander and others asked for additional input from municipalities not present at the meeting before imposing a larger increase.

Ending

Committee members moved the contested amendment to a roll call and, after the amendment failed, approved the original agreements and the remainder of the Law & Finance slate. The committee went into and returned from executive session on pending litigation and added and approved two legal-retainer amendments. The group set the agenda for the Jan. 21 board meeting and adjourned; a public hearing on the compensation local law followed later the same day.