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Council approves contracts, budget moves and tax settlement; multiple awards total several hundred thousand dollars
Summary
At its June 3 meeting the Saratoga Springs City Council unanimously approved a slate of contract awards, budget transfers, appointments and a tax assessment settlement, including $177,300 for Veterans Park HVAC, a $147,693 plumbing contract, and a $121,880 groundwater study.
The Saratoga Springs City Council on June 3 approved a series of motions, votes and contract awards covering public works construction, budget transfers, community solar participation and a tax assessment settlement. All recorded votes on agenda items were unanimous (5‑0).
Key outcomes at a glance
- Tax assessment settlement: The council approved an Article 7 consent judgment in the tax assessment matter of 195 South Broadway LLC, reducing the assessed value from $824,000 to $332,500 (an assessment reduction of $491,500) and lowering the tax bill for 2025. Mayor John F. Safford put the motion; the council voted 5‑0.
- Veterans Park Field House contracts: The council authorized multiple construction contracts required for the new field house and associated renovations. The HVAC contract to T. Migueliot (recorded in agenda as RFP 2025‑03) was approved in the amount not to exceed $177,300. The plumbing contract to Collins Mechanical (RFP 2025‑11) was approved in the amount not to exceed $147,693. The council approved both contracts 5‑0; staff said construction is expected to begin with a groundbreaking in July.
- Groundwater exploration study: The council authorized a contract with C.T. Male Associates (recorded in the agenda transcript as “CT Mail/CT veil associates”) for groundwater source exploration in the amount not to exceed $121,880 to identify potential additional water supply sites. The contract was approved 5‑0.
- HVAC services and maintenance bids: The council extended the citywide HVAC services contract (RFP 2024‑36) with BPI Mechanical Services at unit bid pricing and approved a separate HVAC services contract for DPW facilities with BPI Mechanical at unit bid pricing, not to exceed the 2025 budgeted amount. Both motions passed 5‑0.
- Streetlight maintenance fund amendment: Council approved a fund‑balance budget amendment to cover NYPA streetlight maintenance agreements totaling $71,410 for routine maintenance and $148,706.66 for nonroutine maintenance; vote 5‑0.
- Ballistic windows and security funds: The council approved budget transfers from contingency to pay for ballistic windows recommended by the city’s insurer to protect police dispatchers and staff working near ground‑level windows. The motion passed 5‑0. Relatedly, the council approved a city center budget amendment to cover additional security costs for the upcoming Belmont event; vote 5‑0.
- Community solar participation: Council authorized the mayor to sign a contract with Grassy Grove Solar East LLC for a community solar subscription to apply bill credits to participating city electric accounts. After consultation with DPW, water and sewer accounts were removed from the agreement and only one solar farm subscription was pursued. Motion passed 5‑0.
- Sodium hypochlorite and other procurement contracts: The council authorized a contract extension with Slack Chemical for sodium hypochlorite for water treatment, not to exceed $12,000, valid through June 1, 2026. The council also approved additional procurement contracts recommended by DPW; all motions recorded as 5‑0.
- Special event waiver and appointments: Council approved a $50 special event fee waiver for the Gertler Brothers VFW Post 420 Memorial Day remembrance event (motion passed 5‑0) and made several appointments to city boards and commissions, including Olivia Skirtzville Walton to the Arts Commission and Chris Clements to the Community Development Citizens Advisory Committee.
- Agreement with Northeast Housing LLC: Council authorized the mayor to sign the Fourth Amendment to the agreement with Northeast Housing LLC for continued police, fire and EMS service at the Navy Housing Base; the current service fee cited in the meeting was $10,468.19 per month. Motion passed 5‑0.
Other business included a brief emergency notice from DPW about a pump‑station failure in the industrial park (staff reported bypass pumping and repairs expected the next day) and a string of community announcements and event permits related to the Belmont festival and summer events.
Council characterized many items as consent or routine procurement and moved them through with limited discussion; all recorded roll‑call votes for the listed motions were unanimous 5‑0.
