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Town board members clash over sheriff contract, with competing accounts of how it ended
Summary
Board members and residents disputed whether the town’s $350,000 contract car with the Saratoga County Sheriff was removed by unanimous board approval during budget workshops or unilaterally cancelled; speakers also debated whether adding patrols or expanding mental‑health services is the better response to recent shootings.
At the town board agenda meeting, a town official read a prepared statement asserting the board unanimously adopted a preliminary budget that did not include the $350,000 contract‑car line item and that the supervisor did not unilaterally cancel the contract. The speaker said the decision reflected budget constraints and the presence of a New York State Police barracks in Malta; the speaker urged that some of the funds would be better spent on mental‑health services.
Several council members and other speakers disputed that account, saying they were not informed the contract would be removed or that the supervisor had communicated a position directly to the sheriff’s office. One speaker said he had gone to the sheriff and been told the supervisor had indicated the town was no longer interested. Another said they voted against the preliminary budget because of the fire contracts, not the sheriff item.
Councilman Mclofflin and Councilman Warner both spoke during the exchange; a former supervisor, Mark Hammond, questioned the elimination and sought clarification. About the same period the board discussed that deputies dedicated to Malta exist and that the county and state provide substantial coverage; speakers also proposed alternatives such as a Malta security patrol model used in nearby jurisdictions or negotiating contract shifts rather than a full contract.
Public commenters and some board members emphasized mental‑health interventions and a town task force to explore bringing county social workers or counseling outreach to Malta as a complement to policing. "When the police show up, we've already missed an opportunity," one speaker said, arguing mental‑health resources could prevent some incidents.
The transcript records sharply differing accounts about the timing of an email to the sheriff's office and staff remarks that a letter was sent; the parties asked for the email to be produced and for the board to revisit the topic in upcoming budget discussions. No final action to restore the contract was taken at the meeting; members suggested the matter can be revisited in the budget process or through a public‑safety committee.
The board also acknowledged the swift response of state and county law enforcement to two recent officer‑involved shootings and thanked first responders.
