Public commenters and councilors press for a full‑time city attorney and accurate minutes

At the pre‑agenda meeting, several speakers urged the council to move to a full‑time city attorney and to ensure meeting minutes are accurate and free from partisan editing.

"The city needs an in‑house legal staff that commands respect and provides consistent, reliable legal guidance," said David Buetchan, chairman of the Saratoga County Conservative Party, urging a full‑time position and more stable counsel after recent turnover. Marybeth D'Alarm, a member of the public, alleged multiple errors and omissions in published minutes and urged that minutes be pulled until reviewed; she called for the commissioner of accounts to resign and said minutes had been doctored in ways she said favored certain commissioners.

A commissioner (speaker 7) disputed those public accusations directly, saying "Literally nothing you just said is accurate or true," while other commissioners acknowledged the workload for two part‑time attorneys and said the administration would present a contract to expand legal capacity under the city attorney's office. Another speaker noted that under the current city charter the city attorney is appointed by the mayor and that removing the political element would require a charter change.

Councilors did not adopt charter changes at the meeting but said they would pursue a contract to increase legal services and would consider process improvements for minutes and records.