At a recent City Council meeting, Saratoga Springs Mayor Kim, Public Safety Commissioner Montagnino, and Finance Commissioner Sanghvi made blistering attacks on Accounts Commissioner Dillon Moran and Director of Risk and Safety Marilyn Rivers accusing them of trying to hide a payment for a deductible owed to the city’s insurance company in a settlement of a lawsuit against the city (see recent post). Montagnino claimed he only became aware of the settlement by using his attorney skills to find information on the web. Kim and Sanghvi asserted that they were also not told of the settlement.
As it turns out emails below show that Marilyn Rivers advised Mayor Kim’s Deputy, Angela Rella, and City Attorney Tony Izzo of the settlement in an email on July 11, 2022, a month earlier.
So how is it that Kim, Montagnino, and Sanghvi were allegedly unaware of the settlement? Ms. Rella is Kim’s deputy. Did she fail to read the email, or did she fail to inform Kim? Was Kim advised of the settlement by her and cynically made accusations knowing they were untrue?
Did Izzo fail to advise Montagnino and Sanghvi, or had they been informed but, for some bizarre reason, chose to pretend ignorance in their reckless accusations of some kind of conspiracy?
Here is the email Marilyn Rivers sent to Izzo and Rella regarding the settlement and the deductible owed.
Attached please find correspondenc pertaining to Timothy Wales as received from Travelers Insurance. As discussed in previous conversations. This is the only correspondenc/information I will receive regarding the Timothy Wales Settlement. Additional information may be received directly from John Aspland – insurance counsel on this case file. The process at this juncture is that the City Council – in this case Tony Izzo – would share the settlement with the City Council . My insurance file is now formally closed with this email.
Marilyn Rivers July 11, 2022
Below is the full thread of the email sent by Rivers to Rella and Izzo.
Saratoga Springs Politics 
Angela Rella – Deputy mayor, reports to Ron Kim
Christy Spadaro – HR, reports to Ron Kim
Tony Izzo – City Attorney, reports to Ron Kim
Last night Mayor Kim announced he would conduct a full investigation to determine how the city arrived at having to pay this deductible – might be more efficient if he just asked the people in his own department.
Seems to me somebody owes Marilyn Rivers, Dillon Moran and anyone who had to witness his hysterics at the council table a sincere apology…
LikeLiked by 3 people
I agree with Charles. The attacks and numerous unfair insinuations seem to have been part of the ploy to build support for transfer of Risk and Safety to the Mayor’s department.
Chris Mathiesen
LikeLiked by 3 people
I wonder what Deputy Mayor Rella and City Attorney Izzo were thinking as they sat at that City Council meeting and listened to Sanghvi, Kim, and Montagnino make false accusations against Moran and Rivers. Neither had the integrity or the courage to speak up and correct what those Council members were saying. Shame on them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Agreed. Even if they didn’t feel it appropriate to interrupt, sending a text or passing a note with some details would have gone a long way. Seeing as how they, specifically Kim and Montagnino, seem allergic to ever admitting they are wrong, my guess is that Tony and Angela will take the fall when Kim eventually gives his excuse/non-apology.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Better yet, Mike, the City Attorney should have gone over the insurance policy with the Council members and explained to them that they had no role in litigating and settling the case and that yes, they owed the deductible. None of this should ever have gotten to the Council table. There was nothing to be discussed.
LikeLiked by 1 person