For whatever reason, Saratoga Springs Democratic Mayoral candidate Michele Madigan has embraced a campaign of accusing this blogger of conspiring with Public Safety Commissioner Tim Coll to victimize former Public Works Commissioner Jason Golub. She dismisses any suggestion that Golub is culpable of abusing his office by engaging the services of city employees, city equipment, and city materials to fix his clogged sink. This blogger has thoroughly reviewed this topic in the past. Unfortunately for Madigan, Coll, who had requested that the city’s Human Resources Department review the Golub matter, has released the result of that investigation. The report is clear. It confirms how Golub violated the city’s ethical norms (See below).
Golub Sues City
Attorney Brian C. Mahoney filed a “notice of claim” on August 15, 2025, on Golub’s behalf against the city of Saratoga Springs. This allows Golub to sue if he so chooses during the next six months.
The “notice” claims:
“…Jason Golub, was intentionally and maliciously investigated by the Saratoga Springs Police Department at the behest of Saratoga Springs Commissioner of Public Safety Time Coll.”
In fact, this blogger initiated the investigation by contacting the New York State Comptroller after being approached by two whistleblowers who had performed work on Golub’s home. The Comptroller’s office then referred the matter to law enforcement.
Golub’s lawyer’s claim contains several errors. The most damaging of which is the false statement: “Moreover, a previous inquiry in early 2024 into the matter by the City’s Human Resources department found no wrongdoing on the part of the claimant [Golub].”
In fact, the city’s Human Resources report on the findings of their investigation says the opposite. I have included the full report and encourage readers of this blog to read it.
It is rather astonishing that Golub’s attorney would assert that the Human Resources Department found no wrongdoing, given the actual report.
This is from their report:
[Redacted] allegation that he performed work at Mr. Golub’s private residence during work hours at the expense of the city is substantiated…..Based on the factual findings set forth above, it appears that Jason Golub and [redacted name] violated the Code of Ethics of the City.
Investigation Summary Report August 30, 2024
The entire report documents Golub’s use of city employees, city vehicles, city equipment, and city materials.
Blogger Drawn Into Potential Suit
In an email to me from Times Union reporter Wendy Liberatore, she informed me that she heard I was going to be deposed in this case.
On August 18, I was served with a “Litigation Hold Notice.” It instructed me to protect any emails, texts, and other relevant communications related to Golub’s potential suit. A friend who is an attorney was quite amused. He told me they could have just sent me the notice by registered mail instead of incurring the expense of paying someone to serve it to me physically, telling me that he thought they were trying to intimidate me.
Michele Madigan Calls Out The Blogger
The following is from the Michele Madigan for Mayor Facebook page. She continues to inaccurately describe what occurred at Jason Golub’s house and the judge’s ruling in the case (see the HR document below and previous blogs). In this posting she ventures into the dark world of imagined conspiracies . I am at a loss as to what she means by the blogger (me) being motivated by “political retribution.” Perhaps she will elaborate in future posts. I wonder if she will continue to pursue her energetic defense of Jason Golub after she reads the Human Resources report on Golub. Here are Madigan’s comments.
Here Is The Human Resources Report
For privacy reasons, the names have been redacted.
Saratoga Springs Politics 
As the person who served a Commissioner of Finance for ten years, Michele Madigan should be very aware of ethical violations committed by a Public Works commissioner who would expect a Public Works employee to provide free plumbing services on private property. Apparently, a Public Works employee was compelled to twice use City equipment, supplies and a City vehicle to unclog drains in the commissioner’s home. Had the SSPD and the District Attorney not investigated allegations of plumbing services provided by City employees for two separate private residences at the behest of both the Commissioner and the Deputy Commissioner of Public Works, the police and the DA could have been considered to be acting in collusion with former Commissioner Golub and his deputy.
Chris Mathiesen
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The Democrats would do themselves a huge favor by stopping the “us vs them” public spins and outcries. Because the OBJECTIVE facts contradict their message, they fall back on finger-pointing accusations devoid of facts, but chock full of emotions and drama, drawing interest in all who will listen (ie: the general public).
The “blogger”, Mr John Kaufman, has developed, retained, and demonstrated in everything he puts his name to, the journalistic integrity once highly prized and a goal of all reputable journalists. I am not surprised however, by Ms Liberatore’s involvement in this issue. She inserted herself and attempted to ascertain and spread gossip like an adolescent little girl. So much for the professional ethics and advice of never getting personally involved in one’s story as one loses all objectivity.
Thank you once again Mr Kaufman for being an exceptional journalist and leading by example. There is a reason our local ‘news’ papers’ readership has declined so significantly. Subscribers want the objective truth presented in a simple, comprehensive way; a far cry of what they are today.
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This whole story reeks of desperation. Sure, Golub shouldn’t have done it, but does it really rise to the level of a scandal? “City Employee Improperly Unclogs Drain” is so lame. If that’s the best line of attack you have, Golub must be a pretty ethical guy.
Looking forward to seeing what flavor of unbiased journalism comes up in those subpoenaed texts.
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The recent Human Resources report on the charges against Jason Golub does not change the fact that the charges were dismissed by a judge due to lack of evidence. It is concerning that the Public Safety Commissioner, the person in charge of our police department, a recent WAMC interview states that despite’s the judge’s decision he still claims Golub is guilty. This is highly problematic, it is not the role of the Public Safety Commissioner to be the arbiter of guilt or innocence – that is the responsibility of the courts.
Additionally, the WAMC article highlights the long history of targeting of Jason Golub by former Commissioner Tim Coll. This context is important in understanding the motivations and biases behind the continued pursuit of charges against Golub, even in the face of a judge’s dismissal.
The accusation lodged at Former Commissioner, Current Supervisor, and Candidate for Mayor Michele Madigan of ‘doubling down’ reeks of hypocrisy, particularly when Tim Coll continues to publicly declare Jason Golub guilty even after the courts dismissed the case for lack of evidence. The judiciary—not political figures with personal grudges—determines guilt or innocence, yet Coll’s refusal to accept the court’s ruling highlights his disregard for due process. Coll’s years-long campaign against Golub, which persists despite judicial findings, risks politicizing our justice system and eroding trust in impartial outcomes.
I would encourage everyone to listen to the WAMC article and draw their own conclusions about the concerning pattern of behavior surrounding this case. The rule of law and the independence of the courts must be upheld, regardless of personal opinions or political agendas. https://www.wamc.org/news/2025-08-20/former-public-works-commissioner-threatens-legal-action-over-alleged-rights-violations
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I’m afraid you didn’t read Judge Wait’s decision nor my posts. Judge Wait’s decision was that the charging document should have included addressing whether Golub knew that the city employees were on the clock when they worked on his home. His decision to dismiss was done “without prejudice” which provided the DA to amend the charges and resubmit them. This decision did not indicate Golub’s culpability one way or the other. You incorrectly implied that he was found not guilty.
Apparently Golub did not notice the city truck that brought the plumber and other employee to his house nor did he offer to pay these men considering that he allegedly thought they were there not on city time.
HR simply observed the obvious which was city employees should not be working on the homes of public officials. Mark, do you think it is ok for city employees to work on elected officials private residences?
I believe that Golub knew but putting that aside, the HR investigation did not have to prove knowledge. Instead they placed the responsibility on Golub. Public officials like Golub are responsible for not having their employees using city equipment and city materials working on their home.
Tim Coll like any citizen, has a right to express his opinion. Coll was not arguing or “dismissing” Wait’s decision as Wait never opined on Golub’s guilt but on the error in the charging document.
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Word.
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?
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I don’t know you or Golub. I don’t belong to any political party. However, I like reading your blog, because you are so detailed. I suspect that, based on the way you’ve portrayed it here, that Golub may be culpable. Indeed, while you are penetrative as any investigative reporter should be, you are also breathtakingly pedantic, and this is coming from somebody who is pedantic for a living. Someone must point out the small infractions that underpin broad scale corruption? Ever wonder if Coll has made any errors on par with Golub’s? If he did, who would call him out, given his power within the city administration, whether expressed or implied?
”For whatever reason, Saratoga Springs Democratic Mayoral candidate Michele Madigan has embraced a campaign of accusing this blogger of conspiring with Public Safety Commissioner Tim Coll to victimize former Public Works Commissioner Jason Golub.”
For whatever reason?! John, your wife is Coll’s campaign manager. You’ve admitted this in the past. If this isn’t a conflict of interest, can you explain why? Can you see how people might accuse you of weaponized journalism?
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If you’d like to see a better example of weaponized journalism just check out Wendy Liberatore’s version in the TU of the Loughberry Lake issue.
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