I was curious about how the leadership of the Saratoga Springs Democratic Committee and their candidates would respond to the guilty verdict in the Dillon Moran case, their candidate for Commissioner of Accounts. Apparently, it has had no effect on their loyalty to him and their support for his candidacy.
Saratoga Springs Democratic Chair Otis Maxwell, Democratic mayoral candidate Michele Madigan, and Democratic committee member Jim Thompson all used the public comment period at the September 2, 2025, City Council meeting to oppose censuring Moran.
Censure
The impetus for their attendance at this particular City Council meeting was an item on Democratic Public Safety Commissioner Tim Coll’s agenda to censure Dillon Moran in light of his conviction.
The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) defines censure as:
A formal statement of reprimand, disapproval, or condemnation of a person, action, etc., typically as a form of disciplinary action by a legislative body, professional organization, etc.
The full resolution appears at the end of this blog. The only other time I am aware of when the City Council voted to censure one of its members was in the case of a former mayor. In that case, that mayor was found to have violated the city’s ethics code by soliciting employment from Saratoga Hospital while the hospital had business pending before the Council.
In this case, Moran was found guilty of even more serious misconduct with his conviction on three counts of violating the New York State Penal Law. City Court Judge Jeffrey Wait found that Moran had willfully and knowingly signed three false certifications in which he swore he did not have documents being sought under the Freedom of Information Law, which he, in fact, possessed.
The censure resolution asserts the further seriousness of Moran’s actions, given that, under our charter, as Accounts Commissioner, he is responsible for the integrity of the city’s records.
The resolution passed three to two with Moran and Finance Commissioner Minita Sanghvi voting against the motion. I wrote to Commissioner Sanghvi asking why she opposed the censure, but consistent with the past, she did not reply. Moran’s decision to participate in the discussion and vote was clearly a conflict of interest.
Supporting the resolution were Commissioners Coll and Public Works Commissioner Chuck Marshall, and Mayor John Safford.
The Tortured Arguments Against Censure
Democratic chair Otis Maxwell sent out an appeal for Dillon supporters to turn out at the Council meeting to protest the censure resolution. Only two people showed up to speak about that at the meeting’s public comment period. Otis and Democratic Committee member Jim Thompson were joined by Democratic mayoral candidate Michele Madigan, who left her seat at the Supervisor’s table to take to the microphone on Dillon’s behalf.
The following videos are of what they said at the public comment period. Each is three minutes long.
Jim Thompson, Saratoga Springs Democratic Committee Member
Rather than addressing the charges against Moran, Mr. Thompson began his remarks by characterizing the proceedings in Judge Wait’s court as a “spectacle” involving the judge, court personnel, the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Department, and the DA’s office, among others. According to Thompson, “all engaged in a spectacle engineered by the chair of the Republican Party against Dillon Moran.”
For Mr. Thompson, Moran is simply the victim of one giant conspiracy. Judge Wait is a Democrat and a thoughtful jurist. The idea that he is a tool of the Republican city chair is quite amazing.
Otis Maxwell, Chair of the Saratoga Springs Democratic Committee
Chairman Maxwell began his remarks by praising Mr. Thompson for his “very eloquent summary of what happened last week at that trial.” He continued to promote the narrative that Moran was simply the victim of a vast conspiracy, ignoring evidence that came out in court, such as Moran’s use of two cell phones to try to circumvent FOIL.
He argued that Moran had already initiated an appeal, and that while the appeal is pending, no action should be taken regarding censure as, he incorrectly states, “facts can change on appeal”.
Michele Madigan, Candidate For Mayor
Madigan begins by claiming she is motivated to speak by Jim Thompson’s remarks. She then quickly segues into complaining that Mike Brandi had just contacted two of her friends that week, seeking texts and emails they may have sent or received from Madigan that might damage her.
I contacted Brandi, who dismissed her allegations. I contacted Madigan to ask whether she could provide the names of the two people he allegedly contacted. She responded with the single word, “No.”
Martha Devaney, Saratoga County Democratic Committee Chair
The most disturbing and unusual comments came from Saratoga County Democratic chair Martha Devaney, who spoke at the public comment period at the next City Council meeting on September 16. I have never heard a chair of either party publicly say, particularly at a City Council meeting, that one of their party’s endorsed candidates was “an embarrassment to the city.” The individual who drew this public rebuke was not Dillon Moran, who had just been convicted of violating the penal code and who has many other pending allegations, but Democratic candidate and current Public Safety Commissioner Tim Coll. In her eyes, his most egregious offense was calling for Moran’s censure and asking the Governor to review Moran’s actions.
Devaney’s public remarks followed an email exchange she had with Cole that appears in its entirety at the end of this post.
On September 7, 2025, Devaney wrote to Commissioner Coll, asking why Moran’s conviction was not sufficient for him and why it was necessary to censure him. Coll promptly responded to her that day. He reminded her that Moran’s conviction was directly related to his official duties. He quoted from Judge Wait’s verdict:
“Commissioner Moran had a second telephone for the very purpose of concealing reviewable records. He then signed, sworn certification which stated that the records did not exist when he knew that to be false.”
Judge Jeffery Wait
Coll reminded her that Moran claimed that a contribution to the candidacy of Joe Seeman by someone named “Jack MeOff” had originated with Moran’s PayPal account. Moran claimed, without providing evidence, that somehow someone had “hacked” his account.
Coll also reminded her that it is within the Governor’s authority to remove elected officials from office when appropriate. The censure resolution included language requesting that Governor Hochul review the case.
During the public comment period for the September 16, 2025, Council meeting, Devaney read a subsequent letter she had written to Coll.
Chairperson Devaney, reading from her letter, expressed surprise that Coll would seek censure for Moran beyond his conviction. She accused him of “grandstanding” and asserted that Coll sought censure because of his dislike of Moran. What she fails to do is address and rebut the arguments Coll provided in his email to her for censure.
Most disturbing (and bizarre) is her allegation in her letter that Saratoga County Administrator Steve Bulger contacted the Governor’s office and told them that Coll’s actions were “ridiculous.”
One has to ask: Why would Steve Bulger, a Republican, contact the Democratic Governor’s office over this matter? More so, why would Bulger characterize Coll’s behavior as ridiculous?
Mr. Bulger has apparently written to Ms. Devaney, stating that her information regarding his involvement is false and requesting that she acknowledge this. He also asked for the name of the person in the Governor’s office whom she alleges he talked to. I understand Devaney told Bulger she would not provide the name.
I emailed Devaney asking who in the Governor’s office reported that Bulger said this. She wrote back to me that she would not provide a name.
(Devaney’s email, along with Coll’s response can be viewed at the bottom of this post).
The Cenure Resolution
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS, NEW YORK
Censuring Commissioner of Accounts, Dillon Moran, for violations of the New York State Public Officers Law, New York State Penal Law, and the Saratoga Springs City Charter
WHEREAS, the right to request and access records maintained by government agencies is essential for a functioning democracy and has long been established as a basic obligation necessary to ensure transparency and accountability and to allow for a more informed and trusting public; and
WHEREAS, such right is codified in Article 6 of the New York State Public Officers Law, known as the “Freedom of Information Law’\ which declares that “government is the public’s business” and the public’s right to an open and accessible government “should not be thwarted”; and
WHEREAS, Section 240.65 of the New York State Penal Law renders it unlawful for a governmental official to intentionally prevent public access to records subject to FOIL through willful concealment or destruction; and
WHEREAS, on August 29, 2025, following a multi-day trial, Saratoga Springs Commissioner of Accounts, Dillon Moran, was found guilty by the Honorable Jeffrey D. Wait, Saratoga Springs City Court, of three (3) separate counts of New York State Penal Law Section 240.65, and did unlawfully prevent public access to records; and
WHEREAS, the unlawful actions of Commissioner Moran are, in addition to the New York State Penal Law, in violation of the City Charter, Section 2.2; demonstrate incompetency in and maladministration of his office, and constitute a breach of official duty and of the public trust; and
WHEREAS, the City Council recognizes both its responsibility and its limitations in addressing such misconduct under the City Charter and New York State Law and intends, therefore, to request appropriate review and action by the governor of the State of New York, pursuant to Section 33 of the Public Officers Law, in addition to those actions of the City Council as set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Saratoga Springs as follows:
- The City Council hereby censures Commissioner Moran and rebukes his unlawful prevention of public access to records in violation of Section 89 of the New York State Public Officers Law, Section 240.65 of the New York State Penal Law, and Section 2.2 of the City Charter.
- The City Council hereby requests that the New York State Governor, review and investigate the unlawful conduct of Commissioner Moran as described herein and to take all actions deemed necessary and appropriate under Section 33 of the Public Officers Law.
- The Mayor shall cause a copy of this resolution to be forwarded to the New York State Governor indicating the Council’s request for the aforesaid review and investigation.
Devaney/Coll Exchange
On Sun, Sep 7, 2025 at 10:14 AM Martha Devaney <> wrote:
Hi Tim,
I hope you had an enjoyable summer.
I would like to touch base regarding your recent Resolution to censure Commissioner Moran.
Specifically, I would like to understand why you felt it necessary to take this action.
And, further, why you brought this to the Governor’s office.
Judge Waite tried and issued a sentence on this matter. Why was this not sufficient?
I do not understand:
1. Judge Waite’s handling of the matter was not sufficient for you
2. what your motivation was to initiate and issue a censure against a fellow Commissioner
3. how or why you think sending the censure to the Governor’s office could be beneficial to the city
Please reply to help me understand. Thank you.
Martha, chair
Saratoga County Democratic Committee
From: Tim Coll <>
Date: Sun, Sep 7, 2025, 11:33 AM
Subject: Re: Questions
To: Martha Devaney <>
Martha-
As I have stated publicly, Commissioner Moran’s actions were egregious. He was convicted (beyond a reasonable doubt) by a judge for conduct directly related to his official duties, which clearly demonstrated fraud. In Judge Wait’s words: “Commissioner Moran had a second telephone for the very purpose of concealing reviewable records. He then signed, sworn certification which stated that the records did not exist when he knew that to be false.”
Commissioner Moran is the official record keeper of the City, and I believe his actions, along with other troubling behavior, such as the false allegation that his PayPal account was “hacked” to send money under the moniker Jack Meoff, make him unfit for office. Many in our community share this belief.
According to our City Charter, Section 2.8, the only person who has the authority to remove him from office is the Governor. That is why I have submitted the matter to the Governor so she may decide whether or not to remove him.
Finally, as I have told him, in the public domain, he is an embarrassment to the city and it just never stops.
Additionally, I plan on having follow up conversations with Bobby Logan and this will be one of the items I will discuss with him.
Hope that helps.
Tim
Saratoga Springs Politics 
Not surprised to see the Democratic leadership supporting law breaking. Rules for thee but not for me.
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