[JK: One of the most thoughtful writers on our local politics is Lew Benton, who served as Saratoga Springs Commission of Public Safety some years ago. He is currently a member of the Charter Review Commission.]
John,
I’m sure you agree that Fred Hequembourg was one of the most astute members to ever sit on the County Board of Supervisors. He often said that in politics “If you want to beat a dog you can always find a stick.”[JK: On this Lew and I are in synch. Fred Hequembourg was, in this blogger’s mind, the finest legislator to serve on the County Board of Supervisors in my lifetime.] So, it seems the recently issued “White Paper” attacking the Charter Review Commission and its work to date has become the big stick.
The “White Paper,” issued by the City Democratic Committee, accuses the Commission and some of its members of all manner of impropriety from proposing to ‘roll back city planning’ to ‘opening the door to bid rigging” to, and this is my favorite, ‘reducing our representation on the County Board of Supervisors.’ We are apparently, according to the referenced White Paper opening lots of doors.
The indictment also suggests that some Charter Commission members were ‘cashing out.’ As a member of the Commission and a registered Democrat, I can assure all that I have neither cashed out nor in. I am somewhat surprised that we haven’t yet been accused of vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool or rigging the 2020 Presidential election.
The 11-count indictment slings accusations that require indignation and public correction. It is replete with falsehoods, intellectual dishonesty, deliberate misrepresentations. First, our current Charter does not ‘guarantee the city two supervisors.’ City’s in NYS are without any standing in charter, General City Law, General County Law, or General Municipal Law or to determine its number of representatives on boards of supervisors. This has been
detailed ad infinitum. The city will always have one or more based on decennial
reapportionment. Period.
What is so disconcerting is public elected officials who falsely attest otherwise. If our representatives lack a basic knowledge of how our Board of Supervisors is structured under the‘one person, one vote’ principle, we have a bigger problem than the Charter. The indictment also alleges that ‘financial oversight will be gutted.’ No, it will be strengthened by the instant proposal and the more comprehensive changes likely to be proposed in the second
phase of our work.
Under the current charter, our Commissioner of Finance is required to produce annual internal audits. The “White Paper’ tells the public that the Commission’s proposed changes, these audits become optional, and an annual review of the City’s investment policy is eliminated entirely.
That is false. There are NO charges to either Title 4.2.4, Investment of City monies or Title 4.3.3, Annual audit. Those existing titles remain unchanged. They remain wholly intact. Apparently, in their haste to distract and disrupt, the authors of the ‘White Paper’ failed to read the actual proposal and note that only proposed changes are highlighted and NOT those titles with no amendments. What the Commission has proposed is requiring ALL budget transfers to be ‘accompanied’ by a written explanation and strengthening the language regarding Payments prohibited.
The Commission is well aware of the violations of Charter Law by some past council members, their entering into contracts with or obligation to outside legal counsel in violation of the Public Officers Law and Titles 4.4.13 and 8.1 of the existing Charter, and the awarding of inappropriate additional compensation to deputy commissioners. The Commission has proposed amendments designed to prevent such abuses in the future and sanction violators.
The last few budgets have also failed to match operating revenues and expenditures. The result has been significant operating deficits that are depleting the City’s fund balance. The ‘White Paper’ neglects to note this and the corresponding need to maintain balanced budgets.
The charge that “financial oversight will be gutted” is manifestly false. And it again demonstrates that those who levied the accusation did not understand that only the Commission’s then proposed initial amendments were presented in the Local Law No. 4 of 2026. ALL OTHER EXISTING SECTIONS OF THE CURRENT CHARTER REMAINUNCHANGED, INCLUDING THOSE THAT THE CITY DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE’S CRITIQUE CLAIMS “… WILL BE GUTTED.”
One count of the indictment claims that “Saratogians have “no say” in the Commission’s work.
Of course, that is patently false. Every Commission meeting is announced and every meeting has and will continue to allow and encourage public comment. And every person who speaks is treated with respect and dignity and comments to date have influenced the Commission’s deliberations.
The ‘White Paper’s’ claim that “ … the City has made no attempt to produce a full, independent review of what changes will cost …” is also incorrect. The Commission is required to cause a fiscal impact analysis of the final Charter to be presented to the voters in November.
The claim that the changes would result in the new, paid position of City Historian is, of course, untrue. The salaried position has existed for years. Why and how would the leaders of a city’s political party not know that? What is to be gained by telling the public falsehoods?
Those who have an interest in what the Commission’s actual recommended Charter changes are should read Local Law No. 4 on the City website.
Lew Benton
July 7, 2026
Saratoga Springs Politics 