Mayor wants order at meetings

Saratoga Mayor John Zeiger began the Nov. 4 town council meeting by apologizing to the council for “not controlling” the Oct. 21 meeting.

“I feel I didn’t control it properly, and rest assured I will not let that happen again,” Zeiger said to council and staff members.

The Oct. 21 meeting contained outbursts from Saratoga residents concerning both the noise ordinance and the rise and water and sewer fees. Zeiger limited public comment to two minutes at the Nov. 4 meeting.

At an August town council meeting, the council moved public comment from the end of the meeting to the beginning in order to provide residents an opportunity to share their views without having to wait an extended period of time. The council also elected to move their executive session to the end of the meeting at that meeting as well.

The town council also made provisions to allow residents to comment on a particular issue before it was voted on.

Zeiger did not specify at the Nov. 4 meeting what would be done to maintain order in future meetings.

Master Plan

The town of Saratoga has received the grant agreement for the master plan project.

The community development block grant totals $49,500 to go toward the project. The town received notice they would obtain the grant in June.

The town will contribute $16,000 of their own funds towards the project. Localon-profit group Voices of the Valley will contribute an additional $2,500.

Funds for this will go towards hiring a contractor to update the aging master plan for the town of Saratoga. The last master plan was completed in the 1970’s, according to Zeiger in a previous interview.

The town will soon assemble a steering committee consisting of town residents and at least one planning commission member. The planning commission member has yet to be determined, and the town of Saratoga has not released any information regarding when the steering committee will be assembled.

Public Bathrooms

A local resident wants to know why the public bathrooms close during the winter.

Richard Hodges, who operates a recycling service in Saratoga, said he was disappointed to see the public restrooms, located adjacent to the Saratoga Town Hall parking lot, were closed for the winter. Hodges said he depends on these restrooms while working, and he feels keeping them open will lessen the burden on local businesses keeping their restrooms open.

“The current administration has locked up the public bathrooms Nov. 1. It happens every year,” Hodges said. “And I register my concerns every year. This town ought to have a public bathroom open year-round if it really wants to be a tourist town.”

Town officials explained in order to keep the restrooms open, they would have to provide heat to the facilities. Town engineer Chuck Bartlett said he was not sure what the cost would be to install heat in the restrooms, but he would find out by the next town council meeting.