I never use exclamation points, but this seemed like an appropriate use of one.

The in-depth research, sleepless nights wondering and meetings with "deep throat" sources have finally paid off — we've figured out what makes "Skip" "Skip."

Actually, it was a couple of off-handed comments from some people who know Anthony "Skip" Scirocco that revealed the source of the nickname, a source that only comes around once every 1,461 days.

I have it on good authority (though he has yet to confirm it) that he is named "Skip" because today, Feb. 29, is his birthday. He was a leap-year baby.

Here I thought he skipped school a lot or liked skipping as a kid or was really good at jump rope or something, but no.

I have to admit I was a little disappointed, actually, with this origin story, but everyone around the newsroom seems to love it (a certain editor who will remain nameless actually jumped and giggled giddily when she found out).

There you have it folks, the truth behind the name and you saw it here first (as far as I know).

So if you happen to see the public works commissioner today, be sure to wish him a happy sweet 16!

At the planning board Wednesday night, the big story that I saw was the second sketch plan for the Lexington Club — though I sort of think they should change the name since the project is only reminiscent of the original proposal in a structural way (the buildings look the same) but certainly not in use (hotels, restaurant, banquet hall, pool,condos, townhouses replaced by apartments).

But that wasn't the only thing on the agenda Wednesday.

The other top story, I would say, was Siro's special use permit renewal.

Siro's, as most anyone reading this blog knows, has a long history in the city's land use boards, a history that involves irate neighbors, lawsuits, acoustic experts and culminated in the erection of a 6-1/2 foot black rubber wall on top of their already 8-foot fence.

Siro's asked for a three-year extension on their special use permit that allows outdoor entertainment. They got one. Read all about it in The Saratogian tomorrow (well, with "Digital First," probably later tonight)

Well, looks like public safety employees will be drug tested after all, "in the very near future," according to Public Safety Commissioner Christian Mathiesen in Tuesday night's City Council meeting.

That is different from where he was on the issue last week when he said he was not in favor of the tests. At the City Council meeting, though, Mathiesen said he still didn't think it was necessary, but "if it would make the community at large would feel safer" for having drug tests, he would look into it.

That comes after comments online and elsewhere against his position (probably from people who get drug tested at their own jobs and don't carry guns or drive at high rates of speed).

The commissioner said he would be evaluating how to implement random drug testing in the Saratoga Springs Police Department, because both the chief and the union said they were in favor of the idea.

As Police Benevolent Association President Paul Veitch said “I believe there should be a drug-testing policy because I don’t want someone with a narcotics problem working next to me," particularly when they are carrying guns.

"I haven't had anyone come up to me and say they were happy about that article in the paper," Accounts Commissioner John Franck said to Mathiesen at the City Council meeting. He was referring to my recent article regarding the public safety commissioner's stance on random drug testing. "I don't think anyone is going to be with you on this."

Of course all of the people at the table said they did not believe there is a drug problem in the department. "But if that is the case they shouldn't have a problem with it," Franck said.

Mathiesen reiterated his stance that the system in place works. That is, when the officers of the departments see a problem, they address it.

He didn't specifically name Justin Moran, but he said "I saw how well the department worked with the other situation." Being the only drug case in recent history in the department, I have to figure it was that (also based on previous comments he made in the story I already linked to). "I knew the background," he said. "I knew how effectively it was taken care of."

Franck pointed out that he had to submit to a drug test when he was hired at his accounting firm and that people at Walmart are drug tested.

"That doesn't make it ok, just because Walmart does it," Finance Commissioner Michele Madigan said. She advised caution because of false-positive tests that could end a person's career.

"We don't want to kill anyone either," Franck said.

Mayor Scott Johnson also agreed with Franck (someone mark it down on the calender) about the need for drug testing. He said when firefighters are racing to the scene in their 20 ton (fire trucks range from 15 to 30 tons, I read) truck, "they are basically driving weapons."

When Franck kept citing Mathiesen's comments in The Saratogian's article, Mathiesen seemed to want to back away from it, saying something about how Franck should know not everything in the newspaper is accurately quoted. Of course, he didn't deny anything in the newspaper.

He said "I was asked if I supported random drug testing," something he said he does not. He said he was surprised by the question. "My reaction was 'What about cost? What about methods?'"

Mathiesen said he still doesn't support it, but "If the community feels otherwise we can look at it."

Well, looks like public safety employees will be drug tested after all, "in the very near future," according to Public Safety Commissioner Christian Mathiesen in Tuesday night's City Council meeting.

The commissioner said he would be evaluating how to implement random drug testing in the Saratoga Springs Police Department, because both the chief and the union said they were in favor of the idea.

As Police Benevolent Association President Paul Veitch said “I believe there should be a drug-testing policy because I don’t want someone with a narcotics problem working next to me," particularly when they are carrying guns.

"I haven't had anyone come up to me and say they were happy about that article in the paper," Accounts Commissioner John Franck said to Mathiesen at the City Council meeting. He was referring to my recent article regarding the public safety commissioner's stance on random drug testing. "I don't think anyone is going to be with you on this."

Of course all of the people at the table said they did not believe there is a drug problem in the department. "But if that is the case they shouldn't have a problem with it," Franck said.

Mathiesen reiterated his stance that the system in place works. That is, when the officers of the departments see a problem, they address it.

He didn't specifically name Justin Moran, but he said "I saw how well the department worked with the other situation." Being the only drug case in recent history in the department, I have to figure it was that (also based on previous comments he made in the story I already linked to). "I knew the background," he said. "I knew how effectively it was taken care of."

Franck pointed out that he had to submit to a drug test when he was hired at his accounting firm and that people at Walmart are drug tested.

"That doesn't make it ok, just because Walmart does it," Finance Commissioner Michele Madigan said. She advised caution because of false-positive tests that could end a person's career.

"We don't want to kill anyone either," Franck said.

Mayor Scott Johnson also agreed with Franck (someone mark it down on the calender) about the need for drug testing. He said when firefighters are racing to the scene in their 20 ton (fire trucks range from 15 to 30 tons, I read) truck, "they are basically driving weapons."

When Franck kept citing Mathiesen's comments in The Saratogian's article, Mathiesen seemed to want to back away from it, saying something about how Franck should know not everything in the newspaper is accurately quoted. Of course, he didn't deny anything in the newspaper.

He said "I was asked if I supported random drug testing," something he said he does not. He said he was surprised by the question. "My reaction was 'What about cost? What about methods?'"

Mathiesen said he still doesn't support it, but "If the community feels otherwise we can look at it."

I don't know how many people noticed the small update on the firefighter accused of smoking crack that ran on page 2A in the paper, but it's below if you want to read up.

The reason I draw attention to it is because of what the commissioner said about drug testing in the public safety department.

He said "I don't think it would be good for morale" for the members of the police and fire departments to be drug tested.

I know when police officers are hired, they go through rigorous background checks which, if I am not mistaken, does involve a drug test and even a polygraph test, but according to both Chief Williams and Public Safety Commissioner Christian Mathiesen, there is no drug testing policy whatsoever at the Fire Department.

“This was an isolated incident,” Mathiesen said. The commissioner said he doesn’t think drug testing would be good for the department’s morale.

Mathiesen said there was no indication that Moran ever used crack while working.

He said he believes random drug testing should only be used on “a case-by-case basis” or when an employee has demonstrated they have a history of drug abuse, but he would not comment specifically on Moran’s case or whether the drug abuse allegations against him warrant future drug testing. Otherwise, Mathiesen said he doesn’t believe drug testing is appropriate.

Commenting on The Saratogian story should have been closed (it was an oversight) because it is a crime story, but anyone can feel free to comment on this blog about it because already this morning people had a lot to say about it.

Of course, instead of talking about the accused (which is what we're trying to avoid by limiting commenting), everyone commented about the lack of drug testing.

I feel that I buried the lead on this story because no one commented about the firefighter, which was the impetus for writing the story in the first place. I only asked about the policy because I thought it should be included.

Who knew I would hear there isn't one?

It seems strange (crazy) to me that there is no drug testing policy for the SSPD or FD.

There is a drug testing policy for Walmart, and those people rarely drive a 20 ton truck at high rates of speed and don't have much on-the-job access to drugs, unlike the PD and FD, who administer drugs as paramedics. Not to mention I would guess the stress levels are probably higher in public safety (though my blood pressure does climb when I walk through the doors at Walmart).

Mathiesen pointed out as a dentist he too can write prescriptions for anything and all of the drugs at the FD are carefully monitored, but it still seems like good practice to test.

"If there is a problem," he said there should be testing. "I think that is a tool to be used on a case-by-case basis ... there is no indication at all that he was using on the job."

Of course, a drug test would prove that for sure.

I talked to someone from the State Police and they have a random drug testing policy. I'm still waiting to hear back from the Saratoga County Sheriff's Department about it.

I'm talking to Chief Chris Cole later today about something totally unrelated and I'll ask him about his feelings on the issue.

To me, it seems to be a liability issue they would be good to avoid. Test the employees (obviously I would assume 99.9999 percent of the time there would not be an issue) and that way you avoid issues like the alleged one here.

Full story below, feel free to comment on the blog because you won't be able to comment on the story on The Saratogian's website.

By LUCIAN McCARTY
lmccarty@saratogian.com
Twitter.com/SaratogianCDesk

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Disciplinary action is still pending for the Saratoga Springs firefighter who was arrested for crack possession last week.

“That is still being evaluated,” Saratoga Springs Fire Chief Robert Williams said. He would not comment further because it is a personnel issue.

Justin Moran, 31, of Leonard Road, a firefighter with the Saratoga Springs Fire Department for six years, was arrested Feb. 9 along with his live-in girlfriend, Janel Sweet, 30, following a Saratoga Springs Police Department investigation. They were charged with fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a felony, criminal possession of hypodermic needles, criminal possession of drug paraphernalia and endangering the welfare of a child, all misdemeanors.

Neither the Saratoga Springs Fire Department nor Police Department test their employees for drugs, and Public Safety Commissioner Christian Mathiesen said he doesn’t think they should.

“This was an isolated incident,” Mathiesen said. The commissioner said he doesn’t think drug testing would be good for the department’s morale.

Mathiesen said there was no indication that Moran ever used crack while working.

He said he believes random drug testing should only be used on “a case-by-case basis” or when an employee has demonstrated they have a history of drug abuse, but he would not comment specifically on Moran’s case or whether the drug abuse allegations against him warrant future drug testing. Otherwise, Mathiesen said he doesn’t believe drug testing is appropriate.

According to court documents, Moran and Sweet were in possession of more than half a gram of crack cocaine, crack pipes and hypodermic needles at their residence.

They were charged with endangering the welfare of a child because their two young children were in the home and, according to police, they “left numerous used hypodermic needles around the house,” all of which were within reach of the children.

Court documents show that when police were searching the house, both Moran and Sweet made admissions to police about the drugs.

“You’re wasting your time. What you’re looking for is not here,” Sweet told Saratoga Springs Police Lt. John Catone. “We use it and smoke it as fast as we get it.”

Police said they found crack, though, on a paper plate in the stairwell of the basement, along with crack pipes.

Investigators also said Moran told them, “I take full responsibility for what was found in my house. I do use drugs and I have been dealing with depression.” He then allegedly told them, “I feel awful about all of this.”

Both were out on bail the next day after being held on $15,000 cash or $30,000 bail bond and are due back in Saratoga Springs City Court March 15.

Just talked to Public Safety Commissioner Christian Mathiesen and he's got news that will make Glenmore Avenue and West Circular Street residents' hearts go a-pitter-pat.

Recently a number of residents of those roads complained to SeeClickFix.com about inconsiderate drivers using their road to cut through to avoid the light at West and Grand avenues, something they said created a lot more traffic than the small residential streets should be expected to endure.

Well, they have a friend in City Hall. Mathiesen told me Tuesday that they will be making the section of Glenmore Avenue between West Circular Street and Grand Avenue a one-way street, heading the opposite direction than people using it as a shortcut would take.

"We think this will be a solution to the problem," Mathiesen said. "We'll put it up on a temporary basis and see how it works."

That will prevent people going down West Circular Street from taking a right onto Glenmore Avenue, thereby shooting any hoped-for shortcut in the foot.

So put take that SeeClickFix commenter PD, who told residents “Too bad. We are not going to stop any time soon. Deal with it!”

Turns out, you're wrong PD.

Another little addition I neglected in the first article were the comments of Saratoga Springs Police Traffic Safety Sgt. Andrew Prestigiacomo, who said speed bumps are not used in the city for speed reduction. He said he would assign a speed detail to the area.

"It's a well-known short-cut to Grand Avenue," he said Friday. He said the city would not restrict access to the road because its a public street.

Of course, one can argue Mathiesen's plan will not restrict access per se, but rather just redefine the kind of access.

Here is a post reported on the SeeClickFix.com website that we write about weekly (when it is possible)

Red light at Rock and Rt.50 burned out

The red light facing Rock St. on the North Broadway side of the intersection with the arterial has been burned out for at least 4 months
Related Issues, reported Gary Hasbrouck

The first two comments were about what you would expect and see often. People giving info on who to call to fix it.

"Report This to DOT. It's their responsibility. 1-800-POT-HOLE," said PD, who, by the way has 1785 civic points. I don't know what that means, but it's impressive.

Next, someone said they had, indeed, reported the problem to DOT.

But here's the one that gets me:

"It will be fixed later today.

I find it strange that Mr. Hasbrouck took the time to get on his computer, go to the website, and enter his issue rather than take the 10 seconds to call NYSDOT and report the problem so we can fix it.

Thanks,
Mark Pyskadlo, P.E.
NYSDOT - Region One Traffic Engineering
328 State Street, Schenectady, NY 12305
(518) 388-0380"

Even the DOT is using SeeClickFix to get things done!

And I just want to say, in solidarity with Gary Hasbrouck, NOTHING involving a state agency takes 10 seconds. Granted, it would have been easier for the DOT if Gary would have just called, but just trying to figure out who to call can often take longer than it should.

And actually, I called the 1-800-POT-HOLE number supplied by PD, and I did get someone immediately, but it was an operator who takes calls specifically about potholes, and faxes the info to the DOT.

She said she could take more info if I wanted to report another complaint, but she said she didn't know if they would check for anything but potholes.

So FYI, if you have a pothole to report, by all means that 800 number works. Otherwise, I guess call Mark, or report it on Seeclickfix.com

I thought I had it in hand.

I FOILed for it along with the financial information of the non-profit group, Saratoga Affordable Housing Group, headed by Housing Authority Director Ed Spychalski to develop properties in the city.

He handed me a manilla folder Tuesday and said it was in there.

It wasn't.

I honestly think it was a mistake. He and I discussed Gramercy's contract, but I didn't look for it in the packet because it was in-and-amongst the financials of the non-profit.

He told me, though, they were making "A buck and three-quarters an hour," which I took for 100 times that. He later confirmed that.

"It was a short-term arrangement," Spychalski said, corroborating Ed Wohlleber's statement about the contract.

However, Eric Weller, a board member on the Housing Authority Board of Directors confirmed the number but not the sentiment.

"It was a short-term contract," he said, saying it had been "terminated." "We were unhappy with the results."

Spychalski, in a meeting Tuesday, said the PR firm had done what it was supposed to do.

"I was getting calls at 9, 10 at night and at 6 in the morning," Spychalski said. "It was interfering with the work I do at the Housing Authority."

He said he hired Gramercy at the behest of the Housing Authority's attorney to field calls and help get info out there about the situation at the Housing Authority.

"We were getting crushed out there (in the press)" Spychalski said. And he said taking on Gramercy "helped a lot."

"I think I had to do it because I could not get the job done I do here," he said.

Spychalski said the Housing Authority hasn't gotten the final bill on the service. So far they have paid out about $5,000 (about 28.5 hours) and he said "there's not much more."

I did not cover the State of the City this week, but my colleague Michael Cignoli did and reported that the mayor is eying south South Broadway to potential re-development.

The mayor said the stretch of Route 9 between Adirondack Northway Exit 13 and Lincoln Avenue is “vastly underutilized, underdeveloped.”

That is something I will be following-up on in more detail later in the week, as it seems to be the tip of some unknown iceberg involving the city's comprehensive plan.

At the City Council's agenda meeting Monday morning, the mayor said that the city's comprehensive plan needs to be reevaluated. The word "scrapped" was used, but he said the city would be looking at how to proceed with it.

Public Safety Commissioner Christian Mathiesen said he doesn't think the mayor was talking about the overall plan, but rather the latest portion of it added in 2007.

He said a reevaluation of the entire Comprehensive Plan "would make all the sense in the world."

Mathiesen pointed out that the "Green-belt" that surrounds the city and is outlined in the 2001 Comprehensive Plan would be impacted, "which is why I want a Comprehensive Plan Committee to take a look at it."

In addition, the charter requires the city review its plan every five years, which means it is just about due.

So I'll be following up on that this week, but in the mean-time, here is Michele Madigan's response to the mayor's speech Sunday.


"The Mayor’s speech today contained many eloquent words urging cooperation and an end to partisanship. While he may not have completely heeded his own advice (subsequently deriding the “tax and spend mentality of the past”) I believe that we all are public servants with the best interests of the City of Saratoga Springs at heart.
I was encouraged by the tone and content of the Mayor’s remarks on casino gambling in New York. We must first and foremost be concerned with the impact this would have on the horse racing industry and must vigorously defend our quality of life and our city finances from any deleterious impact of casino gambling in our backyard. I was also very pleased to hear the Mayor demand both an increase in our share of the VLT revenues generated by our racino and a guarantee from Albany that we will receive those funds each and every year.
VLT aid is a revenue source that has become critical, albeit still difficult to rely upon, to this City. The Mayor stated – rightly – that “it would be financially irresponsible to rely on those funds to simply balance an annual operating budget”. Unfortunately, this is precisely what the previous Council did in the 2012 Budget that it devised and adopted. Despite uncertainty as to the existence or amount of any VLT revenue provided by Albany for this year, despite past experience with this issue, the previous Council relied on the VLT revenue to balance the 2012 Operating Budget. We must continue our vigilance with our Albany compatriots to retain and increase amounts to offset our significant expenses as host City. We must continue to look for ways to most effectively utilize VLT revenue.
The Mayor’s remarks on the unappropriated unreserved fund balance also require clarification. The Mayor stated that this fund balance increased by $4.2M in 2010. In fact, the fund balance grew by roughly $1.35M from 2009, a substantial difference that we must understand and be aware of in order to accurately plan and budget for the future of the City. Moreover, as Finance has discussed with the Mayor, we are not yet in a position to state that an increase in the fund balance was achieved in 2011. While an increase would be welcome, the City’s 2011 books do not close until the end of February and this number will not be finalized for several weeks. Good planning dictates that we use solid, accurate data to make important statements about the City’s finances.
The current administration has just closed its first month of duty with a truly remarkable set of projects and much progress to show for it. I look forward to the State of the City 2013 and I have confidence that it will resound with the success of this year.
Thank you,
Michele Madigan
Commissioner of Finance"

Mayor Scott Johnson later found some areas he wanted to respond to regarding Madigan's response.
"No one is using the VLT funds to balance the 2012 budget," he said. Johnson pointed out that $1 million of the $1.5 million was placed into a reserve account as a rainy-day fund.
He also took issue with her statement regarding his statement in 2010 that the "fund balance increased by $4.2M in 2010. In fact, the fund balance grew by roughly $1.35M from 2009, a substantial difference," she said.
"The point was that the amount at the end of 2010 would be $4.2 million," Johnson said.
In addition, he said he was a little confused at the beginning for why Madigan had drafted the response in the first place.
"I don't recall anyone ever writing a response to the State of the City address," he said.

I received a response to my queries as to whether the PR firm had been let go, as was alleged in an anonymous comment on my blog post Thursday.

Here it is in its entirety from Eric Wohlleber, VP of Gramercy Communications:

“Not sure about a rumor, but I can tell you that our engagement does end on Sunday. Our work was limited in time and focused on responding to a large volume of media inquiries and assisting with the dissemination of information to the public. I would like to add that our job was never to ‘spin’ information, and any suggestion otherwise is an insult to a profession we take very seriously. Our company has a long track record of success and is well regarded for our professionalism and our many community works.”

As for the insults he takes exception to, that had me a little confused at first. That is until I received a "friendly" call from Wohlleber yesterday. He was responding to my calling him a "flack" in a blog post yesterday.

We had a "lively debate" to quote Dennis Brunelle when he described the Housing Authority's public meeting last month in which residents shouted about not being able to speak.

Now first off, a flack is, to quote Dictionary.com (which I also quoted to him):
flack
noun Sometimes Disparaging.
1. press agent.
2. publicity.
verb (used without object)
3. to serve as a press agent or publicist: to flack for a new rock group.
4. to promote; publicize: to flack a new record.

Not to be confused with:
Flak
noun
1. antiaircraft fire, especially as experienced by the crews of combat airplanes at which the fire is directed.
2. criticism; hostile reaction; abuse: Such an unpopular decision is bound to draw a lot of flak from the press.

Ok, so I admit it does say "sometimes disparaging," but the post was about him not releasing information as a public relations person.

He was pretty adamant that Gramercy was only on board to dispense information to the public and to help out the Housing Authority that was inundated by calls.

Of course, I reminded him the one thing he wouldn't release was how much he was being paid with public funds, i.e. taxpayer money.

He said the information would be "forthcoming" or would come "in due time" or something to that effect. I said I "eagerly await it."

Then he called into question my journalistic integrity for following up on "anonymous blog posts" which he found — as a former reporter — somehow insulting to the profession. I asked if he had ever responded to anonymous phone calls (you know, doing due diligence as a reporter?) he said he did, but he found that to be different in some way than following up on comments.

I don't know about when he was a reporter, but the internet is here now.

On an unrelated (or possibly related) note, Ed Spychalski responded to my FOIL regarding Gramercy's contract very quickly saying he will get the info to us Monday or Tuesday (and added "Go Giants," so his heart is in the right place).

So we'll get the info after Gramercy stops working with the Housing Authority. If it had come out in the first place, of course, it probably would have just been a line in the original story they were introduced in. Of course now it will likely be a story Tuesday or Wednesday.

At least according to Franck.

I heard rumor of he and another Saratoga Springs Democrat eying the potential new Assembly seat that will represent Saratoga Springs, the 113th currently held by Tony Jordan, R-Jackson.

Franck, though, told me he heard the same rumors, but they aren't true.

"I was at a union event the other day and someone came up and congratulated me on running," he said, but that was the first he heard of it.

Since then he said he has received calls from constituents and media alike asking about it, but he said it's not in his plan.

"I'm not even sure if the 113th will exist," he said, citing the veto threats from Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the general legislative process in New York that can — as most know — drag on.

But Franck also said he has business, city and family commitments that mean running for a higher office is not in the cards right now.

"At this point in time I would say I am not going to run for any office but commissioner of accounts," he said. "My eyes are always open for anything, but my heart is in Saratoga Springs."

I know I'm not in PR (unless you believe what some of the commenters on The Saratogian say), but it seems to me that anticipating questions and coming up with answers is a big part of it.
That's why it surprises me that the Saratoga Springs Housing Authority's newly-hired PR guy, Eric Wollheber, vice president of Gramercy Communications, was so taken aback when I asked what the Housing Authority is paying him.
"I'm not going to get into what our hourly rate is," he said, when I asked him about ten minutes after I found out he was the new flack.
Since then, I have asked him two other times. Once, shortly after I asked him the first time when he showed up in our office with Ed Spychalski and Lillian Miles to give their side of the Housing Authority debacle.
The last time I asked him was outside the meeting between the City Council and the Housing Authority where he was sitting, thumbs glued to his Blackberry while Dennis Brunelle fielded questions from the council via Skype. He was in Florida.
"Did you submit a FOIL for it?" he asked.
"Is that the only way I will get that information?" I asked. I know, question with a question.
"Yes."
Whatever they are paying this guy, you think it would be enough to communicate that fact. I'm sure he knows what it is.