The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce board voted unanimously Monday night to oppose the Nov. 7 referendum to change the city form of government.
Chamber president Joseph Dalton said the vote followed an extensive review in which the 24-member board heard presentations from groups for and against the revisions. We’re not opposed to change, Dalton said after the meeting. `But the rush to have a new charter on the ballot was just considered illogical.`
Dalton said the process was rushed, and that the charter review commission didn’t explore forms of governments other than the strong-mayoral form they are proposing. Also, Chamber members were concerned about limited public debate, education and involvement, he said.
Charter revision commission chairwoman and 16-year member of the Chamber of Commerce Beth Hershenhart called the Chamber’s position a `rebuff` of the request by the charter revision commission to help educate the business community. The chamber has instead `substituted its opinion for those of the diverse chamber membership,` said Hershenhart in a prepared statement. The chamber’s board represents the entire county, but half of its voting members live or represent businesses in the Saratoga Springs area, according to Dalton.
Hershenhart said she and commission member Rory O’Connor asked the chamber board on Sept. 14 to partner with the commission in educating the business community on the important issues surrounding the proposed change in the structure of the city government.
`We are disappointed that the chamber board once again chose to take a position on behalf of its membership instead of empowering them to make their own informed decisions. But we know that many members of the chamber board and scores of chamber members plan to vote yes on Nov. 7 in favor of the charter amendment, which just makes business sense. I understand there are powerful forces opposed to making our government in Saratoga Springs work effectively, but the business community shouldn’t suffer because of it,` said Hershenhart.
`The business community and voters of Saratoga Spring have waited for more than 20 years for the opportunity to vote on a more efficient and effective city government. Our commission form of government has amounted to paralysis and gridlock regardless of what political party has the majority. The charter commission respectfully asked the chamber board to sponsor education sessions for its almost 3,000 members so they could become fully informed and make their own decisions. But, sadly, the chamber board refused,` said O’Connor.
The dispute comes as both sides of the issue are padding their coffers. Last week, Mayor Valerie Keehn and former Mayor A.C. Riley hosted a fundraiser at the Inn at Saratoga for the pro-charter reform group Move Saratoga Forward. The event was attended by more than 90 people.
This week, local entrepreneur Elliot Masie has pledged to spend up to $20,000 to combat the proposed charter revisions.
`It’s an absolutely rushed and non-open process and way too important if we’re going to make significant change,` Masie said. `I’m against the strong mayor role. It concentrates too much power in one person. I don’t think the business community’s been engaged in this process.`
Masie said he’s already given money to Saratogians United to Continue the Charter Essential to Sustain Our Success (SUCCESS), a group of residents opposing charter reform, and said he may buy advertisements to further their cause.
Masie’s wife is on the board of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, but was not present at its special meeting Monday at which it voted to not support the charter change referendum.“
