Saratoga Springs officials said the council will hold a public hearing and vote on proposed Local Law No. 8 of 2025 to amend Chapter 9 of the Code of the City of Saratoga Springs, titled “Defense, Representation and Indemnification.”

City officials said the draft law is intended to permit the city to provide the broadest lawful scope of defense and indemnification for officers and employees acting within the scope of their public employment. The proposed amendment removes Article 4, which previously described the process for obtaining legal counsel; the removal will be addressed later, officials said. Staff also said the draft aligns with chapters 18 and 19 of the New York State Public Officers Law with some local modifications tailored to Saratoga Springs.

Commissioner Marshall (name cited during roll call) indicated she had concerns and said she wanted the draft reviewed by a lawyer before taking a position. City staff said they modified the draft to avoid specifying how outside counsel is chosen and that guidance on counsel selection will come later.

City officials said the ordinance will be voted on Tuesday (public hearing beginning at 7 p.m. or immediately after the budget presentation) and that related procedural details will be addressed before the final vote.

No vote on the ordinance was recorded in the public meeting excerpt; the session instead set the public hearing and indicated the item will return for a vote.