Ex-public works leader of the City of Saratoga Springs, along with the present deputy leader, face charges related to malfeasance in public office. On November 1, local law enforcement officers issued summons to Jason Golub and Deputy Works Commissioner Joseph O’Neill for their alleged misconduct.
The charges brought against Golub and O’Neill revolve around their alleged misuse of city facilities and personnel for their private advantage. The two officials are slated to present themselves before the Saratoga Springs City Court on November 21 to respond to the allegations against them.
The specifics of these allegations seem to center around an incident involving a obstructed sink, a container of drain cleaner, and a city worker from the Department of Public Works giving 8 minutes of his time. The City Accounts Commissioner released a communication on the subject, indicating their concern over the issue.
The incident isn’t just about the involvement of the city’s public services, it also raises questions about enforcement priorities and possible hidden agendas within the municipality. The anticipation is that the State Attorney General already knows about the incident and is investigating the matter.
Jason Golub vacated his position in the public works department in July, opting to take on a new role within the state Department of Corrections. His tenure was notable as he was the first Black individual to hold a council position in the year of 2022.
Regarding the ongoing issue involving the two public works officials, Saratoga Springs Police declined to provide any additional commentary. The origins of the case trace back to the New York State Comptroller’s Office.
The initial report of the incident was under the purview of the State Comptroller’s Office. From there, responsibility was shared with the State Police before local police at Saratoga Springs took over. This is noteworthy given the chain of responsibility passing through multiple state and local enforcement agencies.
The Public Safety Commissioner in Saratoga Springs holds their role in a non-enforced capacity and is not in a position to instruct the Saratoga Springs Police Department to level charges against anyone. However, in this case, it is interesting to note that there is full backing for the decision to press charges against the two public works officials.