The Saratoga Springs Civil Service Commission meeting on January 29, 2025, focused on personnel appointments and updates within various city departments. The meeting began with a roll call of commissioners and a brief acknowledgment of the absence of minutes from the previous meeting, which will be addressed in the future.

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to personnel actions in the Department of Public Works (DPW). The commission approved two noncompetitive class appointments: a maintenance mechanic and a working supervisor. The working supervisor, Joe O'Neil, has returned from a leave of absence effective January 26, 2025. The commission also approved a leave of absence for a heavy equipment operator and noted the completion of probationary periods for several employees, including a DPW coordinator and a help desk technician.

In addition to the DPW updates, the library department reported two labor class appointments for cleaners and one noncompetitive class appointment for a building maintenance worker, all of which were approved by the commission.

The meeting also highlighted a provisional appointment in the mayor's department, where Susan Barden was appointed as the administrator of the Office of Planning and Economic Development. This appointment follows her previous roles as principal planner and senior planner within the city. The commission discussed the current vacancies in the planning department and the challenges of recruiting for these positions.

Overall, the meeting underscored the commission's efforts to maintain a stable workforce and address personnel needs across various city departments, ensuring continuity in city operations. The next steps include filling the vacant planning positions and monitoring the outcomes of the recent appointments.