Saratoga Springs city employees plead not guilty to misconduct charges

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10)-- The two Saratoga Springs city employees pleaded not guilty to misconduct charges. Former public works commissioner Jason Golub and Deputy Public Works Commissioner Joseph O'Neill face a misconduct charge.

Golub entered his not-guilty plea on Tuesday, November 26, while O'Neill pleaded not guilty on Thursday, November 21, both in Saratoga Springs City Court. O'Neill was suspended without pay for five consecutive days after DPW Commissioner Hank Kuczynski accused him of violating the city's Code of Ethics.

Golub's Attorney, Karl Sleight, said in an email to NEWS10 that Saratoga Springs City Court Judge Jeffrey Wait signed a subpoena providing Slight's office with the city's Human Resources Department records. Additionally, Sleight asked the district attorney to secure the phone and text records of Department of Safety Commissioner Tim Coll and give the assistant district attorney Coll's personal and work cell phone numbers.

"This case is about 8 minutes, Draino and a clogged sink," Sleight said. "The real question is who was motivated to manufacture a crime out of a 2023 Human Resources complaint and why."

O'Neill will be back in court on Tuesday, January 7, at 9 a.m., and Golub will be back on Thursday, January 9, at 9 a.m.