At a Meeting of the General Membership of Executive Board of the Adirondack Association of Towns and Villages held at the Holiday Inn in the Village of Lake George at 9:30 a.m., there were
PRESENT: J. R. (John) Risley, President, Executive Board Members: Supervisor Jean Raymond (Edinburg), Supervisor Lee Hollenbeck (Broadalbin), Supervisor Fred Monroe (Chester), Supervisor Bill Farber (Morehouse), Supervisor Zandy Gabriels (Bolton), Supervisor Robert Moore (Webb), Supervisor George Canon (Newcomb), Supervisor Brian Towers (Wells), Supervisor Dan Belden (Hague), Supervisor Robert Banks (Dresden), Supervisor Cathy Moses (Schroon), Supervisor Greg Wallace (Long Lake), Supervisor Linda Kemper (Northampton), Supervisor Barry Hutchins (Indian Lake), Supervisor Kevin Geraghty (Warrensburg), Councilman Sterling Goodspeed (Johnsburg), Supervisor Frank Mezzano (Lake Pleasant), Supervisor Mark Hall (Fine), Supervisor (elect) Mo Wright (Hadley), Supervisor Ralph Bentley (Horicon), Terry Martino; ANCA, Julie West; CBN Connect, Tracy Clothier; The LA Group, Tom William; Adirondack landowners Association, Karen Feldman; Adirondack Landowners Association, Greg Hill; ANCA
The meeting was opened by President Risley at 9:30 a.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance.
President Risley welcomed the members and introduced Village of Lake George Trustee Douglas Frost. Trustee Frost welcomed the group to the area and thanked them for coming to Lake George for the meeting. President Risley then welcomed Senator Betty Little and thanked her for attending the meeting. Senator Little addressed the members giving an update on current issues and responded to questions from the members.
CBN CONNECT
Julie West, CBN Connect addressed the group regarding a community broadband network in the Counties of Clinton, Essex and Franklin. It was noted that this would be a public-private partnership under the auspices of SUNY Plattsburgh and the Research Foundation of SUNY. A presentation on the details of the project was given and questions and answers held thereafter.
ADIRONDACK NORTH COUNTRY ASSOCIATION
Terry Martino and Greg Hill from the Adirondack North Country Association spoke to the membership about the SMART Growth applications being submitted through out the park that ANCA was involved with. It was noted that the date for the grants to be submitted was this week.
APRAP PROJECT
Brad Dake, Steering Chairman for the Adirondack Regional Assessment Project spoke to the membership on the status of the project. Jim Martin and Tracy Clothier from the LA Group also spoke about the project and the upcoming meetings scheduled through out the park. It was noted that five regional meetings would be held to inform local leaders about the project and to receive input on information for the survey. A discussion was held with questions and answers.
SUPPORT SMART GROWTH PROJECTS
On motion of Supervisor Robert Banks, seconded by Supervisor Zandy Gabriels, the membership agreed to authorize letters of support for SMART Growth applications by member Towns and Villages. CARRIED
On motion of Supervisor Monroe, seconded by Supervisor Canon, the membership agreed to authorize a letter of support for SMART Growth application from Adirondack North Country Association. CARRIED
TOWN OF BOLTON RESOLUTION
Supervisor Zandy Gabriels presented a resolution requesting permission be granted to the private citizens of the State of New York to rip-rap Rush Island without the necessity of awaiting long delayed preparation of a NYSDEC prepared Unit Management Plan for the Lake George Islands. Supervisor Gabriels explained the details of the situation.
On motion of Supervisor Belden, seconded by Supervisor Banks, the membership authorized support of the Town of Bolton in regard to the Rush Island resolution. CARRIED
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
The resolutions for the 2008 Annual Agenda were reviewed by the membership.
On motion of Supervisor Gabriel, seconded by Supervisor Belden, the membership agreed to submit the following resolutions to the 2008 Legislative Agenda: Support of Continues State Tax Payments on State-Owned Land in the Adirondacks, Support of State-Wide Property Tax Reform, Support Funding for Wastewater Treatment Facilities, Request of State Land Acquisitions in the Adirondacks, Support of Comprehensive Review of the Adirondack State Land Master Plan, Disposition of Alleged Adirondack Park Agency Violations, Constitutional Amendment to Create a Land Bank within the Adirondack Park, Support the Concept of the Adirondack Wind Energy Park, Support Long-Term Energy Policy for the Adirondacks, Request Legislation and Adirondack park Agency Actions Designed to Create and/or Encourage the Creation of Affordable Housing in the Adirondacks and Request Amendment of Highway Law Section 212. CARRIED
ELECTIONS
It was noted that due to recent elections, effective December 31, 2007, the following resignations from the Executive Board would be effective: JR Risley, Zandy Gabriels, Shirley Seney and Jeanne Ashworth. The Executive Committee presented the following names to fill the vacancies until the next election was held in June 2008: President - Bill Farber, Directors at Large - Greg Wallace and Mark Hall, Regional Directors - Region A, Roger Amell, Region B, Randy Douglas, Region C Alternate, Dan Belden, Region D Alternate, Lee Hollenbeck.
On motion of Supervisor Banks, seconded by Supervisor Wallace, the membership approved the appointment of William Farber to position of President of the Adirondack Association of Towns and Villages effective January 1, 2008. CARRIED
On motion of Supervisor Canon, seconded by Supervisor Belden, the membership approved the appointment of Greg Wallace and Mark Hall to the positions of Director at Large on the Executive Committee of the Adirondack Association of Towns and Villages effective January 1, 2008. CARRIED
On motion of Supervisor Monroe, seconded by Supervisor Banks, the membership approved the appointment of Roger Amell (Region A), Randy Douglas (Region B), Dan Belden (Region C Alternate) and Lee Hollenbeck (Region D Alternate) to the positions of Regional Director on the Executive Committee of the Adirondack Association of Towns and Villages. CARRIED
RECOGNTION OF SERVICE
Supervisor George Canon presented a plaque to President JR Risley for his dedication, commitment and service to the Association. The membership gave Mr. Risley a standing ovation.
On motion of Supervisor Monroe, seconded by Supervisor Hutchins, the meeting was adjourned at 11:45 a.m. CARRIED 12
Respectfully Submitted,
Carol Hart, Executive Director
Adirondack Association of Towns & Villages
