The Board of Supervisors of the County of Warren convened at the Supervisors' Room in the Warren County Municipal Center, Lake George, New York, at 10:00 a.m.
Mr. William Thomas presiding.
Salute to the flag was led by Supervisor Sheehan.
Mr. Caimano requested that a moment of silence be extended in honor of Mildred Fosbrook, mother of Leonard Fosbrook, Director of the Warren County Economic Development Corporation, who had passed away earlier in the week.
Roll called, the following members present: Supervisors Gabriels, Girard, Sheehan, Mason (entered at 10:10 a.m.), O’Connor, Kenny, Belden, Bentley, W. Thomas, Tessier, Merlino, Caimano, Champagne, VanNess, Barody, F. Thomas, Haskell, and Geraghty - 18. Absent: Supervisors Monroe, Stec - 2.
Motion was made by Mr. Belden, seconded by Mr. Tessier and carried unanimously, to approve the minutes of the December 16, 2005 Board Meeting, as well as the January 5, 2006 Organization Meeting, subject to correction by the Clerk.
Privilege of the floor was extended to James Hood of the Lake George Association who requested permission to address the Board regarding the Adirondack Park Aquatic Nuisance Species Management Plan.
Mr. Gabriels noted he had a proposed resolution to bring to the floor following Mr. Hood’s presentation.
Mr. Hood utilized a power point presentation and began with a quick review of some of the aquatic species that are currently threatening the area, including milfoil, water chestnut, purple loosestrife, sea lamprey and zebra mussels. The impacts of these invasive species have been well documented, Mr. Hood explained. For example, he said, without any natural controls, invasive species will out-compete the native species, disrupting the entire eco-system, eventually causing an economic impact by disrupting fishing, water recreation, as well as the general aesthetics of the waterways. Mr. Hood advised that the Lake George Park Commission currently spent over $100,000 per year on their milfoil program. There are forty-nine waters in the Adirondack Park that are infested with some type of invasive species, Mr. Hood reported, and those in Warren County included Brant Lake, Lake George, Lake Luzerne, Loon Lake, Daggett Pond, Glen Lake and Lake Sunnyside. Even though Glen Lake and Lake Sunnyside were outside of the blue line, Mr. Hood said he has suggested the committee include them in the management plan due to their very close proximity.
The Adirondack Park Aquatic Nuisance Species Management Plan was put together as part of a workshop during the Water Quality Conference held at Paul Smith’s College this past summer, Mr. Hood apprised. Since that conference ended, the Lake George Park Commission joined the committee, so this area was well represented, he noted. The reason for the management plan, Mr. Hood explained, is to create a comprehensive management plan recognizing the special needs and uniqueness of the Adirondack Park, stressing the need for funding and coordination among many groups and stakeholders. Mr. Hood said they were hopeful that this plan would enable them to obtain additional funding from the State. The goal of this plan, Mr. Hood reported, was to prevent new introduction of invasive species, to limit the spread of the current ones and work on control and restoration to prevent some of the negative economic and ecological impacts he had mentioned earlier.
Mr. Hood concluded that the message he was delivering was that they were serious about taking care of this situation right now and they were seeking support from the local government, with hopes that the New York State Legislature would support funding for this project.
A copy of the complete Adirondack Park Aquatic Nuisance Species Management Plan is on file with the Warren County Lakes Committee records.
Mr. Caimano asked who they were working with at the State level and Mr. Hood replied Senator Little and Assemblywoman Sayward were both well aware of this project.
Mr. Champagne asked how they could get Glen Lake and Lake Sunnyside involved as part of the plan. Basically, Mr. Hood apprised, it would involve some lobbying on his part and on the part of the Lake George Park Commission. Mr. Hood said it only made sense to him to include both of those bodies of water in the plan due to their proximity to other lakes, such as Lake George and Lake Luzerne.
Mr. Barody asked exactly what the involvement of the Lake George Association would be if Glen Lake were included in the project. He queried if the residents would be relinquishing management authority that they currently had. Mr. Hood commented that they had a very active lake association and hopefully, the involvement of the Lake George Association would create less management involvement. Their goal, he said, was to streamline the process.
Mr. Gabriels introduced a resolution of support for the Adirondack Park Aquatic Nuisance Species Management Plan.
A motion was made by Mr. Bentley, seconded by Mr. Belden and carried unanimously to waive the rules requiring the proposed resolution to be in writing and approve the resolution as proposed. (Please note: This will be Resolution No. 92 of 2006.)
Privilege of the floor was extended to Sheriff Cleveland, who asked to address the Board regarding the Service to Community Event on February 1, 2006.
Sheriff Cleveland advised that the Sheriff’s Office had been asked to oversee the organization of the Service to Community Event, which was scheduled for February 1, 2006 at 5:30 p.m. at the Glens Falls Civic Center. He reported that the arena floor would be set up as a stage including the Lake George Fire Department tower truck, along with a State Police car and a Sheriff’s car on either side of the fire truck. Members of the Warren County Board of Supervisors, along with other local dignitaries, would be seated on the stage, Sheriff Cleveland apprised. He explained that approximately four hundred people would be seated on the arena floor who will be honored for the work they did during the Ethan Allen tragedy. Each organization had chosen two individuals to accept the award, Sheriff Cleveland noted. To date, he said, there were eighty-six plaques to be presented, one to each organization involved, one to each person who offered assistance during this time, and finally, recognition of the civilians who actually helped in the rescue efforts. In addition to the plaques, Sheriff Cleveland advised, a pin was designed to be distributed to every individual seated on the floor. The pin was two crossed flags, the Michigan state flag and the New York State flag, with Service to Community on the top and October 2, 2005 on the bottom, Sheriff Cleveland explained. The program would be printed in full color, Sheriff Cleveland said, and would include the logo from each individual organization and agency. In addition, he said, they had listed the name of every individual identified to them as someone who worked on this disaster.
At the conclusion of the event, refreshments would be provided courtesy of Freihofer’s Bakery, Panera Bread, Hannaford Supermarket, Price Chopper Supermarket and Adirondack Community College, Sheriff Cleveland said.
Sheriff Cleveland said the Glens Falls Civic Center had agreed to charge the County exactly what they would lose in revenue by not being able to use the ice for the entire day.
Chairman Thomas said they would dispense with reports from committee chairmen since no committee meetings had been held.
Mr. Caimano commented that he had one item to mention which would be of particular interest to the DPW Committee. He explained that a townhouse development had been proposed on West Mountain Road near Gurney Lane, which would not only hinder activities at the Westmount Health Facility, but would affect those people living in the development with County trucks being in and out of the maintenance garage on the corner of Gurney Lane Road.
Mr. Caimano advised that the Town of Queensbury Zoning Board of Appeals would be holding a public hearing on the proposal on January 18th at 7:00 p.m. and he encouraged supervisors to attend the hearing to protect Warren County’s interest in the property.
Chairman Thomas suggested that the Board of Supervisors submit a letter to the Town of Queensbury advising them of their concerns regarding this project.
Mr. O’Connor said he related this situation to the one at Courthouse Estates in that the residents chose to build their homes behind the Municipal Center and then complained about living near a public building.
Mr. Tessier noted that this development was originally proposed as medium income housing. However, he added, it was rumored that a portion of the development would be subsidized housing and that should be determined and clarified.
Mr. Barody said he agreed that the County needed to make their concerns known, but at the same time acknowledge the need for medium income housing in Warren County.
Mrs. Parsons advised that the County had not been notified of this proposal as an adjoining property owner. She indicated she had read about the project in the newspaper and called the Town of Queensbury and asked that Warren County be put on record to be notified in these particular cases.
Chairman Thomas said if the Health and Human Services Building were to proceed, there could potentially be a great deal of construction in a very confined area.
Mrs. Parsons said she believed that Queensbury was dealing with a setback issue and the area was originally zoned residential and has been changed to business/professional. She said she believes they plan to construct an office on the corner, but the townhouses would be constructed on the next lot up.
Chairman called for reading of communications.
Clerk read communications, including the following:
Monthly reports from:
Social Services;
Probation;
Weights and Measures.
Annual reports from:
Public Defender;
Weights and Measures.
Minutes from:
Community Services Board and its sub-committees;
Traffic Safety Board;
Planning Board.
Resolution Acknowledgments from:
Assemblywoman Sayward;
NYSAC.
Lake George Park Commission, Media Advisory announcing confirmation of appointment of James Kneeshaw and Thomas Morehouse to the Lake George Park Commission by the New York State Senate. Charles R. Wood Theater, 2005 Highlights.
NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, extending comment period on the Moreau Lake State Park Draft Master Plan/DEIS until February 18, 2006.
Lake George Association, Newsletter.
Capital District Off-Track Betting Corporation, Financial Reports for October and November, 2005.
New York State Dept. of Civil Service, Third Quarter Empire Plan Experience Report.
Paul Dusek, County Attorney, indicating as has been the previous practice and in accordance with the provisions of County Law Section 502, I hereby designate the order in which the Assistant County Attorneys shall exercise the powers and duties of this office in the event of my vacancy, absence or inability: Amy C. Bartlett, First Assistant County Attorney; Patricia C. Nenninger, Second Assistant County Attorney; and H. Bartlett McGee, Jr., Third Assistant County Attorney.
John P.M. Wappett, Public Defender, please be advised that pursuant to Article 18, Section 702.4 of the County Law, I hereby appoint Marcy I. Flores to exercise the power and duties of the Warren County Public Defender’s Office in the event of a vacancy or the absence or inability of myself to perform duties of this office.
Communications, resolutions and reports ordered placed on file.
Chairman called for reading of resolutions and discussion.
Chairman Thomas called for a vote on the resolutions.
Mrs. Parsons reported that Resolution Nos. 46 through 71 were mailed and a motion was needed to bring Resolution Nos. 44,45 and 72 through 91 to the floor.
A motion was made by Mr. Sheehan, seconded by Mr. Gabriels and carried unanimously to bring Resolution Nos. 44, 45 and 72 through 91 to the floor. Clerk noted that Resolution No. 92 of 2006 had already been brought to the floor.
Resolution Nos. 44 through 92 were approved.
Chairman Thomas said that prior to adjourning for the day, he would like to request an executive session to discuss the employment history of a particular person and matters leading to the appointment of a particular person.
A motion was made by Mr. Barody, seconded by Mr. Belden and carried unanimously to request an executive session pursuant to Section 105(f) of the Public Officers Law.
Executive session was declared from 10:45 a.m. until 11:30 a.m.
There being no further business, on motion by Mr. Gabriels and seconded by Mr. Tessier, Chairman Thomas adjourned the meeting at 11:30 a.m.