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4.06 4.6 AGREEMENTS\Adirondack Park Local Goverranent Review Board—9-14-15 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT WITH ADIRONDACK PARK LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVIEW BOARD RESOLUTION NO.: ,2015 INTRODUCED BY: WHO MOVED ITS ADOPTION SECONDED BY: WHEREAS, the Adirondack Park Local Government Review Board (Review Board) was created by the New York State Legislature and is composed of representatives appointed by the County Legislatures of those counties lying in whole or in part within the Adirondack Park, and WHEREAS, the State Legislature provided only partial funding for the Review Board to perform its statutory functions as set forth in Executive Law §803-a, and recently reduced such funding by fifty-three percent (53%), and WHEREAS, the Town of Queensbury wishes to provide $300 in funding to support the Review Board's work in representing the interests of the Adirondacks' local governments, and WHEREAS, a proposed Agreement between the Town and Review Board is presented at this meeting, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Queensbury Town Board hereby authorizes the Town of Queensbury to enter into the Agreement with the Adirondack Park Local Government Review Board (Review Board) and authorizes and directs the Town Supervisor to sign such Agreement substantially in the form presented at this meeting, and BE IT FURTHER, RESOLVED, that the Town Board authorizes and directs payment of$300 to the Review Board as provided for in such Agreement, to be paid for from Miscellaneous Contractual Account No.: 001-1220-4400, and BE IT FURTHER, RESOLVED, that the Town Board further authorizes and directs the Town Budget Officer to amend the Town Budget and/or take any actions necessary to provide for such payment, and BE IT FURTHER, RESOLVED, that the Town Board authorizes and directs the Town Supervisor and/or Town Budget Officer to execute any other needed documentation and take any other necessary actions to effectuate the terms of this Resolution. Duly adopted this 14th day of September, 2015, by the following vote: AYES NOES ABSENT: Executive Director Chairman FREDERICK 11.MONROE GERALD DELANEY ADIRONDACK PARK P.O.Box 579.Chestertown,NY 12817 326 Downs Road.Cadyville,'NY 12918 LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVIEW BOARD Tel:(518)494-3607 Fax:(518)494-5472 Tel:(518)569-7800 www.adkreviewboard.com fmonroe @ad kreviewboard.rorn councilman4 @Iownofsaranac.com August 20, 2015 Supervisor John Strough Town of Queensbury 742 Bay Road Queensbury,NY 12804 Dear John: Adirondack town's and village's funding of the Adirondack Park Local Government Review Board has been instrumental in helping Adirondack communities by providing strong, unified, effective representation on important Adirondack Park policy issues like state land tax payments, the right to farm, protection of property rights of pre-existing landowners, dassification of state lands, and Adirondack Park Agency reform. The Review Board helps provide factual and legal research to legislators and policy makers and disseminates information through almost daily emails. Here are a few examples: We worked during the past year with a coalition of towns, counties and environmental groups on programs designed to effectively prevent the spread of dozens of aquatic invasive species that surround the Adirondacks into Adirondack waters. Aquatic invasive species threaten water quality and the Adirondack tourism economy, which is so dependent upon clean, healthy water. Earlier this year, we helped draft a Memorandum of Understanding containing a strategic plan for an Adirondack wide invasive species prevention program. Three state agencies and more than 60 counties, towns, villages, lake associations and environmental groups signed the Memorandum of Understanding. The Governor included $1 million for the prevention program in his 2015/2016 budget and the state legislature approved it. We also helped with the formation of the Adirondack Lakes Alliance, which now represents many Adirondack lake associations. We worked with the SAVE Lake George Partnership to fund and implement a aquatic invasive species educational program with more than 800 radio spots in the Albany, Utica, Glens Falls, Vermont, Plattsburgh, Lake Champlain and St. Lawrence regions. We also helped design and order aquatic invasive species boat tags and seals to identify decontaminated boats and boats returning to the same water body for boat wash attendants and stewards to reduce their inspection and decontamination workloads. We drafted a White Paper with recommended amendments to the Adirondack Park State land Master Plan. We worked with the Northern Forest Center, the governor's office and the New York State Energy Research and Development Agency to support conversion of municipal and school buildings to wood pellet and wood chip biomass heating systems. These systems provide the dual benefit of substantially lowering fuel costs and keeping money spent on fuel local, rather than sending it to the Middle East. Conversion of Adirondack buildings to biomass heating has the potential to create many new jobs in the Adirondacks. We lobbied the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority for funding for municipal steam biomass heating systems. This Spring NYSERDA awarded the Town of Chester with a$300,000 grant for a steam pellet boiler heating system demonstration project. We also proposed an amendment to the Local Finance Law to make municipal biomass heating projects more financially feasible. The amendment passed last session and is awaiting the Governor's signature. We researched issues relating to the registration and use of UTVs and ATVs and their use in the Forest Preserve and participated in several meetings with Senators and Assembly Members on proposed legislation. We also supported the Outback Riders Club with their efforts to continue using ATV trails in Clinton and Franklin counties. We passed a resolution in support of their position that there is a prescriptive easement over a trail, which now includes a section over Forest Preserve land. Working closely with our state legislators, the Review Board is the critical information and advocacy resource for Adirondack counties-collecting and disseminating news media, state agency and advocacy group information immediately to local officials while providing state leaders and the news media with timely, accurate bulletins on the needs of Adirondack communities. We're in regular communication with the APA, DEC, the Cuomo Administration, legislative leaders and statewide news media organizations. Governor Cuomo requested and received our comments and included them in several of his press releases on Adirondack issues. His staff also requested our input on candidates didates to fill a vacancy on the APA board. While there are literally dozens of issues the Review Board is working on, let me highlight three of the most important: 1. Support and advocacy for an update of the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan. The original plan was adopted in 1972. It was required to be reviewed every five years and it has not been. In the meantime tourism and outdoor recreation have,by necessity become more important components of the Adirondack economy. The Review Board advocates for a major review and update of the plan to balance competing uses and enhance those uses important to the Adirondack economy. 2. Snowmobile trails. Summer—and winter—tourism is the economic engine in most Adirondack communities. Expanded access to snowmobile trails is critical to , the success of winter tourism. The Review Board continues to work with state officials to ensure that the existing network of snowmobile trails is not reduced and is expanded, particularly in the newly acquired former Finch lands. 3. Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Program. We plan to actively participate with DEC and the Governor's office on plans for a 2016 Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention program. We are in the best position we have ever been in to capitalize on these recent gains, and are at a critical time-both in terms of policy making and in terms of budget. We need your help. After all this work, and all of our effort, the state cut the Review Board's budget-which wasn't much to begin with-by 53 percent in the last four years. We know that it is not a good time to be asking for financial help from local governments. But your assistance is crucial to our continued success this year and next. The Review Board strives to keep expenses low while operating effectively on behalf of local governments.Because of these continued efforts, we are requesting that, if you have not already funded the Review Board in 2015, that you consider 2015 funding in the amount of $300 so we can continue our critical work on your behalf, and budget the same amount in your 2016 budget. All of our futures may depend on it. If you require a contract, please sign and return the enclosed contract to me. I will sign it and return a signed copy to you. If you have any questions or concerns, or there is something the Local Government Review Board can do for you, please don't hesitate to call me at 518-796-2415 Si rely ,' - Fred Monroe Executive Director AGREEMENT THIS AGREEMENT made , 2015 between the TOWN OF UEENS-BLOW , hereinafter referred to as the TOWN, and the ADIRONDACK PARK LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVIEW BOARD, a Board duly organized and existing pursuant to the provisions of§803-a of the Executive Law of the State of New York, acting by and through its duly appointed members,hereinafter referred to as the REVIEW BOARD. WHEREAS, the REVIEW BOARD was created by the Legislature of the State of New York and is composed of representatives appointed by the county legislatures of the counties lying in whole or in part within the Adirondack Park; and WHEREAS,the Legislature of the State of New York has provided only partial funding for the REVIEW BOARD to perform its statutory functions as outlined in Executive Law §803- a, and recently reduced that funding by 53%,and WHEREAS, the TOWN has authorized an appropriation in the sum of Tree-Hundred Dollars ($ 300, 00 ) in support of the work of the REVIEW BOARD in representing the interests of the local governments of the Adirondacks; and NOW, THEREFORE, it is agreed as follows: 1. The TOWN agrees to pay to the REVIEW BOARD the sum of Three-(-fundre 1 Dollars ($ ) for the services of the REVIEW BOARD in representing the TOWN in matters relating to the Adirondack Park. 2. The REVIEW BOARD agrees to provide to the TOWN the benefit of its services, including but not limited to, attendance at meetings of the Adirondack Park Agency, attendance and participation at public hearings conducted by the Adirondack Park Agency on projects under review by said Agency, periodic reports on the activities of the Adirondack Park Agency to the Supervisor of the TOWN, especially as such activities affect the residents of the TOWN,and generally to report on the administration and enforcement of the Land Use and Development Plan set forth in the Executive Law of the State of New York. THE TOWN OF QUEENS Bl1RY By , Supervisor 7nhn s+roLoh Date ADIRONDACK PARK LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVIEW BOARD By FREDERICK H. MONROE Date Executive Director