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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