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AGREEMENTS\Adirondack Park Local Government Review Board—1-1-20
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT WITH ADIRONDACK
PARK LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVIEW BOARD
RESOLUTION NO.: ,2020
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.: 00 1-1220-4400, 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 Pt day of January, 2020,by the following vote:
AYES
NOES
ABSENT:
• Executive Director Chairman Director of Communication
Iil1!> Gerald W.Delaney Ron Moore Frederick H.Monroe
326 Downs Road P.O.Box 74 P.O.Box 579
AD1 RON DACK PARK Cadyville,NY 12918 North Hudson,NY 12855 Chestertown,NY 12817
LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVIEW BOARD 518-569-7800 518-586-1664 518-796-2415
gdelaneylgrb@gmail.com rmoorelgrb@gmail.com fmonroelgrb@gmail.com
August 20,2019
Supervisor John Strough III
Town of Queensbury
742 Bay Road
Queensbury, NY 12804
Dear John:
Adirondack town and village funding of the Adirondack Park Local Government Review Board has been
instrumental in helping Adirondack communities by providing strong, unified, effective reVresentation on important
Adirondack Park policy issues like recently adopted and needed amendments to the"forever vAd"clause of the New York
State Constitution to address local government concerns, state land tax payments, protection of property rights of pre-
existing landowners, invasive species and Adirondack Park Agency procedural and substantive reform. The Review
Board helps provide factual and legal research to legislators and policy makers and disseminates information through
almost daily emails,and periodic Op-Eds and Opinion pieces. Here are a few examples:
We worked again last year with our state legislators, the Adirondack Association of Towns and Villages (AATV)
and environmental groups on the required Implementation language that was needed to pass the Senate and
Assembly for the Constitutional amendment to the forever wild clause of the NYS Constitution. The amendment
allows local governments to use a limited number of acres of forest preserve land for necessary highway and
bridge safety improvements, utility and broadband projects and other necessary municipal health and safety
projects.The amendment passed in a statewide vote in 2017.
We worked this year with our state legislators, the Adirondack Association of Towns and Villages (AATV) and
environmental groups on a Conservation Subdivision Design Bill. We attended many meetings, as this
Conservation Design bill was a priority for some groups. It appeared at times the Conservation Design Bill could
hold up other important Adirondack legislation. We negotiated lower open space limits than currently used by the
APA. We were also able to negotiate Density Bonus lots, this will help offset some of the building rights lost to
State Land acquisition and Conservation easements. We also have a way to transfer these Density Bonus rights
to areas in the Town they were created.
We attended and spoke at hearings throughout the state on the largest state land classification package ever
proposed by the Adirondack Park Agency. The final adopted classifications will enable the DEC to meet most of
our goals for the classified lands.
Current law allows the APA to pursue alleged violations by Adirondack landowners literally forever. We believe
that is unreasonable. We drafted a proposed bill which would create a statute of limitations on alleged violations
of the Adirondack Park Agency Act and Regulations.
Every special interest group in the Adirondacks has an influential, well-financed lobbying organization in Albany.
Local governments are not a special interest, but we must ensure that our voices—and those of our constituents—are
heard loud and clear.
Working closely with our state legislators, the Review Board is a critical information and advocacy resource for
Adirondack towns and villages—collecting and disseminating news media, state agency and advocacy group information
CLINTON COUNTY i ESSEX COUNTY I FRANKLIN COUNTY I FULTON COUNTY i HAMILTON COUNTY i HERKIMER COUNTY
LEWIS COUNTY I ST.LAWRENCE COUNTY I SARATOGA COUNTY I WARREN COUNTY I WASHINGTON COUNTY
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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.
While there are literally dozens of issues the Review Board is working on, let me highlight two of the most
important:
1. Legislation to reform the APA's basis for subdivision jurisdiction. Current law requires landowners to
provide the APA with a tide search establishing the chain of title of the parcel to be subdivided back to May 22, 1973,and
to document every sale from the 1973 parcel. That requires a search of more than 45 years of deeds,while title standards
require a search of only 40 years. The burden and problem becomes worse each year. The Review Board and AATV are
working together to revise the law to base jurisdiction on lot size,rather than lot counting.
2. Legislation to create a statute of limitations on alleged violations of the APA Statute and Regulations.
Current law does not provide any statute of limitations protection for Adirondack landowners. The APA is allowed to
pursue alleged violations literally forever, and even if the alleged violation occurred as early as 1973 by a former owner
several owners back in the chain of title. The Review Board believes that is wrong and must be corrected.
We need your help. 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 2019, that
you consider 2019 funding in the amount of$300 so we can continue our critical work on your behalf, and budget the
same amount in your 2020 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 return a signed copy to you. If
you have any questions or concems, or there is something the Local Government Review Board can do for you, please
don't hesitate to call me at 518-569-7800.
Sin rely, kGaral
lExecutiveDr
Enc: Review Board contract
CUNTON COUNTY I ESSEX COUNTY I FRANKLIN COUNTY I FULTON COUNTY I HAMILTON COUNTY I HERKIMER COUNTY
LEWIS COUNTY I ST.LAWRENCE COUNTY I SARATOGA COUNTY I WARREN COUNTY I WASHINGTON COUNTY
AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT made , 2020 between the TOWN OF
QUEENSBURY, 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
WHEREAS, the TOWN has authorized an appropriation in the sum of Three
Hundred Dollars ($300) 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
Hundred Dollars ($300) 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 all 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 QUEENSBURY
By Supervisor
THE ADIRONDACK PARK LOCAL
GOVERN ME REVIEW OARD
By Geii1d W. D laney
Executive Director