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2009-04-14 SP MTG. #17 JOINT QSBY.-Ft. Ann.dJOINT MEETING QSBY./FORT ANN EAST VILLAGE LAKE GEORGE 04-14-2009 MTG. #17 JOINT MEETING QUEENSBURY/FORT ANN EAST VILLAGE OF LAKE GEORGE HELD AT NORTH QUEENSBURY VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT APRIL 14, 2009 5:30 p.m. TOWN SUPERVISORS TOWN OF QUEENSBURY DANIEL STEC TOWN OF FORT ANN GAYLE HALL QUEENSBURY TOWN CLERK DARLEEN DOUGHER FORT ANN TOWN CLERK MARYJANE GODFREY Supervisor Stec-Good after noon everyone and welcome to this joint public hearing conducted by Queensbury and Fort Ann Town Supervisor's regarding the petition for the proposed East Lake George Village. For some of those that may not recall in the past, the purpose of this public hearing is going to be to take public comments regarding the statutory validity of the petition that was submitted back in early March to both the Town of Queensbury and the Town of Fort Ann. So, before we get into the public baring I would ask everyone to please rise and join me in the pledge of allegiance. This is a public hearing to consider not the wisdom or the merits of the idea of the Village but by law we are required to conduct this public hearing in a time line that is spelled out by statue, to go over whether or not the petition meets the legal requirements as set out in order for it to go forward. Then in a period of time after we close this hearing then the two town supervisors will meet to render a decision as to whether or not based on that information that is presented this evening and the information that we have whether or not the requirements have been met. If they are met then we will proceed forward again according to State Law and a time line and a procedure towards a special election. If it does not as before, if it does not then the process just simply terminates right there, unless of course somebody wants to challenge the determinations. But, with that said unless Gayle has anything to add we can open the public hearing and again we will take any comment, I think we were hoping that if you have written comment with you that we would be happy to take a comment of that if you have got something prepared, we can include that in the record. I think there is a sign up sheet that is up at the table so if you could also if you come to the microphone please fill in the sign in sheet. So, with that said the public hearing is open and if there are any members of the public that would like to address this public hearing? Town Counsel Bob Hafner-Can I just jump in? Supervisor Stec -Go ahead. Town Counsel Hafner-With just a couple of clarifications? Supervisor Stec-The Queensbury Town Attorney for those that may not know. Town Counsel Hafner-All objections are supposed to be in writing you also can verbally explain, but that are supposed to be in writing and they need to be signed by residents who would be qualified to vote within the area that is being considered in the petition. If you do come up you should give your name and your address. Supervisor Stec-All right, how about this for the Town Clerks do we have any correspondence that we have received that we want to include as part of the public hearing record? Town Clerk Darleen Dougher-I have two letters that were received. Supervisor Stec-Do you want to read them in please, Darleen. Queensbury Town Clerk Dougher-The first one is please remove my name from the East Lake George Village proposal to bon the ballot. Thank you. And it is Martha G. Schmulbach, PO Box 282, Cleverdale, NY 12820 The second one is: Please remove JOINT MEETING QSBY./FORT ANN EAST VILLAGE LAKE GEORGE 04-14-2009 MTG. #17 2 my name from the East Lake George Village Petition. Thank you. Elizabeth J. Williams that she signed it three years ago. Supervisor Stec-Is there any other written submissions that we have? Fort Ann Town Clerk Mary Jane Godfred-No Supervisor Stec-Again the public hearing is open and if there is any members of the public that would like to comment? Yes, Ma'am. Ms. Bender Ms. Kim Bender-I just wanted to submit a letter Supervisor Stec-You can sit if you would like. Ms. Bender-Sorry, Supervisor Stec-You don't have to. Ms. Bender-I am Kim Bender and I would like to submit this letter and it has attachments I had an opportunity to go through the petition and I found some issues with it, fore instance there were people signing the petition that were not qualified to sign. There were issues regarding the map as far as people signing being aware that some territory and properties within Pilot Knob were actually removed from the original petition and also I did look through and I researched the list of regular inhabitants that was submitted with the petition and found it was outdated and inaccurate. Fore instance there were people that had been deceased for a while, moved that sort of thing. In the list of registered voters same issues, it was outdated and inaccurate so I did go through each one and do a spread sheet, a couple of spread sheets on them and I would like to submit them. Supervisor Stec-Ok, we will take them. I guess our Town Clerk Thanks. Is there anyone else that would like to comment on this public hearing this evening? Anyone at all? I thought the last one was fast this one is even faster. Yes, Sir. Mr. Scott Johnson-I just, I really didn't have, this is kind of new to us we are new to the area or back to the area. I do not understand how we were added to the map, I have never even been approached by anybody regarding it and we certainly do not want to be part of it. That is just the statement I want to make and I understand as an objection it must be in writing. Supervisor Stec-Yea, and again I mean certainly I would be happy to have a side conversation with you about the process and I can understand your concern but the purpose of this would be the validity of the petition. I can tell you the idea would be I guess the short answer to your question if people don't mind me answering a question is that you know, a group of petitioners proposed a village including the boundaries and there is a laundry list of what is required under State Law on this petition. Then they go and collect a certain number of signatures and if they are all valid and there is a certain percentage of these signatures, then your opportunity at that point if the petition is valid to express, hey I do not want to be part of this would be at that special election. If you are in the minority on election day then you would be in the village, despite your objection. But, I can understand your having questions about hey I didn't know anything about this or didn't you know wasn't the, try to answer your question. But, as far as our purpose tonight focused on the validity of the petition. Mr. Johnson-Ok. Supervisor Stec-Thank you Mr. Johnson. Is there anyone else that would like to address this public hearing? Any Board Members from either town, either at the dais or not? All right Gayle I mean, or Jeff or Bob have we missed anything that you guys think we should do? All right. Last call. All right, John, I am just a little levity here it is not often when we are at a meeting when you don't have a word. Just a little levity. All right anybody else? All, right, then again just for public information Bob, what does the law say, how long do we have? JOINT MEETING QSBY./FORT ANN EAST VILLAGE LAKE GEORGE 04-14-2009 MTG. #17 Town Counsel Hafner-We have ten days for the two of you to make a decision and within five days after the tens days you have to file paperwork with the Town Clerk of your written decision. Supervisor Stec-In the past two times we issued a joint filing but we don't necessarily have to issue a joint filing, is that true? I mean maybe it isn't the kind of thing that we need to cover here tonight but I am just trying to. Town Counsel Hafner-We would hope that we would come to the same conclusion but they need not they need to have both Supervisor's agree that it satisfies the statutory requirements. Supervisor Stec-Again, anyone else that wants to comment on this public hearing regarding this the petition its legal adequacy. All right then unless Gayle disagrees I will close the public hearing and about ten days from now or so hopefully Gayle and I will reach some sort of conclusion and we will let you know. We can just adjourn the meeting, thank you everybody. Respectfully submitted, Miss Darleen M Dougher Town Clerk-Queensbury (Complete transcript of public hearing will be on file)