For Immediate Release: December 9, 2003
Contact:
Keith P. McKeever | Public Relations | Adirondack Park Agency
contact@apa.ny.gov | (518) 891-4050
RAY BROOK, NY - The Adirondack Park Agency will hold its regularly scheduled monthly meeting on December 11 and 12 in Lake Placid in the Whiteface meeting room of the Olympic Arena on Main Street. Highlights for this month’s meeting include a status and trends report on Adirondack Park wetlands by Resource Analysis and Scientific Services Staff and a presentation by Town of Inlet Supervisor J.R. Risley describing Inlet’s recently completed Comprehensive Master Plan
The Regulatory Programs Committee and the full Agency will discuss two proposed projects. Agency staff recommends approval, with conditions, for the reconstruction and expansion of an existing boat launch facility on Lake Champlain in the Town of Ticonderoga. The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation along with the Fort Ticonderoga Association will build enhancements to support this popular and economically important piece of tourism/ recreational infrastructure. The site is routinely used as the launch point for major fishing tournaments of significant economic importance to Ticonderoga and Essex County. The second project before the Board is a second renewal of a wetlands permit and must be acted on by the Board as a matter of routine.
The Agency’s meeting will begin at 9 am on Thursday, with the Regulatory Programs Committee meeting commencing at 9:30.
Later Thursday morning, Research Analysis and Scientific staff will present the preliminary report entitled “Adirondack Park Wetlands Status and Trends Analysis” to the Ecology/Interpretive Programs Committee. The Agency successfully obtained a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to undertake this project. The study was completed in partnership with the Champlain Institute. Agency staff will detail study methods, classification systems and summarize results.
Thursday afternoon, the Ecology/Interpretive Committee will hear a continuation of the first annual discussion of the Visitor Interpretive Program’s management objectives. The Interpretive Programs Division is responsible for the Agency’s park wide interpretive program, which is based out of the two centers in Paul Smiths and Newcomb. The Agency intends, through these annual discussions, to ensure the level of services currently offered at the Interpretive Centers.
At 2:15 on Thursday, the Code of Ethics for Per Diem Board will go before the Board for action. This policy is intended to describe the implementation of Article 74 of the Public Officers Law which describes standards for conduct for members of per diem boards.
Following the Administration Committee, the Enforcement Committee will hear a new case and ending the day, the Legal Committee will hear a status report from Legal Division staff on ongoing regulatory revision efforts. This Committee will continue to discuss the definition of “floor space” as it relates to Agency project jurisdiction.
On Friday, the Local Government Services Committee will welcome Inlet Supervisor J.R. Risley. Supervisor Risley will update the Agency on the Town’s Comprehensive Master Plan. Inlet’s plan presents the collective vision of Inlet, building upon current assets, while guiding the community into the future. The Agency provided technical assistance to the Town on this very important project and applauds Inlet for its dedication and hard work.
At 10:15 AM, the full Agency board will convene to hear committee reports and make final decisions on the proposed permit applications. Following its usual practice, the Agency will end its meeting with public comments.
The next Agency meeting is scheduled for January 8-9, 2004 at the Olympic Arena in Lake Placid.