For Immediate Release: November 7, 2007
Contact:
Keith P. McKeever | Public Relations | Adirondack Park Agency
contact@apa.ny.gov | (518) 891-4050
RAY BROOK, NY – Chairman Stiles to preside over a full Adirondack Park Agency Board.
On Thursday November 8, when Chairman Curt Stiles calls the Agency meeting to order he will be joined by the full complement of members and designees. The Senate confirmed Governor Spitzer’s nomination of Curt Stiles, Richard Booth and the re-appointment of Frank Mezzano on October 22, 2007.
In regards to his appointment Chairman Stiles said, “I am honored to have been appointed by Governor Spitzer to this very important and challenging position. I am passionate about the Adirondack Park and all that it represents to those who live and work here and the millions who visit. I remain impressed with those who had the wisdom to create the legal framework which strives to balance protection of the Park’s beauty and natural resources with the needs of the 103 municipalities that exist inside the Blue Line.”
The Agency Board consists of eleven members. Eight are appointed by the Governor by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation, the Secretary of State and the Chairman of the Department of Economic Development serve as ex-officio members. In order to reflect a careful balance of local, regional and statewide interest, five appointed members must be permanent residents of separate Adirondack Park counties and three members must be residents of the State who reside outside the Park. Agency members are appointed to four-year terms. Not more than five appointed members shall be of the same political party. The Governor designates a chairperson from among the members appointed to the Agency, who serves at the Governor's pleasure.
The Agency Board meets monthly to act on matters such as park planning and policy issues, permit applications, enforcement cases, park ecology and interpretive program issues and State Land Master Plan compliance determinations. Agency meetings are open to the public and held at the APA offices in Ray Brook, halfway between the villages of Lake Placid and Saranac Lake.
“The challenges and opportunities that face the Adirondack Park have never been greater,” stated Chairman Stiles, “and the time never better to continue building common ground among diverse constituencies. Working together we will achieve a balanced agenda that protects natural resources, respects the integrity of the State Land Master Plan and the Adirondack Park Agency Act and ensures economic development for the common good," he concluded.
Chairman Stiles has a diverse professional career, which includes corporate, academic and entrepreneurial experiences. He has been very active on Adirondack Park issues. As President of the Upper Saranac Lake Foundation, he led an effort that resulted in raising $1.5 million for the removal of Eurasian water milfoil. This intensive three-year project was highly effective in reducing Eurasian water milfoil levels in Upper Saranac Lake. Chairman Stiles was a signatory and charter member of the Ad Hoc group responsible for the creation of the Adirondack Park Aquatic Nuisance Species Management Plan.
His past board memberships include Upper Saranac Lake Foundation - President, Upper Saranac Lake Association - Executive Committee, Adirondack Council, Trudeau Institute, Town of Harrietstown - Planning Board, Adirondack Medical Center, Paul Smiths College - Finance Committee Chair and the Adirondack Explorer.
Mr. Booth, a Plattsburgh native, has a long history of public service and involvement in environmental and planning issues. He worked as a Senior Attorney for the Adirondack Park Agency where he participated in all major phases of the preparation of the Adirondack Land Use and Development Plan and the implementing provisions of the Adirondack Park Agency Act. Mr. Booth served as Assistant Counsel for the Land Use and Office of Program Development, Planning and Research at the Department of Environmental Conservation where his responsibilities included wetlands regulation, forest preserve protection, coastal zone management and reservoir releases regulation. He was appointed by Governor Cuomo to serve on the (former) Low Level Radioactive Waste Siting Commission.
Since 1977, Mr. Booth has been a professor in the City and Regional Planning Department at Cornell University. He teaches courses in environmental law, land use law and environmental politics. He was elected to the City of Ithaca Common Council for three terms (1986 - 1996) and chaired its Charter and Ordinance Committee for two years and the Budget and Administration Committee for six years. Mr. Booth was elected to the Tompkins County Legislature in 2001, recently resigning to allow time to serve on the Adirondack Park Agency Board. His priorities while serving on the County Legislature included timely and thoughtful delivery of services to those with special needs, improving intergovernmental cooperation, supporting public transportation, and planning initiatives designed to protect and enhance the County’s environmental and economic health.
Mr. Mezzano was first appointed to the Agency in February 1998. He is the Town of Lake Pleasant Supervisor, a member of the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors and President of the Speculator/Lake Pleasant Consolidated Health District. Mr. Mezzano also served as the Hamilton County representative to the Department of Environmental Conservation’s Region 5 Open Space Committee.
In 1996, the Local Government Review Board recognized Mr. Mezzano as its Outstanding Local Government Official. His community activities include Zoning Board of Appeals Chairman from 1977-1992; member of the Chamber of Commerce and member of the Speculator/Lake Pleasant Fish and Game Club. Mr. Mezzano owned the Speculator Department Store and lives with his wife in Lake Pleasant.
Adirondack Park Agency Board Members and Designees:
Chairman Curt Stiles - In-Park seat -Independent - Franklin County
Mr. Arthur Lussi - In-Park seat - Republican - Essex County
Mr. Frank Mezzano - In-Park seat- Republican - Hamilton County
Mr. William Thomas - In-Park seat - Republican - Warren County
Ms. Leilani Ulrich - In-Park seat - Republican - Herkimer County
Mr. James Townsend - Out-of-Park seat -Republican - Monroe County
Mr. Cecil Wray - Out-of-Park seat - Democrat - New York County
Mr. Richard Booth - Out-of-Park seat -Democrat - Tompkins County
Ex-officio members:
DEC Commissioner: Alexander "Pete” Grannis, Designee: Betsy Lowe
Secretary of State: Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez, Designee: Richard Hoffman
DED Commissioner: Daniel Gundersen, Upstate Chairman, Designee: Randall Beach