For Immediate Release: March 10, 2003
Contact:
Victoria Hristovski | Director Public Information | Adirondack Park Agency
contact@apa.ny.gov | (518) 891-4050
RAY BROOK- This month will mark the retirement of the Agency's seventh staff member in less than a year. Chief of Local Government Services James Hotaling is retiring from New York State service at the end of this month and Adirondack Park Agency Members and Designees will recognize Mr. Hotaling's more than 25 years of accomplishments and service during this month's Adirondack Park Agency meeting on Thursday, March 13th at 9 a.m. in Ray Brook.
"It's going to be easy to salute the exemplary contributions Jim has provided to this Agency over the years," said APA Chairman Jim Frenette. "What's going to be difficult is finding the words to thank him enough for all the work he has done - and more difficult still - is saying 'goodbye' to another one of our best."
A message from the New York State Secretary of State, Randy Daniels will be read to Mr. Hotaling on Thursday morning, along with a resolution from the Local Government Review Board to be read by Executive Director, Joseph Rota.
In addition to the recognition of Mr. Hotaling's dedicated service throughout the past 25 years, Agency Board Members and Designee's will also have a full agenda this month as they consider four new projects and receive four special presentations.
Beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, Regulatory Program Committee Members will review a large-scale project involving wetlands in the Town of Chesterfield, in Essex County, and three applications for the installation of antennae in the Towns of Chester (Warren County), Warrensburg (Warren County), and Essex (Essex County).
Park Ecology/Economic Affairs Committee will take place from 1 to 3:30 p.m. in the Large Conference Room while Local Government Services Committee will meet from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the Small Conference Room. At 1 p.m. in the Large Conference Room at Agency headquarters in Ray Brook, the entire Board will receive a special presentation entitled, "Climate Change/Potential Economic and Local Government Effect" from Barry Rock of the University of New Hampshire and James McKenna of the Lake Placid-Essex County Visitors Bureau. The presentation will address a study of temperature changes for the Adirondacks since 1895, which indicate the Adirondack Mountains may be more susceptible to future climate change than the rest of the New York and New England region. In addition to simple warming, future climate change in the Adirondacks would also include acid rain and poor air quality, factors which could have a negative impact on both humans and the ecology of the area. This is an informational presentation only, no action will be taken by the Board.
During the Local Government Services Committee, Chief of Local Government Services will reflect on 25 years of Local Government Service provided by the Agency, and will also look forward to the next 30 years of the program.
From 3:30 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, State Land Committee members will review an amendment to the Rogers Rock Campground Unit Management Plan. Committee members will also review the Memorandum of Understanding regarding the State Land Master Plan for the Adirondack Park between the Agency and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). At the same time, the Enforcement Committee will meet in the Small Conference Room at the Agency to review an enforcement case involving a setback violation in the Town of Inlet (Hamilton County).
Friday morning (March 14th) there will be two more special presentations. At 9 a.m., the Board will be updated on the First Wilderness Heritage Corridor Project which involves a plan for the redevelopment of the Northern Hudson River Corridor. Shortly after that presentation, Al Hicks of the DEC will report on the status of the Indiana Bat in the Adirondacks.
The full Agency Board will meet at 10:45 a.m. on Friday.
The next Adirondack Park Agency meeting will take place on April 10th and 11th at the Adirondack Park Visitor Interpretive Center at Paul Smiths. For more information, please visit our Web site at www.northnet.org/adirondackparkagency/ or call (518) 891-4050 ext. 173.