NCCC CONSIDERS STAFF CUTBACKS, TUITION INCREASE

North Country Community College will be reducing its staffing and is planning to increase tuition by five percent as it deals with what college officials are calling “serious” funding issues.

College President Dr. Gail Rogers Rice told North Country trustees Tuesday that two proposed cuts were removed from the budget adopted by the state Legislature last week – a $200,000 small college supplement and a reduction of $50 per full time equivalent student.

That means the college’s state funding levels will stay the same as last year, despite increased expenses.

“We are flat lined,” Rice said.  “We’re looking at a budget for next year that is going to limit us, primarily because of the lack of revenues and increased costs.  That’s going to be a serious problem next year.”

The college has already decided not to re-hire two vacant teaching positions in English and Science.  Another existing position will be cut altogether while a fourth position will be reduced to half-time.

“Personnel is what costs us, personnel is what we have to look at,” Rice said.

The budget situation has also affected the college’s ability to start new programs.  An environmental science program that was planned to debut in September has been put off until the following year.

Tom Finch, Vice President for Academic Affairs, said the college is also looking to increase tuition by five percent or between $100 and $150.

The college may also have to ask its sponsoring counties for more funding.

North Country officials say the additional funding is needed because they’re being hit hard by rising fuel and utility costs, which the college can’t control.

Bill Chapin, North Country’s Chief Financial Officer, noted in his report to the board that they budgeted $2.10 per gallon for gasoline this year.  But the average price the college is now paying tops $2.75 per gallon.

And, the college used 3000 more gallons of fuel oil this winter.

Chapin said utility costs are already $28,000 over budget and $60,000 more than last year.

Dr. Rice said they’re planning to present the college Board of Trustees with a preliminary budget for next year at their May meeting.  It will then need to be approved by Franklin and Essex Counties before being sent on to SUNY.

In other news, the college has announced the date and time of a public meeting where the first phase of planning for improvements to the Saranac Lake campus will be outlined.  The meeting is scheduled for April 29 at 7 p.m. at the Petty Lecture Hall (S-19) on the Saranac Lake campus.

-Chris Knight

HILTON ARCHITECTURAL UPDATE UNVEILED TO JRB

Plans to remodel the former Hilton Lake Placid Resort have been filed with the Lake Placid-North Elba Joint Review Board.

The JRB is now accepting public comment in advance of next months' public hearing.

Chicago-based Lane Hospitality is rebranding the landmark hotel on the corner of Saranac Avenue and Main Street in Lake Placid. As of June 9, the Hilton will become the High Peaks Resort.

It will be the first major remodel of the hotel since the late 1970s.

Lead architect David Schlosser unveiled plans that will remodel the facades of about seven storefronts in front of the hotel complex. That will include a restaurant with outdoor seating.  He said the idea is for the individual shops to overshadow the five-storey concrete hotel that he admitted is not very attractive.

“We're trying to make the building a little more sympathetic to the village,” Schlosser said.

JRB members expressed minimal concerns at Wednesday's meeting. Chairman Bill Hurley said there was enough information to move forward.

“I think it's welcomed by the community to do something with that building,” he said. “Overall, it's a huge improvement.”

The Adirondack Park Agency has asserted that it does not have jurisdiction over the project, Schlosser noted.

The construction timetable depends on the pace of the permits issued by the JRB, he said.

Construction could begin as early as this summer.

JRB member Horst Weber suggested that the developers coordinate their construction with the 31 condos planned across the street to minimize traffic impacts.

The first of what may be a series of public hearings has been scheduled for May 7 at 7 p.m. in the North Elba Town Hall. Architectural plans have been left in the town hall and are available for public review during regular business hours.

-Jacob Resneck

SL SEEKS $400,000 GRANT FOR RENTAL REHABILITATION

The Village of Saranac Lake will be seeking $400,000 in grant money to create a rental housing rehabilitation fund.

Community Development Director Jeremy Evans told the village board this week that he’s been working for the past month to get the application ready.  The funding is being sought through the New York State Office for Small Cities.

Evans said the grant would be used to create a rental rehabilitation fund.  The village would provide low interest loans and limited grants to owners of rental properties to perform major fire and safety upgrades as identified by the code enforcement officer.  Money would also be set aside for energy efficiency upgrades.

Evans asked the board to pass a resolution allowing him to submit an application, which is due Monday.

The grant, if it’s received, would include $72,000 in administrative funds to oversee the program.  “It would help fund our code enforcement program overall,” said Evans.

The board voted unanimously to authorize submission of the grant application.

In other news, Trustee Susan Waters asked the board to take another look at its decision last year to turn over management of a housing rehabilitation program to ComLinks.

“Given the performance of ComLinks in administering our home program and the unsettled nature of their business, I’m concerned about them administering our program,” Waters said.

Thirty homes had been identified for the housing rehabilitation program.  But so far, according to Waters, only one home has been completed.  “I think that’s substandard performance,” she said, asking the board to discuss the issue at a future meeting.

Mayor Tom Michael said the people who were running the program for ComLinks when the contract was agreed upon are no longer with the organization.

Trustee John McEneany said the board should also look at payment in lieu of taxes agreements and other subsidies on homes and projects run by ComLinks and “whether they’ve strayed from those agreements.” 

And, a majority of the board approved the appointment of Wayne Feinberg as chairman of the village planning board.  The vote was 3-2 with Mayor Tom Michael and Trustees John McEneay and Jeff Branch in favor.  Trustees Christy Fontana and Susan Waters were opposed.

-Chris Knight

TL MAN PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO BURGLARY

A Tupper Lake man entered not guilty pleas this week after being indicted on charges stemming from the burglary of a local business.

24 year-old Justin Drayse faces counts of third-degree burglary, third-degree criminal mischief, criminal possession of stolen property, third-degree intimidating a witness and two counts of petit larceny.

Drayse was arrested by Tupper Lake Village Police last October for allegedly burglarizing the Brick Oven Café on September 21, 2007.

At an arraignment on Monday before Franklin County Court Judge Robert G. Main Jr., Drayse pleaded not-guilty.

The case was adjourned pending an April 24 court conference.  Drayse’s bail was continued at $1000 cash.

In other county court action, 20 year-old Christopher Baker of Saranac Lake was sent to state prison for violation of felony probation.

Judge Main sentenced Baker to one to three years behind bars.

-Chris Knight

SAYWARD: $1 MILLION IN SNOWMOBILE FUNDS MISSING

Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward says a dedicated snowmobile trail maintenance fund is missing from the state budget that was finalized last week.

Sayward says she’s working to investigate the reappropriation of around $1 million for the Snowmobile Trail Development and Maintenance Fund.  The money was apparently swept into the general fund of the budget to be spent at the state’s discretion. 

“This is a clear example of why we need serious budget reform,” said Sayward.  “The budget was delivered to us at the last possible moment and this reappropriation was slipped secretly into the budget at the last minute.”

In 2005, legislation was passed increasing snowmobile registration fees – The Snowmobile Rights and Responsibilities Act of 2005.  Sayward said there was no provision in the legislation that if the money was not used in a certain time period, the funds would be appropriated elsewhere. 

The increased fees were meant to finance the trail improvement fund, which supports the state’s 10,000 miles of public snowmobile trails, snowmobile safety education and enforcement of the state’s snowmobile laws.

But Sayward said that promise has not been kept.

“Snowmobilers are forced to pay this fee under the assumption that it will go toward improving their education and facilities,” Sayward said.  “Instead the money will be taken from their pockets and spent at the whim of the state.  That is unacceptable.” 

The assemblywoman says she’s working with her legislative colleagues and New York’s snowmobilers to return the money to its proper place.

She’ll be circulating two petitions, one for lawmakers in Albany and the other for snowmobilers and concerned members of the public to sign. 

For more information contact Assemblywoman Sayward’s district office in Glens Falls at 792-4546.

GOV. PATERSON WELCOMES NOVA BUS TO PLATTSBURGH

A new transit bus assembly plant scheduled for completion in January will bring 300 new jobs to the North Country in the next several years.

Gov. David Paterson says that Quebec-based transportation company Nova Bus will operate a new $25 million manufacturing facility in Plattsburgh.

He noted that the news is the latest success for a city trying to carve out a new identity as a modern hub for Canadian companies. “There is an immense opportunity because there are so many Canadian companies looking to expand to the United States, that this is a perfect place for that to happen,” he said.  “That’s exactly the serendipitous circumstance that brings Nova Bus company here today.”

Paterson says the state will provide a $1.3 million capital grant for Nova, a subsidiary of the Volvo Group.

The company will operate from a new assembly plant with construction to begin immediately at the Banker Road Industrial Park in Plattsburgh.

The 135,000-square-foot facility will manufacture urban transit buses for the U.S. mass transit market. Nova Bus has been supplying buses predominantly to Canadian public transit systems and a small number of U.S. customers.  

Full production is slated for the summer of 2009, and Nova plans to employ 160 workers by the end of 2009, 240 by the end of 2010 and 300 by the end of 2011.

Apart from the jobs, Adore Kurtz, head of Clinton County's Development Corporation says the deal helps establish Plattsburgh as a destination for other companies. (news2) “It strengthens businesses like Multina – they make seats for Bombardier trains and all the seats for Nova Bus.  That strengthens an existing business and that’s key. And they would also be bringing perhaps up to ten various vendors and suppliers.”

After considering locations in several east coast states, Nova Bus chose Plattsburgh because of its proximity to its headquarters in Quebec and the opportunity to sell to New York State’s many transit authorities.

-AP wire reports and Chris Knight

DEC ISSUES BRUSH BURNING ADVISORY

Due to the retreating snows and the onset of warm, dry weather, the Department of Environmental Conservation says people living in Clinton, Essex, and Franklin Counties should avoid burning brush and other debris during early Spring conditions.

DEC Forest Ranger Captain John Streiff [strife] said spring is a dangerous time to burn brush and debris due to the presence of dead vegetation, drying winds, sunlight and rapidly changing weather conditions.

“Even where there is still some snow on the ground, vegetation in any areas without snow will quickly dry and become flammable,” he said in a news release.

DEC says debris burning is the second most common preventable cause of wildfires.  The lack of green vegetation, plenty of dead vegetation, warm temperatures, sun and winds all allow wildfires to start easily and spread quickly.

Streiff says wildfires could be prevented with safe alternatives like chipping, composting, or just waiting until the growth of new green vegetation later in the spring. 

The state says a fire should never be left unattended.  Other debris fire safety tips include:

             Never burn garbage;

            Burn only woody material such as leaves, grass and light brush;

            Check and obey all local laws and ordinances;

            Obtain an open burning permit where required;

            And do not burn on windy days or when wind is expected.

POLICE REPORT

State Police in Tupper Lake arrested 20 year-old Stanley J. Ruszala of Tupper Lake at 3:38 p.m. Wednesday.  He was stopped for speeding on State Route 30 in Tupper Lake and allegedly found to be intoxicated. Ruszala was charged with driving while intoxicated and underage possession of alcohol.  He was released to a third party to appear in town court at a later date.

State Police in Ray Brook arrested 32 year-old Nicholas J. Rocissono of Schenectady at 9:45 p.m. last night.  Police say his vehicle was stopped on Old Military Road in the Town of North Elba for speeding and crossing the double yellow line.  Rocissono was subsequently charged with refusal to take a breath test, aggravated driving while intoxicated and issued several traffic tickets.  He was released to appear in town court April 21.

Tupper Lake Village Police charged 29 year-old Armanda Farnsworth of Tupper Lake with unlawful possession of marijuana at 11:02 p.m. last night.  Police say Farnsworth was allegedly found in possession of a small amount of marijuana during a traffic stop.  She was issued a ticket to return to village court at a later date.

Tupper Lake Village Police served a criminal summons to 29 year-old Charles Exware of Tupper Lake at 12:32 p.m. Wednesday.  He was charged with second-degree harassment for an incident at a local bar where Exware allegedly put a female victim in a headlock and injured her neck.  He was released to return to village court at a later date.

TL BOARD TO CONSIDER REASSESSMENT ON THURSDAY

Tupper Lake town councilors will likely decide whether to certify this year’s revaluation at a special meeting tomorrow.

Dozens of concerned taxpayers turned up at Monday’s town board meeting to complain about the recent revaluation performed by the town assessor.

Many said they felt there were errors in their assessments and asked the town board to intervene. Taxpayers literally lined up outside to speak after town councilors noted that the town courtroom has a 32-person occupancy limit.

Town Supervisor Roger Amell said Tuesday that despite the high interest in the issue, he didn’t think it necessary to hold a public hearing in a larger venue.  “We know what their concerns are. That’s what we’re going to make our recommendations on. They can just keep repeating what they’re saying and stuff and we realize what they’re saying. The decision that we’re going to make will be in the interest of everybody, you know.”

The town’s total assessed value last year was approximately $390 million, according to the town assessor. Following a reassessment completed this year, that figure has jumped to $659 million.

Town Assessor Larry Cole defended his reassessment. He said the rise in assessments reflects the market and that revaluations always cause controversy.  “I don’t see any significant difference between this one and the one that was done in 2003,” Cole said. “It was virtually the same thing last time. When you do a reval that’s the way it is.”

Despite the call to reject the reassessment, Councilman John Button said the town board may not have a say in the matter.  The power really lies in the assessor’s office, he said.

“We’ve gotten several legal opinions and some of them tell us we don’t have any right to overrule what the assessor does,” Button said. “The assessor is the guy that’s hired to make these judgments. So, I don’t know; we’re actually trying to seek some other legal opinions as well.”

Roger Amell said the town is looking closely at the situation in the Town of Webb in the southern Adirondacks.

Earlier this month, the Webb town board voted 3-2 to request that the assessor not accept its revaluation. Webb town councilors had also come under pressure from property taxpayers upset at the rise in property assessments, according to published reports.

 “We may end up doing what Webb did,” Amell said.

Town Councilwoman Kathy Lefebvre said she’s received legal advice that the town assessor has the final say. She said the town board is running up against a May 1 deadline to certify the assessor’s revaluation.

“We don’t want to make it seem like we’re trying to do something, without the people– you know, trying to sneak it in,” she said. “That’s not what we want to do, at least not what I want to do. But the problem is the time element.”

Taxpayers will still be able to challenge their assessments through informal conferences with the assessor, she said. If that isn’t satisfactory, there is also the Board of Assessment Review, an appointed panel that has the power to adjust property assessments.

Thursday’s meeting has been scheduled for 4 p.m. in the basement town courtroom on Demars Boulevard.

-Jacob Resneck

VOLUNTEERS DRAFT ECO-FRIENDLY EVENTS LIST

A volunteer committee of local residents working with the Lake Colby Association presented a report to the Saranac Lake Village Board this week on eco-friendly events that could be held in Saranac Lake to boost winter tourism.

The effort comes just weeks after a car racing club withdrew its plan to hold auto races on the frozen surface of Lake Colby after the proposal stirred up a local controversy.

Members of the Lake Colby Association had raised concerns about the possible noise and environmental impacts of the event.  After it was scrapped, the group pledged to work with the village and Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce to design events that would increase tourism without threatening the lake.

Frannie Preston, a member of the volunteer committee, said they met for the first time less than a month ago.  The list of possible events, primarily for winter, was drafted in a relatively short period of time, she told the board.

“Given that our premise has always been to have something as eco-friendly as we can and drive as much tourism as we can, and put Saranac Lake on the map as much as we can, these were some of the reasons we came into being as a group and some of the principles that were driving what we came up with.”

The events and activities the committee named includes some things that have been done before like sled dog races and fishing competitions.

But it also includes new ideas like a “snow show” that would involve ice carving, igloo building and an ice-house building competition. 

Outdoor figure skating, speed skating and public ice skating along with on-ice competitions like hockey, curling and broomball were also named along with social events like a chili fest or winter barbecue.

Preston said the committee doesn’t necessarily want to be tasked with the next step in the process – trying to develop these events. “We did this because we wanted to do it,” she said.  “We don’t profess to be the people to run it.  We want to give you these ideas.  There are certain members of the group happy to volunteer their time going forward.  But our thought is this is something Saranac Lake as a whole can take on board.”

Preston also suggested someone be hired to take on the job of event planning and promotion. 

While some think that’s the job of the chamber or the village, there seems to be no one group or person responsible for organizing events in the community, she said.  “All of us who volunteer have other lives,” she said.  “You need someone whose job it is to do the organizing.  You need somebody to be the leader.”

But Trustee Jeff Branch raised concerns about hiring an event coordinator, even if it’s a part time position.  “We make a large donation to the chamber every year,” he said.  “It’s my personal belief that it’s the chamber’s responsibility.”

Gloria Volz, another member of the committee, agreed that the chamber needs to be a part of the effort.  But so do the village and town.  “We have to invest some money to get money back,” she said.  “We feel these events would bring money to the community.”

Mayor Tom Michael said it has to be a community driven, volunteer effort with the village, town and chamber serving as liaisons.

“We need a volunteer group to start to assemble these ideas and get the momentum going,” he said.  “If the chamber isn’t going to take it and run with it, the community needs to.”

The mayor suggested a meeting be held with interested volunteers, the village and the chamber of commerce.

-Chris Knight

CAPE AIR ENPLANEMENTS RISE OVER TWO MONTHS

Officials with the new commercial airline at the Adirondack Regional Airport say they’re pleased with the numbers of passengers they’ve served in their first two months.

In the month of February, Cape Air recorded 79 enplanements or passengers who flew from Saranac Lake to Boston.  86 passengers flew from Boston to Saranac Lake.

The airline saw an increase of 33 percent in March, its first full month of operation.  270 passengers flew from Saranac Lake to Boston, with 245 making the trip from Boston to Saranac Lake.

“We’re doing really well,” said Betty Garrett, station manager for Hyannis, Massachusetts based Cape Air.

She said the numbers are expected to grow even more when things get busier in the summertime.

Although they’ve received a lot of positive feedback from their customers so far, Garrett said Cape Air is still dealing with the fallout from the departure of the previous carrier, Big Sky.

Plagued with numerous late flights, cancelled flights and stranded passengers, Montana-based Big Sky pulled out of the North Country after just two months of service.

“We’re still taking a hit from Big Sky,” Garrett said. “A lot of people in the community are still gun shy.”

Garrett said Cape Air has worked hard to maintain on-time departures for its passengers.  The airline, which is also serving the Plattsburgh International Airport, is basing its airplane in Saranac Lake.

“When we overnight here, we don’t have to wait for a plane to come,” she said. “It’s been a great help.”

Harrietstown Supervisor Larry Miller said he was pleased that Cape Air saw an increase in enplanements between February and March. “The numbers speak for themselves that as people gain confidence in Cape Air, and with a marketing campaign our local airport marketing committee and Cape Air plan on doing, we hope to quadruple and expand those numbers and make it the best opportunity possible for area residents.”

Miller said the airline’s February numbers were low, which he expected after the “Big Sky fiasco” and the uncertainty it created for the flying public.   “I expect this time next year all these numbers will be greatly improved,” he said.  “We’re looking forward to working with Cape Air.”

A welcoming ceremony for Cape Air has been scheduled for May 8 at the airport in Lake Clear.

-Chris Knight

COMLINKS HOUSING PROJECT WILL MOVE FORWARD

ComLinks has announced that an affordable housing project in North Creek will keep its doors open after all.

Peaceful Valley Townhouses, a 20-unit housing development, has been plagued by legal disputes and cost overruns that have been costing the Malone-based nonprofit an estimated $20,000 a month. 

Finding qualified tenants in the North Creek area has been a perennial challenge, ComLinks officials say.  

Prospective tenants either make too much money to qualify or not enough to pay the rent. \

In February, ComLinks director Nancy Reich wrote to the state Division of Housing and Community Renewal saying that her organization was considering abandoning the project.

“We had to say something fairly radical of, if you don’t step to the table and help us solve this, this is what’s going to happen and you’re going to lose everything,” she said.

But ComLinks officials say progress has been made to keep the project alive.

ComLinks development coordinator Paula McNerney said Monday that all but six of the 20 apartments have now been rented and an additional four applications are pending.

Dan Irizarry, a spokesman for New York State Department of Housing and Community Renewal, said his agency is pleased that ComLinks is no longer threatening to walk away from Peaceful Valley.

But he said ComLinks and his agency have not agreed how much additional funding the project will need to stay afloat.  “The project is facing a shortfall. Part of the task ahead of us is to try to get everyone to agree upon what or how large that shortfall is,” he said.

More than 30 residents currently live at Peaceful Valley.  Some of the rents are paid on a sliding scale based on income.

Affordable housing has been a heated topic in North Creek as the community prepares for the opening of a new vacation resort near Gore Mountain.

-Jacob Resneck

DOCS COMMISSIONER NOT VISITING CAMP GABRIELS TODAY

State Corrections Commissioner Brian Fischer will not be touring Camp Gabriels after his visit to the North Country was cancelled.

Fischer, along with State Senator Betty Little, had been scheduled to tour the minimum security prison today.

But Department of Corrections spokesman Erik Kriss said Tuesday that the visit was cancelled because officials felt it would be better for Fischer to come up after there was more discussion of the possibility of providing additional programs or services at Camp Gabriels.

“Senator Little has suggested that maybe we can do other things at Camp Gabriels in the context of keeping it open,” Kriss said.  “Until the commissioner and the Senator and others have had a chance to talk about that a little more, then he’ll come up.”

Senator Betty Little confirmed Tuesday that they’ve decided to postpone the visit for several weeks.  She said she’s working with community members and officials from St. Joseph’s Rehabilitation Center on proposals for drug and alcohol rehabilitation and other programs that could expand the need for Camp Gabriels. 

“We’d rather wait and get some of these proposals put together,” she said.  “I will make sure we have him up there very soon.”

Camp Gabriels and three other prisons had been slated for closure by Fischer and the administration of former Governor Eliot Spitzer.

But the facilities were spared for at least another year after funding was restored for the prisons in the new state budget.

-Chris Knight

DEC BANS ATV’S FROM STATE FORESTS IN REGION SIX

The state Department of Environmental Conservation is banning all-terrain vehicles from 83.5 miles of roads through state forests and easement lands in part of northern New York where they were allowed.

Judy Drabicki, DEC's Region 6 director, says the action brings the area into compliance with state Vehicle and Traffic laws and conforms to the rest of the state, including DEC Region 5, which covers most of the 6-million-acre Adirondack Park.

According to the DEC, most of the 52 affected roads are in Lewis County, which still has more than 400 miles of town and county roads where ATVs can be ridden.  Other roads in Jefferson and Oswego counties were affected by the new regulations.

Besides state law, DEC officials pointed to damage to state lands and safety as supporting reasons for the status change.

C. Lee Hinkleman, president of the Lewis County Chamber of Commerce, tells the Watertown Daily Times the change will mean lost revenues.  “You're taking away our summer economy,” he said.

-AP wire reports

POLICE REPORT

Lake Placid Police arrested 47 year-old Eric R. Ohmann of Saranac Lake at 4:15 p.m. on Monday.  Police say Ohmann was charged with third-degree assault for allegedly striking another person in the head and face.  He was arraigned in Lake Placid Village Court and released of his own recognizance.  An order of protection was issued for the alleged victim.  Ohmann is scheduled to appear in village court again at a later date.