COMLINKS TURMOIL CONTINUES, TWO DIRECTORS FIRED

ComLinks continues to be in a state of turmoil after the abrupt firing of two program directors at the not-for-profit community action agency based in Malone.

Last Friday, the directors received letters that they had been terminated for incompetence and improper performance of duties and were escorted out of the building.

Since last November, when 40 of 49 ComLinks staffers signed a letter calling for the ouster of their longtime CEO Nancy Reich, both directors had been vocal in their criticism of what they described as financial mismanagement coupled with a lack oversight by the board of directors.

Now unemployed, former director Don Moll said he'd never received any disciplinary notices for his work as a property and asset manager and plans to legally contest his firing.

“Because we were trying to open up communication with the board and get some of these issues taken care of as far as discrimination, reference to raises and benefits and this kind of stuff  – we had no union to go to – that the only way we could get this done was to bring it out into the open. I feel completely that the charges they put against me are unsubstantiated and was a complete retaliatory type action.”

Along with Don Moll, fellow director Ruth Valachovic received an identical termination letter. She said the board has never taken its own employees seriously and continues to equate any criticism of the CEO or the board as an attack on the agency itself.

“The thing that I thought was totally amazing was that there was never any kind of indication that the staff was anything but griping, not knowledgeable, didn't have a clue – that to me was absolutely stunning.”

Board Chairman John Ray affirmed the board's confidence in CEO Nancy Reich. He said many of the allegations of mismanagement brought to the board had proved to be unfounded and are hurting the agency's image.

“Our position is in that severely criticizing the CEO and the board of directors that creates an element of mistrust in what the public was reading and hearing. All of this information undermines the credibility of the whole agency.”

ComLinks CEO Nancy Reich would not comment on the dismissal of the two directors. She did say that she's trying to open communication and has hired a human resources consultant to help heal the agency.

“We've got an HR person involved. We've got a new director of domestic violence on an interim basis that has management skills. We're trying to move forward. We're trying to put this behind us. We're trying to get on down the road and keep everyone happy and not disrupt services. We have a great team.”

Meanwhile, ComLinks continues to face financial strains. One of the most serious problems is a failing housing project in North Creek known as Peaceful Valley. With only 12 of the 20 units rented, the project continues to hemorrhage more than $20,000 a month since it opened more than a year ago.

Chairman John Ray said ComLinks is now considering shutting Peaceful Valley down altogether. “We don't have the financial ability to maintain it and keep it going.”

The facility could close as soon as the end of March.

-Jacob Resneck

NORTH ELBA BOARD CONSIDERS TOLLS ON LOJ ROAD

North Elba town leaders apparently weren't joking when they said they're considering a toll bridge on the Adirondack Loj Road.

For more than a year, a temporary bridge on loan from the county has kept the Adirondack Mountain Club's popular Heart Lake trailhead and visitor center connected to the outside world.

Now Essex County wants their temporary bridge back. A letter from the Department of Public works sent earlier this month said the county may need the bridge for an emergency and “strongly urges” the town to build its own bridge.

That would cost between $600,000 and $1.2 million said North Elba Town Supervisor Roby Politi. He noted that the vast majority of users of the bridge are tourists.

“This is a tremendous burden when there are only eight property owners beyond that bridge,” Politi said at Tuesday evening's town board meeting in Lake Placid.

Town Attorney Ron Briggs said it would take action by state lawmakers in Albany to allow the town to collect tolls to offset the expense.

The supervisor said he'd be contacting state representatives as well as regional Department of Environmental Conservation officials to see what help is available.

“The state has a stake here and we're hoping that the state of New York will realize its partnership in this situation,” Politi said.

In other news, following an executive session the town has retained its regular attorney Ron Briggs to defend the town in a lawsuit brought against the Lake Placid-North Elba Joint Review Board over its approval of the Adirondack Museum's Lake Placid branch.

An adjoining landowner is suing, saying the museum's 63-foot tower will obstruct his view of Mirror Lake.

Representing the town, Briggs will receive $125 an hour – not to exceed $3,500 – to answer the lawsuit up to the first appeal, according to Politi.

The town also resolved unanimously to pay $2,500 to the Tri-Lake Humane Society in Saranac Lake for its services. The animal shelter currently accepts dog and cats that have spent more than five days in the town's shelter near the landfill. The deal is part of a three-way partnership with the nonprofit shelter, the town and the Village of Lake Placid.

In other business, the town unanimously adopted a travel credit card policy. Supervisor Politi said it was in response to results of a state audit that had uncovered embarrassing charges by trustees and employees of the Village of Lake Placid.

North Elba has only two credit cards accessible only to the supervisor and the budget officer and are to remain inside the finance office when not being used. Meal allowances were set at between $43 and $58 per day. Detailed receipts are required within seven days of a purchase.

-Jacob Resneck

LAKE PLACID MAY HOST ‘ROCKSTAR CURLING’ REALITY SHOW

Lake Placid could play host to a curling-themed reality television show that would give the winners a chance to compete in the U.S. curling championships and possibly go to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver.

Some reports say producers are also trying to land closet curlers like Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi as part of the show, which could be called “Rockstar Curling.”

Al Fry, Manager of Program Development for Carr-Hughes Productions in Saratoga Springs, said the idea came from a marketing firm in Canada. “They had this idea about this rockstar curling, sort of like American Idol type tryouts, and hopefully developing a team, having them train somewhere for several months with top notch coaches and having the opportunity to hopefully make the Olympic team,” he said.

Reports in the Toronto Star and other Canadian newspapers said producers were trying to court Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi to play a role in the show.

Fry said he wasn’t sure where that information came from.  While the focus will be on the athletes, he said they would be going after some star power to host the show. “The plan is to find athletes, maybe the college quarterback who didn’t make it to the NFL and still has a competitive spirit and would like to try and make the Olympics,” he said. “And that’s really the type of people we’re looking for. There are certain celebrities that do curl; I know Toby Keith has curled on occasion. That’s the first I’ve really heard about Bruce Springsteen and (Jon) Bon Jovi but if they curl and they’re interested that would be fantastic.”

NBC has an exclusive option for ten-episodes of the show, which Fry said would likely air on weekend afternoons prior to other sports programming. “At the moment the show is a possibility and we’re obviously excited about the possibility,” he said.

The Canadian news outlets reported that the show would be based in Lake Placid.  But Fry said there hasn’t been any firm commitment yet.

He said several logistical issues, such as available ice time, would need to be factored in to their decision in where to shoot the show. “We have offices in Lake Placid and Saratoga Springs and we would obviously like to have it somewhere close to us just for production purposes,” said Fry. “The main thing is where we’re going to find ice time and essentially have a club at our disposal.”

ORDA Spokesman Sandy Caligiore said they’d be more than willing to host the reality show. He said there have been no discussions yet but said ORDA would work to accommodate the program. “Certainly if they’re looking for a site to bring these people to, I can think of no better site than right here,” he said. “I’m sure our management staff could work out a schedule that would be accommodating.”

The reality series also has the backing of the United States Curling Association. “We feel that the Rockstar concept is innovative, creative and will help U.S. Curling develop new awareness, interest and participation in our sport across America,” said chief operating officer Rick Patzke.

There will be tryouts at six or seven curling clubs across the country open to anyone 18 and older.

And the contestants will get no special treatment. “They would have to enter the U.S. Olympic team trials like any other U.S. Olympic eligible team,” said Patzke.

-Mike Fritts

SUPERINTENDENT INTERVIEWS CONTINUE FOR SL SCHOOLS

A committee made up of Saranac Lake School Board members, school district administrators and community residents will meet tonight to interview two more candidates for the position of superintendent of schools.

A follow up meeting to discuss the pool of applicants will then be held on Thursday, according to School Board President Joan Schaefer.

Schaefer says it will be up to the school board, which will ultimately hire the new superintendent, to decide whether to narrow the list of candidates and conduct second interviews or select a candidate for the job.  “The board will have to get together and hash it all out,” she said. 

There are six finalists for the position.  “We’re moving along with the process,” Schaefer said.  “We have good candidates.”

Saranac Lake is one of numerous districts across the state, including Malone and Lake Placid, who are also hunting for a new superintendent.

Schaefer said they had one candidate whose interviewing for seven or eight superintendent jobs.

She hopes they can reach a decision soon.  “Once we make a decision we’ve got to start negotiations on a contract and that isn’t done overnight either,” Schaefer said.

-Chris Knight

GOLFER FACES PRISON FOR SELLING COCAINE

A reputed drug dealer from Warren County may have sold cocaine to other golfers when he played in golf tournaments in Essex County.

57 year-old Vincent S. Pace of Glens Falls – an avid golfer – pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance this week in Warren County Court, according to a report in the Glens Falls Post Star.

He also agreed to forfeit nearly $14,000 police seized from a safe at his home when he was arrested in September.

A confidential informant working for police also alleged that Pace sold cocaine to fellow golfers when he played in golf tournaments in the Schroon Lake, Moriah and Westport areas. 

The charge Pace pleaded guilty to this week stemmed from cocaine buys that were made from his house, not on the golf course.

Pace has reportedly agreed to serve five years in state prison and two years on parole.  Sentencing is scheduled for February 27.

-Chris Knight

POLICE AND FIRE REPORT

Saranac Lake Police charged 24 year-old Reginald J. Toney of Lake Placid with second-degree assault, a felony, and second-degree harassment, a violation, at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. Police say Toney was arrested on warrants issued by village court stemming from an investigation into a bar fight on Sunday.  Toney allegedly assaulted another male subject by biting that person’s facial area, causing a laceration to their face.  The harassment charge, police say, stems from Toney allegedly subjecting a female person to physical contact during the incident.  He was arraigned in village court and sent to the Franklin County Jail in lieu of $10,000 cash bail or $20,000 bond.  Police say the investigation is ongoing and more charges are possible.

Saranac Lake firefighters were called to 9 Saint Hill Lane at 12:04 a.m. this morning.  One truck and five members responded to the home where light smoke was coming from the basement.  Firefighters found a pellet stove had malfunctioned.  They investigated and cleaned out the chimney, returning to the fire station by 12:54 a.m.