NCCC BOARD MOVES AHEAD WITH SL CAMPUS MASTER PLAN

North Country Community College is moving forward with developing a master plan for the college’s Saranac Lake campus.

The decision, which came during a Tuesday meeting of college trustees, is the next step for the college in determining the future of the main campus – options have included staying in Saranac Lake or moving to another property, possibly a location just outside Lake Placid.

The resolution approved unanimously by the board directs North Country’s administration to seek proposals from consultants to create a master plan for the main campus “that is appropriate for approval and submission to the Vice Chancellor for Community Colleges.”

College President Dr. Gail Rogers Rice said a third-party site analysis will be the first part of the master planning process. “We have to step aside and a third party will come in – an engineering firm – and will take a look at this campus,” she said.  “We’ve done it informally.  Now it will be done by professionals.  A third party will analyze this land and report both to this board but primarily to the counties.”

The master planning process will also include an assessment of the college’s needs, challenges at the main campus, the potential for expansion, analysis of potential building sites and ten-year enrollment projections. 

A master plan is required by SUNY in order for the college to apply for capital project funds.  North Country needs to submit its plans to the state by September to make the next round of capital development funding.  Franklin and Essex Counties will also have to approve and help pay for whatever project the college initiates. 

College officials had previously stated the board had narrowed its options for the future of the main campus to either staying in Saranac Lake or moving to the former Upstate Biotechnology property outside Lake Placid.  A resolution was passed by the Board of Trustees on December 18 naming the Upstate site as the preferred choice among properties evaluated by a site committee. 

But Rice said Thursday that the board hasn’t narrowed its focus. “It had looked at some things informally and said of the things they looked at informally that might be a good place,” she said.  “But there’s no decision and there won’t be any decision at all.  The Saranac Lake campus is the focus of this and that’s the intent of the board.”

Rice said they will seek an engineer to conduct the site analysis, which could take two months, as soon as possible.

Earlier during the meeting, college trustees said they wanted to provide the counties with detailed information on the spike in enrollment that’s created the space crunch at the Saranac Lake campus.  “I think we need to have those facts go to the county legislators,” said Trustee Gerald Blair.

Trustee Andy Fortune stressed the enrollment data is from the Department of Higher Education.  “They’re not our figures,” he said.

Some have suggested the village should offer its 10-acre sand pit property as a way to try and keep the college in Saranac Lake.

North Country Trustee and Saranac Lake Mayor Tom Michael told fellow board members that the village is willing to talk.    

Trustee Sam Grimone thought it would be worth the effort.  “I think it might be time to at least talk about village property,” he said.  “We don’t have to act.  But maybe we should talk in case it becomes necessary and important.”

VILLAGE CONSIDERS ANIMAL CONTROL LAW

The Saranac Lake Village Board is considering enacting an animal control law meant to keep dangerous dogs from running wild while providing a source of revenue to the village and the local animal shelter.

Trustee Christy Fontana outlined the proposal Monday night, describing a meeting with officials from the Tri-Lakes Humane Society, Village Justice Charles Bell and a representative of the state Department of Agriculture and Markets.

Fontana said the village attorney had reviewed the draft local law and found no problems with it.  A public hearing would need to be held before the board could consider approving the measure.

Fontana said the animal control law would give village court “the legal means” to assess fees to dog owners whose pets run wild, become a nuisance or are dangerous dogs that need to be quarantined.  Similar laws are already in place in surrounding towns, Fontana explained.

“This allows the court to say the owner of that dog has to pay for the quarantine,” she said.  The kenneling charge would be $20 per day.

The first violation of the local law would result in a $50 fine for the owner of the animal, $100 for a second violation, and not to exceed $250 for a subsequent violation.

“Until now there hasn’t been anything to give this village any revenue legally if the court wants to fine a dog owner,” Fontana said.  “This is a source of revenue for the village.” 

The fine money collected by the judge would first go to the state and then be reimbursed to the village.

When asked by Trustee Dan Olson if it would be a full reimbursement from the state, Fontana said she didn’t know.

“All I know is right now we get nothing,” she said.  “Once we have this money in our budget it can help us pay for the contract with the animal shelter. They do a tremendous service.”

Board members asked whether the kenneling fee would go directly to the animal shelter or through the village.  Fontana said she’d have to get clarification from the village attorney.

“I think it’s great,” Trustee John McEneany said.  “I think the money issue needs to be fine tuned before we send it to public hearing.”

The board will review the draft local law again at its February 12 meeting.

WHITEFACE LODGE SOLD TO CONNECTICUT COMPANY

A luxury Adirondack resort is being acquired by a Connecticut-based development company in a deal finalized earlier this month.

The Whiteface Lodge in Lake Placid, which opened in 2005, has been sold to T-Rex Capital LLC, which plans to make the resort the flagship property in a high-end private residence club that already includes a resort in St. John, in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Company President Clifford Preminger, whose family has lived seasonally in the area for thirty years, says they approached Whiteface Lodge developer Joe Barile with an offer. “It dovetails very nicely with a program we are already involved in, in St. Johns, developing world class, high-end private residence club properties,” he said.  “This fits in very well.  It’s very exciting for us.”

Asked about any changes they would make, Preminger said they’re not planning many at all. “From an operational point of view, there’s already a standard of excellence in place that’s hard to match,” he said. 

One change that’s planned surrounds the marketing of the property, which Barile was doing internally.  T-Rex Capital plans to use an outside company to handle marketing and real estate sales.

Preminger says they aren’t planning any staffing changes at the lodge. “The employees are probably one of the valuable resources we’ve acquired and I’m not aware of any changes we intend to make,” he said. “We hope everybody that has been there and contributed to the success to this point of the project will continue doing the excellent job they have been doing up to this point.”

Olivier Bottois will continue to manage the resort in his new position as managing director and CEO.  Barile, along with Resort Holdings CFO Mary Blaine, will remain as consultants.

Barile, who also developed and owns the Price Chopper and Outpost Plazas across the street, did not immediately return a call for comment.

But, in a news release, he said the deal would put the resort center stage while helping his company, Resort Holdings expand its operations. “This deal will elevate the resort from national awareness to international prominence and allow Resort Holdings to consider other opportunities in the resort second home and vacation ownership markets,” he said.

Investors will be able to purchase Whiteface Lodge’s fractional ownership units as part of the private residence club.  Preminger said more than 200 units have been sold so far. 

There will also be a number of units available at the lodge for operation of the hotel.  But, eventually, as the units are sold, “there’ll be less and less access by the general public,” Preminger said. 

The terms of the acquisition were not provided.

ADK MUSEUM PICKS ARCHITECTURE FIRM FOR LP BRANCH

Officials with the Adirondack Museum at Blue Mountain Lake have selected an architectural firm to design their Main Street Lake Placid museum branch.

Skidmore, Owings and Merrill LLP will be responsible for all aspects of the museum’s design and architecture. The same firm was awarded the architectural design contract for the Freedom Tower in Manhattan.

“This is an exciting time for the Adirondack Museum,” said David Pamperin, Museum Director. “The Museum is fortunate that SOM, with its distinguished history of designing landmarks, has agreed to work with us in designing a new landmark for Lake Placid.”

The consulting design partners for the project are David Childs and Roger Duffy.  Childs, who has been visiting the Adirondacks for 30-years, said he was proud to be part of the project. “The Adirondacks have been a haven for me and my family for years now and I am devoted to creating a museum that reflects the history of the place,” he said.

The announcement comes in conjunction with the museum’s 50th anniversary.

The Lake Placid branch, to be located on the former site of the Church of the Nazarene, is expected to encompass approximately 8,000 square feet complete with rotating exhibits, educational programs, office space, and storage. It will include an outdoor terrace area with public space for the local community and visitors to utilize. 

The museum says its overall goal is to “expand upon its mission by working with the Lake Placid community to create a year-round branch museum to share the scope of its collections and stories about the history of the Adirondacks, its people and their relationship to the majestic Adirondack environment.”

Museum officials say they have been reaching out to the community for their input as to how the branch museum could best serve the area. They’re also in the midst of a capital campaign with an anticipated groundbreaking scheduled for this fall.

Estimated opening is the end of 2008.

The project was awarded a $1 million grant from former Governor George Pataki in his closing days in office.

MCHUGH, GILLIBRAND REACT TO STATE OF THE UNION

President Bush delivered his annual State of the Union address to Congress Tuesday night, urging lawmakers to embrace his unpopular plan to send more troops to Iraq saying it represents the best hope in a war America must not lose.

Bush also sought to revive his domestic policy with proposals to expand health insurance coverage and slash gasoline consumption by 20 percent in a decade.

North Country Congressman John McHugh, a Republican, issued a statement after the speech, describing his impressions of the president’s message.  (click here for audio)

Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand also reacted last night to the State of the Union.  She told the Glens Falls Post-Star she was encouraged by a few parts of the speech, including a call for a 20 percent reduction in gasoline usage by the year 2017.

But Gillibrand was “concerned and disappointed” he didn’t spend more time on Iraq.  “I think the military solutions he has in mind are not going to be the most effective,” she said.

GILLIBRAND PLANS VISIT TO LAKE PLACID

Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand will make her first stop to Lake Placid this week after winning election to the House of Representatives in November.

As part of what she’s calling “Congress At Your Corner” Gillibrand will make a stop at the Bookstore Plus this Saturday.

“I believe accountability and accessibility to the families of our district is very important to being an effective representative and I am committed to both,” Gillibrand said in a news release. “Instead of asking folks to come to my office I want to go to them and make it convenient for them to see their member of Congress.”

The Congresswoman has pledged to make public appearances throughout the 20th district, which stretches from the Hudson Valley up to Lake Placid. Gillibrand, along with her congressional staffers, will be available to discuss issues constituents might have, listen to their opinions and share case files to help them with any problems they may have with a federal agency.

“This last election was about taking back our government from the special interests and I plan to lead by example,” said Gillibrand.

DELAIR PROMOTED TO LPPD SERGEANT

The Lake Placid Police Department has promoted patrolman Christopher J. Delair to the rank of sergeant effective January 29.

Delair, a former member of the Tupper Lake Police Department, has been a police officer for 17 years and is a certified New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services instructor, specializing in firearms.

Delair will be supervising the night shift in his new role.

POLICE REPORT

Tupper Lake Village Police charged a 16 year-old female from Tupper Lake with obstructing governmental administration and underage possession of tobacco at 4:48 p.m. Tuesday.  The incident occurred on Stella Avenue.  Police say the teenager wouldn’t give her name to officers when they planned to charge her with underage tobacco possession.  She was brought to the police station and released of her own recognizance to appear in village court at a later date.

Lake Placid Police arrested 50 year-old Lynn C. Brogan of Hershey, Pennsylvania at 3:54 a.m. Saturday morning and charged her with driving while intoxicated. She was stopped for failing to keep right and subsequently found to allegedly be intoxicated. Brogan was processed and released on cash bail to return to village court at a later date.