HOUSEBOAT WOULD VIOLATE APA RULES, IF MOORED

The Adirondack Park Agency says it doesn’t have enough evidence to decide if a Saranac Lake man’s houseboat is violating shoreline regulations in the park, but mooring it in one spot for the season will cross the line.

The agency’s Enforcement Committee, in a letter to owner Bruce Darring, said it “lacks adequate evidence” to determine if his cabin and floating platform is a violation where it stands right now – moored to a dock on Lake Flower.

But, according to APA spokesman Keith McKeever, the committee found Darring’s plan to moor the houseboat to a small piece of land he owns on Oseetah Lake for the season would make it a structure subject to the park’s shoreline setback requirements.

“Mooring the cabin structure to private land in Oseetah Lake  – they felt that would definitely constitute a violation of our setback requirements and the state Wild, Scenic and Recreational Rivers Act,” he said.

Darring, a woodworker in Saranac Lake for 40 years, had argued that the 70-by-24-foot vessel is a boat and the park agency has no jurisdiction on the water. APA enforcement staff tried to make him stop building it last fall and threatened him with fines, even though there are longer boats on Adirondack lakes, he said.

Darring said he plans to take the boat — which has two 150-horsepower motors — back and forth between his property on Lake Flower and Oseetah Lake. “There's no way it's going to stay in one place,” he said.

His attorney John Privitera had said it was designed and built as a boat and registered as a boat with the state Department of Motor Vehicles.

APA staff described it as a 420-square-foot wooden cabin on a floating platform.  The Enforcement Committee said any structure more than 100 square feet, like a mobile home or camper, when parked “on other than a temporary basis,” is subject to agency jurisdiction.

“The seasonal placement of the structures constructed by Mr. Darring at the proposed location on Oseetah Lake ... without a variance ... will constitute a violation of these laws,” the committee wrote.

The committee also raised questions about whether the structure is “fully qualified as a vessel suitable for navigation under state or federal law.”

McKeever said the committee will report its determination to the agency board in June. “I’m sure there will be some discussion among the members at that meeting,” he said.  “Staff will continue to monitor the situation and we will proceed based as our board directs us.”

John Privitera, Darring’s attorney, did not return a call for comment on the committee’s decision.

INTEREST ALREADY IN SL VILLAGE OFFICE BUILDING

Just two weeks after Village of Saranac Lake officials discussed the possibility of selling the village office building, Mayor Tom Michael said Tuesday night he’s already been contacted by two “interested individuals.”

He wouldn’t identify who the potential buyers are, other than saying that one is local and the other is from out of the area.

But Michael said he hopes to have proposals by the board’s next meeting.  “It’s in the very beginning of the process,” he said.

Village officials have talked about putting the Main Street property on the market because it’s costly to heat and maintain and is only being used by six full time village employees.  The property has an assessed value of approximately $1.3 million.

But there are several issues such as the adjacent hydro-facility and the attached police station that would have to be resolved before the building can be sold.  Michael said he relayed that information to the interested parties.

The mayor said it “would be wise” to request a proposal from anyone who wants to buy the building.  They could also request a bond to make sure the buyer follows through with whatever plan they present.

Trustee Dan Olson asked if they should start formally advertising that the property’s for sale.  “If you have two people interested, there could be ten other people interested too,” he said. 

Olson also wanted to know how the two interested groups would use the building.  “This is one of only a few commercial buildings that has a view of the lake like this,” he said.  “Whatever happens to this building, will be extremely important to the character of the village.”

“I think the process needs to be as transparent as possible,” added Trustee Susan Waters.

Michael said he’d be open to advertising the property to a larger audience.  “There’s nothing going on behind the scenes,” he said.  “Its just two people that are interested.”

In other business, the board agreed to give village administrators and department heads the raises they were budgeted to receive effective at the June 1 start of the new fiscal year.

The mayor had suggested they postpone giving the 3.5 percent raises until they can meet with each employee as part of a new employee performance review system.  The village has been seeking requests from human resources consulting firms that may help in that process, he said.

But Trustee Christy Fontana said since they budgeted for the increases, it doesn’t make any sense to postpone providing them.  “It’s not fair for us to penalize the administrative staff because we don’t know what we’re going to do yet,” added Trustee Dan Olson.

The motion to grant the pay raises came with a condition that the employee evaluations begin as soon as possible.

DEC RANGERS RESPOND TO BACKCOUNTRY RESCUES

DEC Forest Rangers were called out for a pair of backcountry rescues in the past week.

On Thursday, May 24, at approximately 2:30 p.m., DEC dispatch received a call reporting an injured hiker on St. Regis Mountain in the Town of Santa Clara.  57 year-old Helen Jarvis of Cheyenne, Wyoming, had reportedly suffered a broken ankle near the summit.  Forest rangers responded on foot, while two other rangers were later flown in on a State Police helicopter.  The hikers who found Ms. Jarvis were able to assist her to the summit.  Forest rangers in the helicopter hoisted her from the summit and transported her to Adirondack Medical Center Saranac Lake at 3:20 p.m.

On Monday at approximately 6:10 p.m., DEC dispatch received a call reporting a runner overdue in Fern Park, Town of Inlet.  Three DEC Forest Rangers were dispatched to search for 23 year-old Erin White of Vernon, NY, who had become separated from her group. White wandered the network of trails attempted to find her way back to the trailhead.  She eventually found a sign directing her to the trailhead, where she was contacted by forest rangers.  She was suffering from mild dehydration and had sustained a lower leg injury but refused medical treatment. 

DEC also reports that since May 22, forest rangers and local volunteer fire departments responded to and suppressed eight wildland fires that burned an approximate total of two acres.

ATV ENFORCEMENT TAKING PLACE THIS SUMMER

The Franklin County Traffic Safety Board is reminding ATV enthusiasts that its off-road enforcement initiatives will continue through the summer and fall with an emphasis on safe operation.

The board says its work over the winter months in promoting snowmobile safety resulted in the first season in history where no fatal or serious personal injury accidents were reported in the county.

The summer and fall effort will concentrate on achieving the same results involving ATV’s and other off road vehicles.

New York State Environmental Conservation Officers, State Police, State Park Police, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, and local police agencies will be conducting announced and unannounced saturation patrols and checkpoints.  A news release from the Traffic Safety Board says they will be on the lookout for motorists driving while intoxicated, erratically, and other forms of unsafe operation throughout the county.

ATV clubs and other organizations interested in public safety presentations are encouraged to contact the Franklin County Traffic Safety Board at 425-0304.

OGDENSBURG WOMAN ADMITS TRYING TO KILL CHILDREN

An Ogdensburg woman admitted Tuesday that she tried to kill her two young children by feeding them a “cocktail” of applesauce and prescription medications.

34 year-old Marianne Streeter pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree assault in St. Lawrence County Court.

In May 2006, Streeter took her 8-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter to the Cascade Motel in Canton and fed them a mix of prescription and over-the-counter medications mixed with applesauce, prosecutors said.

The children were found in a semiconscious state in the motel room after a 911 call. They survived because Streeter eventually notified police of the children's whereabouts.

Streeter was found a short time later overdosed on antidepressants. She had apparently tried to commit suicide and was wandering near a cemetery in the Town of DeKalb.

She will be sentenced to no less than 10 and no more than 14 years in prison in July, according to the terms of a plea agreement.

POLICE REPORT

Lake Placid Police charged 39 year-old Alan D. Weissman of Livingston, NJ with driving while intoxicated at 11:58 p.m. Thursday.  Police say he was stopped for vehicle and traffic violations and was allegedly found to be intoxicated.  Weissman was released on cash bail to appear in village court at a later date.

Lake Placid Police charged an 18 year-old male youthful offender from Lake Placid with unlawful possession of marijuana at 2:01 a.m. Saturday.  Police say he was found on Main Street to be in possession of marijuana.  He was released of his own recognizance to appear in village court at a later date.

Lake Placid Police charged two local residents with underage possession of alcohol at 3:15 a.m. Monday morning.  Police responded to a noise complaint and allegedly found 20 year-old Patrick A. Skehan and 20 year-old Daniel M. Jewell, both of Lake Placid, in possession of alcohol.  They were released to appear in village court at a later date.

25 year-old Ryan M. Cook of Lake Placid was charged with aggravated unlicensed operation and unlawful possession of marijuana at 7:25 a.m. on Monday.  Lake Placid Police say Cook’s vehicle was stopped for vehicle and traffic law violations.  His license was found to be suspended and he was allegedly in possession of marijuana.  Cook was released on cash bail to appear in village court at a later date.

Lake Placid Police charged 30 year-old James E. Pipher of Lake Placid with unlawful possession of marijuana at 12:12 a.m. today.  He was allegedly attempting to urinate in public and was found in possession of marijuana.  Pipher was released on an appearance ticket.

Lake Placid Police charged 19 year-old Christopher L. Verner of Lake Placid with driving while intoxicated at 2:45 a.m. today.  He was stopped for vehicle and traffic violations and allegedly found to be intoxicated.  Verner was released to a third party to appear in village court at a later date.