Adirondack Journal 06-20-09

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ECRWSS PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID DENTON PUBLICATIONS/ NEW MARKET PRESS

THIS WEEK Warrensburg....................2 Lake George....................3-4 Opinion ..........................6 Sports ............................7 Bolton Landing ................9 Thurman ........................10 Outdoors ........................11 Calendar ........................12 Grad Special ..................16-22 Classified........................23

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June 20, 2009

School

Community

Grads!

New ‘ticket’ program at WCS has kids behaving better.

Residents of Bolton Landing show just how much they care.

Congratulations to all the graduating classes of 2009.

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Page 9

Pages 16-22

County job cuts looming, supervisors seek union wage concessions By Thom Randall thom@denpubs.com QUEENSBURY — While government workers were picketing and shouting protests over job cuts Wednesday outside the Warren County Municipal Center, county supervisors inside moved ahead with their plans to abolish 21 posi-

tions effective July 1. Dozens of other jobs in county government will likely be eliminated if unions don’t offer wage and benefit concessions, and county department heads don’t come up with more cost-cutting ideas, officials said. The actions were part of an effort to reduce a $6.3 million shortfall predicted in the county’s 2010 budget.

“These layoffs were a last resort,” county Board of Supervisors Chairman Fred Monroe said. “We’re hoping that negotiations with unions will fill a $2 million budget gap.” County Budget Officer Kevin Geraghty of Warrensburg said county Administrator Hal Payne had prepared a list of a second round of job cuts that may be im-

plemented if union negotiations don’t produce substantial savings. Supervisors estimated this list to include about 35 employees’ names. Layoffs might total 100 if required to keep the 2010 budget from increasing, they said. Most of the county’s 20 supervisors met behind closed doors Wednesday with County Attorney Paul Dusek to discuss negotiating

strategies with unions in upcoming negotiations. Lake Luzerne Supervisor Gene Merlino shared his opinions in open session. “Maybe it’s time for a 10 percent cut in pay, and if the employees don’t like it, there’s the door.” He said wage and benefit concessions from employees were

See JOBS, page 8

County considers abandoning tourist train project

Youth fleeing Adirondacks Adirondackers are poorer, older

By Jonathan Alexander jonathan@denpubs.com

By Jonathan Alexander

NORTH CREEK — Warren County may soon be out of the railroad business, as officials are exploring ways to remove themselves from the 16-year scenic railroad project without being required to pay back over $2 million in state and federal grants already spent. “We are looking at two possible paths for the railroad project,” Warren County Attorney Paul Dusek said June 10. “We have developed a request for proposals for a new operator for the 2011 season, but we are also in a dialogue with DOT where Warren County would potentially no longer operate the train at all.” The county-funded railroad project is operated primarily from the North Creek Depot by the Upper Hudson River Railroad Co. “I like the idea of untangling ourselves from the railroad,” Queensbury Supervisor and Warren County Finance Committee Chairman Dan Stec said. “We gave it a good 'college try' for the last 16 years and now realize it isn't working out.” Over the last several years, Warren County has spent approximately $2.8 million — $429,000 from the local taxpayer — to construct railroad platforms in Stony Creek, Thurman and Luzerne. UHRR announced last month that it

jonathan@denpubs.com

Angered over recent job cuts and facing more on the horizon, Warren County employees march in protest June 10 outside the Warrern County Municipal Center. See the complete story on page 5. Photo by Jonathan Alexander

WA R R E N S B U R G — Adirondack residents on the average are relatively poor, aging and undereducated and the area is hemorrhaging local youth, according to the findings of the Adirondack Park Regional Assessment Project, released this week by the Adirondack Association of Towns and Villages. These trends, plus low prevailing wages, limited job opportunities and expensive housing, are threatening the way of life here, local officials said this week. “School enrollments in the park have decreased 329 students annually throughout the current decade,” The Assessment Project report states. “This is the equivalent of the loss of one Adirondack school district every 19 months.” Local officials are calling the release of the 120-page report as a milestone event

See TRAIN, page 10

See YOUTH, page 9

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