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July 4, 2009
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Ways & Means
Coupon Queen
No fly zone
Supervisors scrutinize home sale comparisons.
Jill takes some time out to respond to reader’s mail.
Warrensburg resident to file lawsuit over float plane access.
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Board approves plan for 2009-10 By Chris Morris denpubs@denpubs.com LAKE PLACID — The Lake Placid Village Board of Trustees voted unanimously last week to approve the village budget for fiscal year 2009-10. Village Mayor Craig Randall noted the budget contained just a few alterations following a June 16 public hearing. Those changes included an additional $4,800 for parking permits – which had been under budgeted – and a shift of about $2,000 in salary for an employee who was receiving funds from the wrong department. The board also decided to finance a new fire truck over a five year period, to lessen the burden on the Town of North Elba. The vehicle costs $100,000. Randall said the adopted budget is more detailed than in year ’s past. “Trustee Dave Jones said during the meeting that this budget got an exhaustive review this year which may be typical of the change of personnel on the board,” he said. “He indicated that this was perhaps the best budget presentation that he’s experienced in his years, I was thrilled to hear him say that because he’s the only member left from prior years that would know that.” The budget totals $5.1 million, and contains a slight spending increase of 1.45 percent or $73,000. Randall lamented the costs of various employee benefits, which represents a large portion of the budget. “But that’s hard to control,” he said. The budget contains $115,000 in worker ’s comp, $225,000 in retirement and $685,000 for employee health insurance – a number that rose 13.5 percent. Randall said he was advised to increase health benefits by 15 percent, but he held his ground. “At the present time this budget accommodates all the contractual requests that we have and the benefit costs that we know about,” Randall said. “For example the health insurance has a 13.5 percent increase factored into 2010 budget. I hope that’s not the case but at least our advisors are telling us that’s what we need to plan for.” Randall said the board tried to eliminate as much cost as possible. “We did eliminate the majority of equipment purchases this year, and hopefully we’ll get through the year without needing something that we put off,” he said. After the meeting, Randall said he was pleased with the process and admired the attention to detail Village Treasurer Peggy Mousaw put into the process. “I really wish more people would come to these meetings,” he said. “I have a much greater appreciation for the effort put forth on items like the budget.”
The Pro Category Men’s Peleton climbs Silver Lake Road in the 69-mile Wilmington-Whiteface Road Race June 13 in Wilmington. The event, organized by Team Placid Planet, drew nearly 200 racers in a variety of categories. Photo by Jennifer McCluskey
Approved NCCC budget heads to counties By Chris Morris denpubs@denpubs.com SARANAC LAKE — The North Country Community College Board of Trustees approved its 2009-10 budget last week. Next year ’s budget is approximately $12.7 million – a 0.03 percent increase in spending over this year. The budget also includes a 4.8 percent increase to student tuition. “That’s about $170 more for students,” said Interim President Fred Smith. College Vice President Ed Trathen said at least 85 percent of students will be able to cover the increase through tuition assistance programs and grants. With the board’s approval, the budget heads to Franklin County Legislators and the Essex County Board of Supervisors – the college’s two major sponsors. Those lawmakers will decide on the budget in July, and then in August the budget goes before the SUNY Board of Trustees for final approval. The budget includes a request for an additional $50,000 from each county, a result of a $45,000 loss in state aid this year. Smith noted that North Country will lose $153,000 in state aid in 2009-10. “We are getting less from the state, we’re asking more from the students and we’re asking more from the counties,” Smith said. “And that’s what you see in the great State of New York; the burden is getting passed to the local level.” The current fiscal year ’s budget has been reduced by about $300,000, due in large part to the elimination of two positions. The school also replaced several retirees with adjuncts. Smith also told the board last week that a bid has been awarded for architec-
tural and engineering plans for Phase I of a multi-million dollar upgrade to the Saranac Lake campus. The first phase includes a new student center, library, classroom space and upgrades to the Sparks Athletic Center. JMZ Architects was the lowest bidder and the choice of the project’s steering committee. The Glens Falls-based company placed a bid at $177,200. The state will contribute $110,000, and the steering committee has asked each sponsoring county to contribute an additional $55,000 – bringing the total to $220,000. “I understand that’s significantly higher than the bid, but we need that cushion in case of any overruns,” Smith said. “And I will add that JMZ is a SUNYapproved firm.” Smith asked the board to pass a resolution urging each county to contribute to the overall costs. “This does not require action by the board of trustees,” Smith said. “It requires action only by the two county sponsors. But I would like the board to pass a motion endorsing this request for $55,000 from each of the counties for this purpose.” The board took Smith’s advice and approved a motion to request financial help from Essex and Franklin counties. In other business, Smith commended the college board of trustees for its visibility in recent months – specifically during the search for a new president, which concluded recently. “I think the broader campus and the community has a better understanding of who the trustees are and the role they perform,” Smith said. Dr. Carol Brown will take over as NCCC’s new president Aug. 31.
Essex County supervisors tentative By Matt Bosley matt@denpubs.com ELIZABETHTOWN — Two separate funding requests from North Country Community College were met with mixed responses from Essex County supervisors this week. NCCC interim president Fred Smith visited the Essex County Ways and Means committee June 29 to introduce the college’s recently approved budget and the plans for its next big construction project. While part of the increase in next year ’s budget would be offset by higher tuition, Smith explained that the college would need an additional $50,000 each from both Franklin and Essex counties to offset an anticipated loss in state aid. Several supervisors spoke in approval of the increase, noting the success of its new Registered Nursing program at NCCC’s Ticonderoga branch. “They’ve added curriculum that helps keep people in our area,” said Jay Supervisor Randy Douglas, commending the college for trimming its budget as much as possible. Smith said one limitation to the new RN program was that it could only take in up to 30 students because each student needed a medical facility at which to complete their clinical experience. Still, it was certainly contributing to the goal of raising enrollment in Ticonderoga. Smith mentioned other new programs in the works at NCCC, such as a proposal for an Environmental Science program and possible
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