Bits of Everything
Boathouse Hearings to be Held
The Adirondack Park Agency is going to hold a series of hearings before revising their boathouse regulations, the Adirondack Almanack reports.
Salt Alternatives to Protect the Environment
This is an interesting piece I ran across regarding alternatives to rock salt from the Mother Nature Network.
This is What Happens When You Overspend
David Paterson announced the budget mess is so bad, he’s withholding 10% of school and local aid, it was reported by the NY Post. Why not start tying school aid to enrollment figures?
Cool Pictures of Lake Champlain Bridge Design Concepts
The NY State Dept of Transportation has released different design concepts for the new Lake Champlain Bridge between Crown Point, NY and Addison, VT.
What’s Your Take?
While the cold air is blowing down the lake right now, I thought I’d start dedicating some time this month to update the Huletts Current in a couple of different ways. If you can take the time to answer these questions to help me make this site better for you, I’d appreciate it. Today, I try my first poll.
Basically, I’m trying to understand what people like about the site. What posts do you like? Are there any you dislike? What posts should be regulars or that I should cut entirely? What can I do to make the site better?
If my poll below doesn’t reflect what you’re thinking, drop me a comment.
Update 12/19/09:
This poll is now closed.
Thank you for your feedback!
What types of posts would like to see more of on the Huletts Current?
Bits of Everything
DEC Demands Lake George Village Make Sewage Upgrades
The Adirondack Almanack has a good story about some improvements that will hopefully be made in Lake George Village.
Small Town Vulnerable: USPS loses $3.8 billion for Year as Volume Falls
The Washington Post reports on the problems at the U.S. Postal Service because of falling mail volume. Remember, please buy your postage form the Huletts Post Office.
Have Yourself a Microscopic Christmas: The World’s Smallest Snowman
Just in time with the first snow, Mail Online has pictures of the world’s smallest snowman.
Old Lake Champlain Bridge: Demolition Soon; Public Invited to Safely View ‘Implosion’
Denton Publications Online lets everyone know the meeting schedule today in Ticonderoga where it will be announced what is going on with the Lake Champlain bridge.
Saturday Quote
“Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.”
Calvin Coolidge
Friday Afternoon Fun
The Guinness “Slide” Commercial
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHURiTjidrI
One FOIL Request, Many Answers
This post is a follow-up to my post of December 8th, where I documented my Freedom of Information Act Request to the Lake George Park Commission as it applies to Executive Order 17.
After I posted the Lake George Park Commission’s original reply to my FOIL request, I received a second unsolicited response today.
To recap my request, I asked for a copy of the report which was mandated by Executive Order 17 of all state agencies by December 1st:
“On or before December 1, 2009, each state agency shall review its regulations and report to the Secretary to the Governor …… on any proposed changes to regulations which could reduce the impact of existing mandates on local governments and generate property tax relief for New York State property taxpayers.”
The LGPC had originally replied that:
“The report of the Lake George Park Commission to the Secretary to the Governor pursuant to Executive Order No. 17 is not completed and is expected to be available in 21 days.”
Today, Michelle Way, the FOIL officer at the LGPC, provided another answer:
“After I originally replied to your request I realized that Item No. 1 in your request does not exist.”
Perhaps it does not presently exist as the original response alluded to, but one would think that a mandate from the Governor as described in an Executive Order which required a “report” to be submitted by December 1st, would mean that a state agency like the LGPC would be able to generate a report by the “due” date. One would think that an Executive Agency would care about rising property taxes as much as the Governor claims to.
In regards to my second request, Executive Order 17 also requires that any proposed mandate which is offered by a state agency must be accompanied by a fiscal impact statement which estimates the costs to local governments. I also requested the information submitted to the Governor’s office as it pertained to the proposed stream corridor regulations. The Lake George Park Commission originally responded that this information was exempt from being released to the public.
“Information submitted to the Governor’s Secretary in regards to the Stream Corridor Regulations are intra-agency drafts which do not represent a final agency policy or position.”
Today, Ms. Way, provided this answer:
“As for Item No. 2 the documents are being prepared for public disclosure and publication. Access at this time is denied because the documents are currently inter-agency materials which are not final agency policy or determinations. When adopted by the Commission, the documents will be posted on the agency website www.lgpc.state.ny.us.”
One can only wonder how one FOIL request can be met with so many answers and no documents?
Our Webcams Have Doubled
I’m happy to announce that the Huletts Current has now added a second webcam courtesy of Dennis Hudson on Kitchell Bay. So thank you, Dennis for sharing your beautiful view of Lake George from Kitchel Bay.
To see the new live view; click here.
The folks on Kitchel Bay seem to be leading the Landing in innovation because now both of the webcams on the left sidebar originate from there.
So if you have nothing better to do today, feel free to watch a live view of the snowstorm which has already brought about 6 inches of snow to the Landing.
LG Park Commission Slow to Respond to Governor
December 1st was the deadline for all state agencies to comply with Governor Paterson’s Executive Order 17, which among other things, mandated:
“On or before December 1, 2009, each state agency shall review its regulations and report to the Secretary to the Governor …… on any proposed changes to regulations which could reduce the impact of existing mandates on local governments and generate property tax relief for New York State property taxpayers.”
So I made a Freedom of Information Act request to the Lake George Park Commission. Here is their response to my request for this information:
“The report of the Lake George Park Commission to the Secretary to the Governor pursuant to Executive Order No. 17 is not completed and is expected to be available in 21 days.”
Executive Order 17 also requires that any proposed mandate which is offered by a state agency must be accompanied by a fiscal impact statement which estimates the costs to local governments.
I also requested in the same Freedom of Information Act request the information submitted to the Governor’s office as it pertained to the proposed stream corridor regulations. The Lake George Park Commission responded that this information was exempt from being released to the public.
“Information submitted to the Governor’s Secretary in regards to the Stream Corridor Regulations are intra-agency drafts which do not represent a final agency policy or position.”
Interesting.
George Washington Was Near
A sign dedicated to George Washington’s visit to Kingsbury stands in the park in the center of Hudson Falls.
Bits of Everything
Local Athletes Try for Olympics
North Country Public Radio has a good piece on those local Adirondack athletes trying to make the 2010 Winter Olympic team.
See Where NY’s Rose Fits In
I came across this neat website where all the state flowers come together to make a beautiful bouquet. Cool!
Now for Some History: 1980
The dormitory that housed the hotel’s employees stood for approximately 40 years more than the hotel itself. Here it is seen in 1980.
Beach Funding Intact
I spoke with Dresden Town Supervisor, Robert Banks, today about the passage of the Washington County budget and funding for the Washington County Beach was included in the 2010 budget.
The operation of the Washington County beach, according to Mr. Banks, will be the same as it was in 2009 and there is even the possibility that the beach will have increased hours of operation in 2010.
The Washington County Beach in Huletts Landing is the only public beach on Lake George in Washington County.
Washington County 2010 Budget: 3.5% Tax Increase
The Washington County Board of Supervisors adopted the 2010 budget on Friday. While spending falls from $116.2 million in 2009 to $112.6 million in 2010, taxes will increase 3.5% because other revenues are down.
The Post Star reports on Friday’s meeting.