Village Notes 2025-10-27
Special Guest: Adirondack Park Agency Headquarters Plans
Keith McKeever, Public Information Director for the Adirondack Park Agency (APA), shared conceptual plans to relocate the APA’s headquarters to 1–3 Main Street — the site of the former Village Police Station and Village Offices.
The proposal includes restoring the historic Power & Light building and constructing an 18,000 sq. ft. office building, creating a $40 million downtown campus that could bring about 60 full-time employees into Saranac Lake.
Lease terms are still being worked out with the NYS Office of General Services. APA representatives stated that the Agency plans to cover all renovation, utility, and maintenance costs, ensuring no added expense to Village taxpayers.
Trustee Brunette emphasized the need for public transparency and asked the APA to hold a community forum so residents can hear directly from project leaders and ask questions.
Public Hearing: Pine View Village Apartments Annexation
The Board held a public hearing on a proposal to annex Pine View Village Apartments — a 96-unit housing complex on McKenzie Pond Road — into the Village.
The annexation was requested by the property owner. Pine View already uses Village water and sewer, yet sits outside Village boundaries. Under the agreement, the Village will take over road maintenance and continue providing police, fire, and DPW services as part of the annexation.
Board Actions
Bill 151–2025: SEQR Negative Declaration (Passed 5–0)
Found no significant environmental impacts associated with the proposed Pine View annexation.
Bill 152–2025: Adopt Local Law for Annexation (Passed 5–0)
Officially annexed Pine View Village Apartments into the Village.
Bill 153–2025: Designate Vacant Offices for Next Village Election (Passed 5–0)
Ensures all open seats are properly listed for the upcoming election cycle.
Bill 154–2025: Temporary Account Clerk Hire (Passed 5–0)
Authorized hiring a temporary staff person at the Village Office.
Bill 155–2025: Authorize 2026 Fire Contracts (Passed 3–2 / Mayor Williams, Trustees Ryan and Scollin in favor, Trustees Brunette and White opposed)
Approved fire contract between the Village and the surrounding towns of Harrietstown, North Elba, and St. Armand. Trustee White asked questions about how the contract amounts for each town were calculated and expressed concern about the accuracy of the data.
Bill 156–2025: Authorize Village Manager to Hire Laborer (Passed 5–0)
Filled vacancy at the Department of Public Works.
Bill 157–2025: Water Operator Training (Passed 5–0)
Approved overnight travel for a staff member to attend a SUNY Morrisville Water License Certification Course.
Bill 158–2025: Baldwin Park Revitalization Project – Change Order (Passed 5–0)
Authorized technical service adjustments and an amended NYS Department of State contract to move forward with additional permitting for the planned improvements to Baldwin Park.
Bill 159–2025: Adopt Fair Housing Policy (Passed 5–0)
Policy affirms the Village’s commitment to equal housing opportunity and compliance with federal and state fair housing laws.
Bill 160–2025: Approve 2025–2026 Mt Pisgah Rates (Passed 5–0)
Adopted new seasonal rates for the community ski hill.
Bill 161–2025: Authorize Purchase of Saranac River Stream Gauging Equipment (Passed 5–0)
Approved installation of a stream gauge on the Saranac River to monitor real-time water levels.
Bill 162–2025: Hire Water/Wastewater Helper (Passed 5–0)
Filled vacancy at the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Public Comment
Residents raised questions about infrastructure priorities and communication, urging the Mayor to provide openness on capital projects.
Executive Session
The Board entered executive session to discuss:
The lease or sale of property, and
Collective bargaining negotiations under Civil Service Law Article 14.
No formal action was taken afterward.Lake Flower Corridor Study
The Board heard from Greg Swart of Stantec Design & Architecture (SDA) and a subconsultant from MJ Engineering, who provided an update on the Lake Flower Corridor Study, funded through an Adirondack Park Smart Growth Grant. The goal of the plan is to guide work along the corridor that will make it safe and more accessible for all modes of transportation.
