Village Notes 2025-06-09

Do Outs

• Adirondack Nature Festival for People with Disabilities: Organizers requested $2,000 in support. The festival takes place at Paul Smith’s VIC. The Board will discuss before making a decision.

• Fire Tower: The Village Manager will invite Dave Vana to present at the next meeting.

Infrastructure & Development Updates

• Ampersand Avenue: Beginning June 11, DPW crews will close the road to through traffic weekdays from 7 AM–4 PM for road work. Expect delays and plan alternate routes.

• 1–3 Main Street: The Village has hired Gomez and Sullivan, an environmental consulting firm, to begin waterway restoration at this site.

Special Guest

Dan Kelleher, CEO of ROOST (Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism), shared a regional tourism update:

• Noted a drop in Canadian visitors tied to tariffs and political tensions.

• Introduced ADK Data, an initiative to use structured data to optimize marketing.

Board Actions

Trustees Ryan and Scollin were absent.

Bill 74 (Passed 3–0): Annexed Pine View Village Apartments, LLC into the Village
Bill 75 (Passed 3–0): Approved temporary fireworks sales by Keystone Novelties
Trustee White raised thoughtful concerns about the consistency between the Village’s local law and New York State’s regulations regarding the sale of sparkling devices. Trustee Brunette supported the approval with the understanding that proper enforcement protocols, community education efforts, and safety inspections would be in place.
Bill 76 (Tabled): Delayed acceptance of grant for fire tower project
Trustees White and Brunette raised substantive concerns about the lack of a finalized project plan, confirmed budget, or long-term maintenance strategy. They emphasized that accepting grant funds without clearly understanding the full scope of financial, legal, and operational obligations would be premature.
Key issues include:
• Project costs expected to be over $50,000, with no finalized budget
• No signed vendor contract, engineering drawings, or safety and accessibility plans
• Tower height remains undecided (22’ to 45’ discussed)
• No confirmed permitting, insurance, or liability assessments
• Partial funding only, with no plan submitted to cover remaining costs
Bill 77 (Passed 3–0): Accepted $5,900 grant for lifeguard bonuses and recruitment
Bill 78 (Passed 3–0): Authorized provisional hire of a Police Officer

Housing Update

Village Code Enforcement Officer reported that construction at Saranac Lofts is progressing, with insulation and drywall underway. Trustee Brunette heard directly from the developer that the project is now expected to finish around October 2025. The housing lottery will take place closer to September to match the new timeline.

Rail Trail & Woodruff Connector

Trustee Brunette shared renewed momentum behind the Woodruff Street Connector, a proposed ramp linking downtown to the Adirondack Rail Trail. Conversations with DEC, ARTA, and trail partners are ongoing, and Trustee Brunette is coordinating next steps.

Public Comments

• Concerns were raised about indoor air quality at 33 Petrova and the need for more coordination with DEC.

• Residents questioned the fire tower project, including liability, cost, and maintenance.

• Multiple speakers called for greater transparency—not just on large projects like the Emergency Services Complex, but on smaller initiatives as well.