The Adirondack Park Local Government Review Board was created, in 1973, in Executive Law Section 803-a. The following is the text of that law: "803-a. Adirondack park local government review board

1. For the purpose of advising and assisting the Adirondack park agency in carrying out its functions, powers and duties, there is hereby established the Adirondack park local government review board. Such board shall consist of twelve members, each of whom shall be a resident of a county wholly or partly within the park. No more than one member shall be a resident of any single county. Each member shall be appointed by or in the manner determined by the legislative body of each such county.

2. The members of the review board shall serve for such terms as shall be determined by their respective appointing authorities. Any member of the board may, if authorized by his appointing authority, designate an alternate to serve in his absence.

3. The review board shall elect, for such term as it may determine, a chairman from among its membership and such other officers as it deems necessary.

4. The review board shall meet regularly at least four times each year. Special meetings may be called by the chairman and shall be called by him at the request of a majority of the review board.

5. No member of the review board shall be disqualified from holding any other office or employment by reason of his appointment hereunder, notwithstanding the provisions of any general, special or local law.

6. The members of the review board shall receive no compensation for their services but their respective appointing authorities may provide for payment of their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties hereunder.

7. In addition to any other functions or duties specifically required or authorized in this article, the review board shall monitor the administration and enforcement of the Adirondack park land use and development plan and periodically report thereon, and make recommendations in regard thereto, to the governor and the legislature, and to the county legislative body of each of the counties wholly or partly within the park."

Dear Friends:
As many of you know, former executive director, Joseph Rota retired effective March 31, 2005 after many years of service, first as a member, and then as executive director. Joe was well respected as a representative of local government at the Adirondack Park Agency. Through his hard work and dedication he improved working relationships with the Agency and provided input to the Agency on hundreds of issues and projects on behalf of Adirondack local government. We appreciate all of Joe’s hard work and thank him for his dedication.

I was appointed executive director by the Review Board effective April 1, 2005. I built an office in my home and am working from that office. Joe has provided a great deal of help and advice during the transition.

Each month I receive hundreds of pages of documents from the Agency and review them to determine their impact on local government and residents. There are a large number of significant Adirondack issues this year, including proposals to significantly amend the Adirondack Park Agency Act, new Agency regulations which would impair the operation of campgrounds, proposals to remove 85 year old fire towers from Adirondack mountain peaks, proposals to close Adirondack roads, proposals to classify tens of thousands of acres of recent state land purchases, proposals for general permits to speed the permit process, a project to construct wind turbine towers on Gore Mountain to generate enough clean electricity to power 15,000 homes, a proposal to remove the railroad tracks from North River to Tahawus, the Big Tupper project, and many more significant projects and issues. The Review Board will continue to be the ears and voice of local government at the Agency as required by Executive Law Section 803a.

I look forward to working with Adirondack legislators and supervisors and intend to send them periodic email reports on significant Adirondack issues and projects. Please feel free to contact me at any time to discuss issues or projects.

Sincerely,
Frederick H. Monroe, Executive Director
fmonroe@adkreviewboard.com