Tag Archives: Board

Thendara Golf Club holds its annual meeting, elects new board members

by Peggy S. Rotton

The Thendara Golf Club, Inc. held its annual meeting at the Town of Webb Offices on Friday, July 8. Club president George Hiltebrant presided over the meeting.

Committee reports were read and/or distributed and there was a vote to increase the club membership to 200 as of 2012.

Dave Russell will chair a new committee that will oversee a memorial pavers project that will commemorate special people or events.

New directors elected during the meeting were John Hopsicker, Tim White and Scott deCamp. Lance Maly was elected to serve a second term on the board.

The board extended a special thanks to retiring board members Larry Britton, Bill O’Connell, and Pat Venetz for their years of dedicated service.

 

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Mary Brophy-Moore

Mary Brophy-Moore announces candidacy for Webb town board

Mary Brophy-Moore

Mary Brophy-Moore of Old Forge has announced that she is running as a Democratic candidate for a Town of Webb Council seat in the November election.

Born and raised in Rochester, she has lived in the Town of Webb since 1987, after being a summer resident since childhood.

Her parents, Joe and Joan Brophy, and her sister Anne DeFilipps and her family, have lived in Old Forge for a number of years.

Brophy-Moore is married to Town of Webb Supervisor, Robert Moore, who is not seeking another term in the November election.

She said she has been the proud stepmom of Sara Moore for nearly 18 years.

She is running for town council because she is interested in town government, she said.

“One of the reasons I love living in a small town is it’s easy to become involved because you care about it so much,” she said.

Brophy-Moore said she previously ran for town council in the mid-1990s.

“Nobody knew me then, but I actually came within nine votes of winning. It was a great experience, and it inspired me to stay involved,” she said.

She has been a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals since 1998 and Chairman of the Board for the past seven years.

She is also on the Zoning Ordinance Review Committee which she said has given her an opportunity to make some changes and to address issues that had not been addressed in the past.

“But I think it’s time for another type of government involvement, and that’s why I’m running for Town Board,” she said.

Before moving to Old Forge, she earned a Bachelor of Professional Studies degree in Human Services from SUNY College of Technology in Utica and completed graduate course work in Rehabilitation Counseling at SUNY Albany.

She worked in the human services field in Schenectady for several years, “before deciding to pursue my dream of living in the Adirondacks,” she said.

After moving to Old Forge she worked in a variety of positions.

“Looking back, I’ve had a lot of wonderful experiences. I worked for the State of New York as assistant Forest Ranger and Fire Tower Observer, which I loved. Unfortunately, I hurt my back so I wasn’t able to continue,” she said.

Then she was employed as general manager for Adirondack River Outfitters, followed by Circulation Manager for the Northern Logger Magazine and Northeastern Loggers Association.

She left the position when she and Robert needed to devote more time to their small cottage colony business in Eagle Bay.

“I loved doing that. It was great running a business,” she said. The couple sold the business when Robert became Town Supervisor in 2002.

“That’s when I went to work for Niccolls Memorial Church as Administrative Assistant. It’s a perfect fit for me,” she said.

“It’s a wonderful community of people and I have the opportunity to use a lot of my skills-from computer skills to people skills, to being involved as a support person to help others, and to help those who are helping others. It’s been very rewarding,” she said.

If elected as councilwoman, she said her focus will be on maintaining the quality of life in the area.

Another priority is to establish a Senior Center in the Town of Webb.

“I envision something that would be wheelchair accessible,” she said. “There may be grant opportunities and perhaps a public/private partnership using building space somewhere. It would be wonderful to have a place for seniors to go.”

She is also a proponent of the TOBIE Trail, she said.

“Once it’s completed, it will be wonderful for our town-for locals and visitors. It should be marketed aggressively and be used the way it was meant to be used-linking Thendara to Inlet.”

Another priority, she said, is for a sustainable, affordable local health care system, utilizing technological advances that are now available.

In regard to her recent health concerns after being diagnosed with breast cancer and undergoing treatment, she said her prognosis is excellent.

“I just want people to know that I expect to be fully functioning by December of this year. I just want to get over this bump in the road, get my hair back and be able to serve,” she said.

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The Polar Bear Ski Club has propsed the building of two yurts, similar to the one above, on the site of the current play area at McCauley Mountain

Yurts: Polar Bear Ski Club looks to add amenities to McCauley

Draft proposal presented, now awaiting town board approval

The Polar Bear Ski Club has propsed the building of two yurts, similar to the one above, on the site of the current play area at McCauley Mountain

Old Forge’s Polar Bear Ski Club would like to construct two structures at the base of McCauley Mountain to serve as shelters and warm-up areas for skiers, and to allow for ski equipment storage, said Will Hollister who gave a presentation and draft proposal to the Town of Webb Board last Tuesday. And the club would like the structures in place by this winter, which would allow McCauley to host Kandahar, a major ski event in upstate New York. That 200-skier race and similar opportunities would be boons for the local economy, particularly the motels and restaurants, Hollister said. Other Polar Bear members in attendance were Andrea Hollister and Bob DiOrio. The structures, known as “yurts,” would be circular in design and about 30 feet in diameter, and cost about $15,000 each, Hollister said. The walls would consist of 8-foot-high wood lattice. The roofing frame would consist of 2×6-inch boards that rise to about 13 feet at the yurt’s center. “They will be very decorative,” Hollister said. The entire structure would be covered with a durable vinyl membrane and insulated. The membrane material, which is thin and light-weight and manufactured by Duro-Last, is also leak-proof, fireproof and tear-resistant. “It’s bullet-proof essentially,” Hollister said. The structures would need outfitting for heat at an estimated cost of $5,150, according to Hollister, as well as water and electric. During ski season, temperatures in the yurts would be kept at 50 to 65 degrees. The structures’ foundations could be either concrete slab or wood frame, according to Hollister. Councilman Mike Ross suggested that wood may be preferred by the town, due to its ability to be moved if necessary. Hollister said a wood frame foundation would also allow simple placement of heating ducts below the floor. The cost to build one of the yurts would be incurred by the Polar Bears. The second yurt would be financed by the Mohawk Valley Ski Team, which also uses McCauley Mountain as a home base for its training and race events. Even though the yurts would be owned by the two ski clubs, they would be available for a variety of year-round uses at McCauley, Hollister said. The space they occupied at the mountain would be leased from the town, he added. Maintenance and cleaning would be the clubs’ responsibility. Additonally, the structures would have three windows and two doors and comply with New York State building requirements. Inside would be 45 cubbies, some tables and benches, and a coach’s desk, Hollister said. Town of Webb Supervisor Robert Moore said he would like some time to look carefully at the Polar Bear proposal. He said he wants to understand the town’s obligations fully, and determine the budgetary effects of such an agreement. Councilwoman Kate Russell, who has been part of a McCauley improvement committee along with Councilman Richard Risley, said the yurt project is entirely separate from her committee’s work. Her committee continues to gather ideas for improving the existing McCauley Chalet. It will be meeting this month to hopefully sketch out some plans, Russell said.

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Adirondack 2012 townwide revaluation moves forward: Webb authorizes 4-year reassessment plan

Town Board lays groundwork for temporary appointments to Board of Assessment Review

Town of Webb Assessor Jean Murdock received authorization by the Town Board to prepare and submit a four-year cyclical reassessment plan to the New York State Office of Real Property Tax Services.

Murdock had requested the authorization and the board passed it by unanimous vote at its monthly meeting on Tuesday, August 9.

This plan would be compliant to Real Property Tax Law section 1573 and would be in place for the period of 2012 to 2015. Currently, the Town of Webb is conducting a comprehensive re-evaluation that will be completed in 2012.

According to Robert Moore, creating a four-year cyclical reassessment plan is necessary to secure maintenance aid for current update projects and also helps demonstrate the town’s commitment to keeping assessments up to date based on current market trends, thereby providing an equitable distribution of the tax burden.

In addition to the NYS Office of Real Property Services requiring that a plan be considered and submitted, Moore believes that it is also good practice to keep assessments current. He went on to reiterate that if there is no plan, there is no support from the state. While he does not believe that this reassessment plan is designed to chase the state aid, he does, however, believe that having a set plan would behoove the Town of Webb.

Town of Webb Assessor Jean Murdock explained that in the years 2013 and 2014 the Town of Webb would keep the assessments at one hundred percent of their full market value and then, in the fourth year, the Assessors Office will conduct another re-evaluation.

Jean went on to say, “You might ask why it might be necessary to conduct a re-evaluation in the fourth year if we kept our property at market value.

“Generally, during the second and third years, the properties would be kept at market value by trending, with a complete re-evaluation it is a full mass appraisal with the evaluation of all sales and of all properties.”

One of the other requirements for this plan is that each property is to be reviewed by the Assessor’s Office and that all data collected for the property inventory is revisited at least once every six years.

Currently, the Town of Webb has been able to do that over a four-year period rather than a six-year period and it is the opinion of Jean Murdock, that maintaining a four-year cycle is in the best interest of the community.

Subsequently, Supervisor Moore asked the board again to consider the resolution to submit a four-year cyclical reassessment plan to the NYS Office of Real Property Tax Services, which was made into a motion by Councilwoman Russell, and was followed by a second from Councilman Ross.

Following the discussion, Supervisor Moore opened up the floor to suggest that the Town of Webb Board consider appointing a temporary panel to the Board of Assessment Review whose role would be to participate in administrative hearings during the grievance process that will follow the re-evaluation.

By doing this, he explained, the board can provide a more streamlined and fluid process for community members to address their grievances, which will in turn keep up a level of professionalism that the taxpayers and the town deserve.

Following Supervisor Moore’s statements, Council-man Ross made a motion that authorizes the board to advertise and receive information from interested applicants in order for the town Board to better gauge the applicant interest level.

Those seeking more information about the Town of Webb temporary Board of Assessment Review may send a letter of interest accompanied by a resume to Town Clerk Nanci Russell at PO Box 157, Old Forge, NY 13420.

 

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Home Aide Service of Central Adirondacks elects new officers at its annual meeting

The Board of Directors of Home Aide Service of the Central Adirondacks (HASCA) elected officers during their annual meeting held on Monday, July 18.

President, Nancy Venetz is president, Natalie Tickner, vice-president; Peg Masters, secretary; George Hiltebrant, treasurer.

Debbie Elmer was elected to the Board of Directors to fill the vacancy of Bess Folsom, who has been appointed as an Emeritus Member of the Board.

HASCA currently employs a registered nurse and seven certified part-time aides who provided more than 5,000 hours of quality home care to local clients during the past year.

Community support of HASCA’s annual fund drive, which begins at the end of July, is an essential part of maintaining the lowest possible fees for our home care family members, friends and neighbors. All donations are tax-deductible.

For more information about the services provided by HASCA, contact Director Roberta Konecny at (315) 369-6183 or stop in the office in the basement of the Town of Webb Professional Office Building on South Shore Road in Old Forge.

 

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Stuart deCamp Announces Candidacy, Plans to Run for Webb Supervisor

Stuart deCamp of Thendara has announced he is running as an Independent candidate for Supervisor of the Town of Webb in the November general election.

Assessing waste, reducing spending and living within our means are at the top of his list of priorities if elected Supervisor, he said.

Born and raised in Thendara, he is a 1982 graduate of the Town of Webb School, a graduate of SUNY Fredonia College, and The Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain, where he studied the Spanish language and taught the English language.

He is also a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Management.

In 1987, he was hired by F. Eugene Romano of Old Forge and Utica to work at his Resort Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where he was responsible for the daily operations and for supervising 155 employees, which included staff and union workers in Reservations, Food and Beverage, Purchasing, Security, Pool and Human Resources. Continue reading →

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Webb board seeks to bring local signage into compliance

The Town of Webb Board opened a discussion on proper signage display within the town, particularly within the business community, as it relates to the local ordinance, on Tuesday, July 12.

The discussion took place at the board’s regular meeting and was led off by words from Supervisor Robert Moore.

Moore said it is his opinion that the ordinance is not being complied with, whether inadvertently or not, and that there needs to be a conversation within the community to either bring about compliance either through enforcement or a change in the ordinance.

Moore said a strategy is needed and a team effort to bring it about.

He suggested that the town focus on discussion, education, and enforcement.

Mary Brophy Moore, Chairperson of the Zoning Board of Appeals, said the problem is not widespread.

“The vast majority [of business owners] do wonderful jobs of staying in the boundaries of the ordinance,” she said.

Robert Moore agreed, but said he has heard enough complaints regarding noncompliance to recognize that a problem exists.

At stake, he said, are the aesthetics and the character of the community.

We need to decide what we want our community to look like, he said.

Moore went on to ask if we, as a town, want to be attractive and receive comments about how clean and nice everything is, or whether we want the community to be littered with signs.

Kate Russell, who is part of the liaison committee to the code office, echoed Robert’s comments about the importance of signage controls.

But she pointed out that while she wants to receive favorable comments from Town of Webb visitors, the enforcement process is not a simple one for the code office.

Issuing citations and bringing about compliance can be a lengthy process, and a better system is needed, she said.

“It’s code and town law and it applies to all of us. We need to look at it and see how we can make the system work better, together,” she said.

Code enforcement officer Andy Getty, who was in attendance, as well as Steve Baker from his office, said he appreciated the manner by which this issue has been approached by the board.

And he confirmed that a compliance problem exists in the town with regard to signage.

The problem for his office is that once the summer season hits, the violations tend to explode and his office is ill-equipped to tackle the enforcement.

“The voluminous nature has been overwhelming to the office,” he said, suggesting that a team approach is needed to solve the problem.

Audience member Bob McCoy suggested sending a friendly, non-confrontational, form letter to violators. The letter should educate them as to the ordinance, and encourage them to comply voluntarily. After that a ticket would be issued.

Reed Proper, who serves on the Planning Board, said a standardization is needed that applies not only to businesses, but to non-profits, sports boosters and everyone else.

Dutch Vandervort said a degree of uniformity is needed, albeit one that still serves the community’s commercial needs.

Ted Richie suggested that it would be worthwhile to initiate contact with other short-season tourist towns in the Adirondacks in an attempt to see if any have been able to deal successfully with similar problems.

Robert Moore went on to say that he believes that the Adirondacks are a special place that everyone cares about, and that he sympathizes with the businesses who are trying to get noticed and draw people in.

He added that he is not asking for perfection, but rather a standard that can be adhered to, which will exhibit a sense of a community that cares.

Those who have questions as to whether a sign they are intending requires Planning Board approval should contact the Town of Webb Code Enforcement Office.

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