AJ_06-18-2011_Edition

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June 18, 2011

LAKE GEORGE — After being pr essed by a leader of a local citizens’ group at a June 13 town meeting, the Lake George Town Boar d agr eed to hold a special meeting to discuss the r ecent state Comptroller ’s audit of town finances — and the actions taken since to rectify pr ocedures that the auditors f ound t o b e i mproper or lacking. The meeting is set for 7 p.m. Monday June 20 at the town hall. At the insistence of Lake George Citizens’ Group leader Joanne Gavin, the meeting will be in a “round table” format, which she said would likely prompt more open discussion from citizens. Dozens of local residents af filiated with the group turned out for the board meeting, and Gavin said they wer e ther e to primarily question the town’s traditional practice of granting “title pay,” which prompted criticism in the Comptr oller ’s r eport. The r eport, r eleased in May, urged the town to recover a total of $234,000 in special stipends that were paid out over the past five years to 16 town employees — payments not approved by a formal See AUDIT REPORT, page 5

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NORTH CREEK — In a spirit of celebration June 10, four men joined hands and raised them into the air — moments after they had signed a railway contract that will soon link Warren County to Saratoga County via rail for the first time in decades. “All aboar d,” exclaimed Neil Bagus of Iowa Pacific Holdings LLC, the new railway operator, moments after the firm’s CEO ceremoniously signed a five-year contract with Warren County of ficials to operate trains on the county-owned tracks. Passenger train service that includes domed cars for panoramic scenic vistas, ski train trips, dining cars and themed excursions, was greeted with optimism and praise Friday as the agr eements were ratified. Initial train service is to begin between July 1 and 15, depending on approval fr om the Federal Railway Administration, Iowa Pacific of ficials said. Plans call for three round trips per day, two from North Creek to the Saratoga Springs rail station and one fr om North Cr eek to Hadley. The contract calls for Iowa pacific to operate at least 100 r ound-trip passenger trains from May to October, a minimum of 30 ski trains and at least 50 dining excursions after

Parents, students protest at meeting

By Thom Randall

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LAKE GEORGE — Dozens of students, parents and community members t urned o ut f or a L ake G eorge School Board meeting Tuesday, June 14 to protest the board’s recent decision not to r e-appoint Joel Gor don as girls soccer coach and assistant track coach at the school. About a dozen students and parents air ed their objections to the board’s decision, characterizing GRIP ‘N GRIN — Sharing smiles, handshakes and congratulations June 10 moments after signing five-year Warren County railroad operation contracts are (left to right) Ed Ellis, CEO Gordon as a dedicated, inspiring of Iowa Pacific Holdings LLC — the new operator of the railroad, county Board of Super- coach full of enthusiasm. Gordon has led his soccer teams to visors Chairman Dan Stec, and (right) Richard Lucia, Supervisor of the Town of Corinth. a string of unpr ecedented league Photo by Nancy Frasier championships since he began Instead, they wer e anticipating a they are established. The agreement coaching in 2008. future of boosted local tourism, rail also guarantees local taxpayers an To date, the boar d has r efused to commuting for locals, and expanded disclose why they ar e seeking to r eincome of $81,958 to $190,000, dejobs and a revitalized economy — all place Gordon, and they haven’t told pending on the success of the rail prompted by the new railway operservice. him any r eason, as well, he said ation, which is to feature freight Monday night. But the local of ficials attending traffic as well as extensive passenger the June 10 signing cer emony, held Pat Flaherty, a parent of a student, service. on the platform outside the historic said Gor don was an outstanding North Creek train depot, weren’t foSee TRAIN, page 13 coach, and the board should reverse cusing on figures. See SOCCER COACH, page 7

Americade rally overcame its challenges By Thom Randall

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THIS WEEK Warrensburg ..........................2-3 Lake George ............................5 Bolton ......................................8 Thurman ..................................10 Calendar................................11 Graduation Pages ..................18 Classified ..............................25

Thousands of motorcyclists were drawn to Lake George this past week for Americade, the world’s largest touring bike rally. Photo by Thom Randall

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LAKE GEORGE — Despite doses of rain, a move to a new venue and some advance uncertainty r elated to negotiations with state officials, the Americade 2011 motorcycle rally was a substantial success, event founder Bill Dutcher said Tuesday. While declining to r eveal attendance numbers, Dutcher said the attendance may have been slightly lower than r ecent years, but it prospered anyway. The move of rally headquarters fr om Roaring Brook Ranch to Fort William Henry was smooth, he said, yielding benefits for the many thousands of registered attendees. “Our primary concern was the move from Roaring Brook Ranch after 28 years there — carrying it off was critically important to the

future of the event — and it went very well — far better than we thought it would,” Dutcher said. The temporary traf fic light installed on Canada St. to keep motor cycles moving in and out of Fort William Henry worked well through the week, he said. Renting the mobile equipment and manning the signal, as state law requires, cost Dutcher’s enterprise well in excess of $10,000. The rally not only featured a record number of events, but a new high tally of motorcycle manufacturers offering demonstration rides — a much-anticipated featur e of the rally. Americade 2011 prompted a surprisingly large number of glowing comments from attendees, he said, noting that all the feedback was positive.

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Warren County train contracts signed Lake George By Thom Randall board lets go soccer coach

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Concerns over audit report prompts L.G. ‘roundtable’ session By Thom Randall

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