2 - ADIRONDACK JOURNAL • LAKE GEORGE
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SATURDAY November 7, 2009
Audit reveals village is operating according to law
Lake George resident Cliff Satterlee (foreground) takes a look at a sample ballot Tuesday morning before he casts his vote at the Lake George Town Center. Election Inspector John Galaway (right rear) monitors the voting, while Barbara LaFond (seated, left) checks registration records. The election featured some spirited races this fall, with candidates addressing budgetary stresses and other pressing issues with radically different approaches. Photo by John Lustyik
Bike tour From page 1 several hundred of them would likely be staying overnight in motels and hotels — most likely in and around Lake George — while most of the bicyclists would be sleeping in tents. Caterers in various destination points would likely be hired to provide meals, she said, and the group is likely to be arranging for entertainment. Many in the tour group would arrive in Queensbury or Lake George on Friday Aug. 6, staying at a park or large plot where they could set up hundreds of tents. Adirondack Community College is presently their preferred location, but their stay requires approval from college officials. The group had initially preferred Battlefield Park in Lake
LAKE GEORGE — A state audit of the finances and operations of the village government has yielded satisfactory results, Mayor Robert Blais announced Tuesday. The “risk audit,” conducted in September by the Office of the state Comptroller turned up nothing that required further attention, according to Karl Smoczynski, Chief Examiner of the state Comptroller, who concentrates on scrutinizing operations of municipalities and school districts. This audit, with a favorable outcome, was a totally separate matter from an investigation now being conducted into the finances of the town of Lake George and the conduct of town officials, which may potentially include allegations of wrongdoing, according to state Comptroller ’s office representatives. (See article elsewhere in this issue.) The“risk audit” of Lake George village included interviews with village personnel, as well as observations and inspection of financial records and reports. This was the first such inspection conducted of the village
George as a staging area, Brand said Monday, but is now leaning toward ACC because of the proximity of large gathering spaces to fields where tents could be set up. Brand said the tour organizers are now looking into transporting the bicycle tourists up to Lake George on their initial day to see the sights and enjoy some entertainment. When in Ticonderoga, the bicycle tourists are likely to be headquartered at Ticonderoga Central School, Brand said. Ticonderoga area Chamber of Commerce Director Barbara Brassard said Wednesday this proposal is pending approval before the Ticonderoga Central School Board, and that area officials were excited about the prospects of the mass two-wheeled tourists. “It looks very hopeful the tour will go through,” she said. “It would be a definite boost to the economy, and we're very optimistic.” After their second night in Ticonderoga, the group will
in 13 years. It was conducted over about four weeks. An exit interview with the on-site auditors and a following report from the Comptroller ’s office indicated that nothing came to their attention that required further assistance or inspection from their office. Blais said that the auditors conducted thorough inspections of the new firehouse project, payroll records, purchases of equipment and inter-municipal contracts. Had discrepancies or statute violations been uncovered, a more thorough investigation would have been ordered. “We are very proud of our record and the outcome of this inspection,” the Mayor said. Blais said he was thankful for the work routinely accomplished by the entire Village staff, particularly by Clerk-Treasurer Darlene Gunther. “Darlene’s a stickler,” he said with a laugh. “She doesn’t let me or anyone else get away with anything.”
then head to Plattsburgh, where they are expected to spend a similar amount of time in Clinton County bicycling before they conclude their tour. While visiting Lake George last week, the Velo officials toured various venues to compare potential headquarters for the first leg of the proposed trip. The group went to the Lake George Forum, Wild West Ranch, the Lake George Recreation Center, The Dome, Adirondack Community College, and both the local high school and elementary school. Battlefield Park in Lake George Village was their first choice, and ACC was the apparent runner-up. Brand said the group would probably be looking for scout groups or youth sports teams to volunteer as valets, in assisting unpacking the tourists’ bicycles and luggage from 10 tractor trailer trucks, and performing other tasks. “This would be a really cool event for everyone involved,” Brand said.
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