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P.O. BOX 338 ELIZABETHTOWN, NY 12932 POSTAL PATRON
Pages 12-15
April 17, 2010
Shady business
Cuomo launches probe into green group’s land deals
Going up?
A Trojan Woman
Essex County grappling with potential 30 percent tax hike
By Jon Alexander denpubs@denpubs.com ALBANY — The region’s largest environmental organization, the Nature Conservancy, is now under the microscope of state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. Following a New York Post article this week detailing that the state overpaid for forest preserve lands primarily in the Adirondacks, Cuomo has opened a formal investi- Adorned with headlines accusing gation into how the Na- the state of an unsavory deal, the ture Conservancy values New York Post detailed the Nature its massive holdings and Conservancy selling Adirondack who the $3.5 billion green land to the state — at taxpayer exgroup influences in Al- pense — at a 57 percent profit during tough economic times. bany. Office of the Attorney Yes, that’s Fred Monroe of General officials said Chestertown prominently picWednesday that Gov. tured — as Adirondack Park Local David Paterson requested Government Review Board Chairthe inquiry after the New man, he brought the issue to the York Post reported the attention of Post Editor Frederic Conservancy recently Dicker. reaped a 57 percent profit on land sold to the state that it had only owned for three years. And, that sale came during a time land values fell considerably.
By Jon Alexander denpubs@denpubs.com
Kathleen Thomas brings her one-woman performance piece "A Trojan Woman" to the auditorium at Keene Central School April 24, 7 p.m. for an evening of Greek desserts and Greek drama. Thomas’s work is a retelling of the legendary Trojan War in the voice of Paris’s first love, Oenone. The KCS Parent Teacher Committee is sponsoring this event along with the KCS students who will be participating in the multi-age trip to Greece and Italy in 2011. Donations for the trip will be accepted. Photo submitted
See PROBE, page 8
Essex County gets new public defenders By Lindsay Yandon lindsay@denpubs.com
Brandon Boutelle is sworn-in by Essex County Clerk Joe Provoncha while Evelyn Hatch holds the Bible. Boutelle was appointed chief public defender for Essex County following the death of Livingston Hatch.
ELIZABETHTOWN — In early January, Lake Placid resident Brandon Boutelle was appointed to chief public defender for Essex County after the sudden death of longtime public defender Livingston “Livy” Hatch of Willsboro. Boutelle accepted a salary of $92,000 and a two-year term in the seat. His appointment received final approval from the Board of Supervisors in February. He has ben serving under Hatch as deputy public defender since January of 2005. Boutelle had only positive things to say about the work of his well-respected predecessor and said he appreciated the opportunity to work with someone with over 40 years of law experience.
See PUBLIC DEFENDER, page 9
Village Meat Market FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED FOR 30 YEARS
April 15th - April 21st
Bone-In Chicken Breast..........................................$1.79 lb. Homemade Italian Sausage (Sweet or Mild).............$2.19 lb. Medium Shell-On Shrimp (41-50 ct.).......................$5.99 lb. Thin Sliced Beef For Stir Fry...................................$3.49 lb. NY Boneless Strip Steaks........................................$5.99 lb.
ELIZABETHTOWN — If you thought the state’s budget outlook was bad, a glance at Essex County’s upcoming 2011 budget process is sure to garner a cringe as a 30 percent tax hike could be looming. County officials stressed this week that everything that can potentially be cut is on the table, including employee pay freezes, a sales tax hike and privatizing the county-owned Horace Nye Nursing Home. According to Essex County Manager Dan Palmer, the county is likely to fall $7 million short in 2011. In recent years, supervisors have dipped into the county’s fund balance to make up the difference and buy down the tax levy. But that fund is now depleted. Palmer says using any more than $3 million from the county’s reserves could threaten its credit rating. “We had hoped the sales tax figures would have come in better than they did in 2009,” Palmer said. Although only in the second year of a four-year deal with the Civil Service Employees Union, a contractual clause that requires the reopening of negotiations if and when national health care is passed will bring the parties to the table on April 19. “We need a pay freeze, across the board,” Palmer said. Stripping Essex County’s 400 employees of their already guaranteed four percent increase would save $1.3 million. County officials are predicting health insurance costs alone will skyrocket 20 to 25 percent. Supervisors are also considering a one-quarter percent increase in sales tax, which could
See TAX HIKE, page 8
From Our Deli
From Our Bakery
Produce
We are now back to our spring hours on Sundays!
Prosciutto.................................................$6.99 lb. Miami Onion Rolls Russer Garlic Bologna...............................$3.99 lb. (Great For Sandwiches or Burgers).......$1.99 - 1/2 Doz. Munster Cheese........................................$3.99 lb. Baby Peeled Carrots (1 lb. bag)......................$1.29 Iceberg Lettuce................................$1.49 - a head Local 3 lb. Bagged Apples..............................$2.69 Braeburn Apples....................................0.69¢ each Extra Large Eggs.............................$1.49 - a dozen
7:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Sub case closes every evening at 8:00 p.m.
3609 Essex Road, Willsboro, New York 12996 • Phone (518) 963-8612 • Fax (518) 963-4583
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