Dissenter loses seat on board
Governor replaces permit holder who opposed lake rulesBy ZACH SUBAR, The Leader-Herald
A Hudson River-Black River Regulating District board member who has spoken out against revisions to the regulating district's proposed lake-access permit rules was informed Wednesday he is no longer on the board.
Patrick Dugan of Northville received a letter from the office of Gov. David Paterson informing him he has not been reappointed. He has criticized the regulating district board's decision to send the state Department of Environmental Conservation revisions to its proposed rules to the Governor's Office of Regulatory Reform for review.
The revised rules would take away access permit holders' exclusive rights to the shoreline and make all the land around the lake shore similar to public parkland. Dugan is a permit holder.
Paterson appointed Gloversville resident Paul Cornell to replace Dugan. Cornell is president of the Adirondack Aquanautical Society, a Gloversville scuba club.
Cornell could not be reached for comment this morning.
Dugan was appointed in December 2006 to a two-year term, but he had not been informed until now whether he would be reappointed to continue serving on the board.
He said this morning he previously "suspected" he might lose his seat. Newspaper articles last week quoted him as being critical of the rules. He said though he was not actually kicked off the board, his remarks might have contributed to the decision to replace him.
"I've been fairly outspoken about the permit holders and their rights and the people around the lake, and that's not really a major concern of the board," Dugan said.
At a board meeting Tuesday in Hamilton County, Dugan said he made a motion to suspend the district's consideration of new rules for 120 days, but the motion was not seconded by anyone.
Though he is no longer on the board, Dugan said he is "satisfied" with what he has said and done in the past week.
"If there's nobody up there vehemently in favor of rolling back the rules, or making them more fair and more easily understandable to the permit holders, then it's going to be a tough battle," Dugan said.
Meanwhile, the rulemaking process is continuing. This week, the Governor's Office of Regulatory Reform, which is charged with "helping the state and its agencies write better rules and regulations," according to its Web site, completed its initial review of the revisions after the regulating district's board unanimously adopted them at its May meeting.
It passed them on to the governor's office for review. If the governor's office approves them, they will be published in the state register and there will be a 30-day period of public comment on the regulations.
Zach Subar covers rural Fulton County news. He can be reached at ruralnews@leaderherald.com
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resident69
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07-04-09 4:08 PM
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it's still a reservoir...some big wig decided to call it a lake....I don't see Lake george getting drained to regulate any river.
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native
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06-12-09 10:04 AM
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Patrick Dugan's dismissal from the HRBRRD Board now leave the inmates in total control of the asylum which in turn controls the lives of so many and the economy of an entire region.
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Discobulous
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06-11-09 11:28 PM
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Enck? Bet no northwoodsman ever took her into the wildnerness. She's probably never seen more than 3 trees at a time. Where do they get these people?
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Patriot1
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06-11-09 11:14 PM
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Architect has just imploded - Ms. Enck is watching carefully.
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Opinionated
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06-11-09 9:05 PM
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In my opinion, it's scarey that everything is going so fast. We never even gave this a thought a year ago...at least I didn't. Even Washington is moving from one agenda to another. This is such a huge issue with property owners on the lake. It seems that nothing is being taken into consideration. We're seeing history folks. Thanks. Have a nice night.
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laker88
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06-11-09 6:55 PM
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Architect....Yes, As Deerhunter said, it's an important respite, but not off the table. However you failed to mention the critical issue that has been brought to the forefront..and that is the legal question of this ENTIRE matter being outside of the scope of DEC...a convincing case, backed up by past documents, is in the works. Furthermore, regardless of Mrs. Enck's "prominence", she now has some "prominent" opposition from all sides... from the legal/judicial sector, and from politicians on both sides of the aisle. You have continually implied that the rules changes were inevitable...it's my opinion now, especially in light of the pending legal issues re DEC involvement, that all bets are off.
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TheArchitect
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06-11-09 6:08 PM
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Don't be misled by the title of the Times Union story "Governor's office withdraws changes to Sacandaga permit system". This was only done since the time had expired to address the issue and turn it back to the regulating district. Removing exclusive access from state land has been Judith Enck's brainchild from the beginning and the Sacandaga Reservoir is going to be her first step in removing all exclusive access to state land state wide. 'While the permit system will remain status quo for now, Enck said it doesn't mean the governor is walking away all together. "This is public land we're talking about and we want to take a closer look," she said.' These words mean things “for now” & “doesn’t mean the governor is walking away all together” are only code for when the time is right, it will be done. Ms. Enck didn't get to a position for prominence by missing any steps along the way. She is a political animal who has the savvy, intellect and will to get her wa
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Vroman
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06-11-09 4:41 PM
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Get this straight, folks. It's not the Dems or Republicans. It's the APA! The preservationists in that organization have the ear of our government. If the APA had their way, the Adirondacks would be a blank spot on the map. No trails, no lean to's, no summer or full time residences, nothing. It's a fantasy. Nature creates wilderness. Not man. Jim
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Deerhunter
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06-11-09 4:29 PM
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Hey everyone, laker 88 is right, my sister who works at the state capital just e-mailed and said that the Gov's office just put the lake regs. on hold. It's not off the table but public out cry made the difference. Don't let up on this issue. The next thing is they will all want us to do is paint our houses brown with a green roof!!!!!
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Deerhunter
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06-11-09 4:16 PM
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I think it's time for the upstaters to remind patterson that at election time, our upstate vote matters. We are supposed to live in a democracy and the majority rules, What's happening with our government?
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Patriot1
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06-11-09 4:02 PM
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Found it - thanks, 88.
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Patriot1
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06-11-09 2:57 PM
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88 - Where can I hear or read about the Governor's decision?
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laker88
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06-11-09 2:43 PM
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Just in....Governor's office has withdrawn the proposed changes. Looking forward to hearing from the architect..
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Discobulous
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06-11-09 2:42 PM
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Wish I could get removed from a few of my thankless board positions that easily. I guess I'll have to start complaining.
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laker88
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06-11-09 2:14 PM
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Gee, it's so hard to believe people are fleeing this pathetic state...the absurdity of this issue continues with the dismissal of Dugan. Just read Bruse's letter to the editor...since when has the public NOT had access to the lake???...Boat launches, public parks, sandbars, islands. The permits are exclusive use because these are the people who have poured time and money in making them nice, who maintain them, who pay higher taxes, and who are liable if someone gets hurt.
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TiredOfTax
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06-11-09 1:15 PM
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If you cant get what you want with the people you got, get rid of them! Lets re-write the constitution to read that. The state of NY is in the USA and until now was a democratic majority rules government. How has communism and socialism gotten so powerful? Who exactly is in charge here I think we need to have a talk!
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Scarecrow57
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06-11-09 12:17 PM
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Once again, Albany is screwing the little guy. We the People need to stand up for what is right. I don't live on the lake, nor do I have property there. Recall that the people around the lake were given these rights to compensate them for losing their land. If we are to make this a forever wild natural body of water I say we go down and either fill the outlet with cement or eliminate the damn. Then it will be like a natural body of water. Stupid ENVIRO-NuTS!!!!!!!!
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PaulBunyun
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06-11-09 11:37 AM
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First let me start by saying I do not have a home on the lake nor do I have any close friends that live on the lake. That being said I have to agree that these people that live on the lake have for the most part worked very hard for what they have and living on the lake is the method that many of them have chosen to reward themselves for that hard work. The board and by extension the Governor decision to grant shoreline access to the general public is wrong. Not only does granting access to anyone that can row there boat ashore risk the potential of lowering property values on the lake ( who wants to pay top dollar for lake front property just to look out and see a group of teenagers hanging out in your backyard) It also increases the risk of theft as well as a better oppertunity for people to vandalize these homeowners property. If the public wants access to a private beach let them go out get a education work hard and purchase a home on the lake of thier own.
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unreal12
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06-11-09 11:30 AM
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I gess you cant speak out with out fear of loseing your seat on the board. we are all in for it.
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Patriot1
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06-11-09 11:29 AM
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Dugan's dismissal from HRBRRD's board simply reinforces the impression that New York State's political constructs march in symbiotic lockstep to the wishes of Albany. Each of us should now contact our "Republican" representatives in Albany, as it may be our last chance, short of a bruising, expensive court battle, to convince our newly "Republican" legislature that the proposed rules revisions are completely unacceptable.
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