By CRISTINE MEIXNER

Express Editor

WELLS - Townspeople here can ski and snowboard at Oak Mountain Ski Center in the Village of Speculator at a heavy discount this winter.

The Wells Town Board has voted 3-1 to enter into an agreement with Speculator under which Wells will pay $2,000 in exchange for discounted Sunday skiing and season passes for Wells residents and taxpayers.

Supervisor Brian Towers and councilmen Deborah Taylor and Robert Wright voted ‘yea’ while Councilman Roberta Chamberlain voted ‘nay.’ Councilman Jaret Welch was absent.

The enabling resolution says in part, “... the Wells Town Board recognizes the importance of providing affordable recreational opportunities for its residents, especially during the long winter months ...”

Under the agreement Sunday passes will cost $10 and season passes will be discounted 25 percent. Season passes include ski lessons. Proof of address or residency is required.

Should the ski center close before March 31, 2012 for any reason, Wells will be entitled to a prorated refund.

The regular price for an adult all-day ticket is $34.

VIEWPOINTS

Prior to the vote resident Judy Stoddard said tax money would be better spent on goose control or boat launch remedies. Resident Robert Stoddard said it might be better to put the money toward programs already in place, such as Little League and the Summer Youth Program.

Taylor feels the agreement offers a good program at an affordable price. Towers said a number of people have told him they favor the agreement.

Wright said the school does not yet have a ski program in place for students (to Gore Mt., which the town has traditionally funded).

Chamberlain was against the deal unless Wells could get its money back if it doesn’t work out.

OTHER BUSINESS

• Year-to-date Lake Algonquin Hydroelectric Plant expenditures through October total $8,105 and revenues total $92,559.

• The board unanimously agreed to transfer $10,000 from unappropriated fund balance in the General Fund into the Vehicle Replacement Capital Reserve Fund, the maximum allowed each year. Wells Volunteer Ambulance Corps has informed the board that the town should consider replacing the 2003 ambulance in the near future.

• Towers was authorized to sign a Contract for Shared Services with Speculator on behalf of Wells. The contract allows the two municipalities to rent, lease, exchange and borrow machinery and equipment from each other as needed, with or without operators; and to borrow or lend materials and supplies.

• Towers said there is some concern that there is water in the diesel fuel at the Central Garage. It is being looked into.

• The board reviewed a letter from North Country All Terrain Vehicle Club and would like to take a look at any plan the club comes up with regarding town-to-town and county-to-county trail connections in the Adirondacks. In Wells, a local law currently allows use of some town roads by ATVs to access private trails available to ATVs.

• Resident Jean Frederick asked if the town sends its recyclables to the Lake Pleasant Transfer Station. Towers explained recyclables such as glass, plastic, cardboard and paper are taken to the county transfer station there. The county makes some money from these recyclables, but it is used to partially offset the cost of getting rid of tires. He said the county has budgeted $22,000 for tire disposal.

Editor’s Note: This article is based on draft minutes of the Wells Town Board meeting of Nov. 14, 2011 as provided by Town Clerk Mari Wilson.