By PETE KLEIN

Express News Staff

LONG LAKE - The Long Lake Town Board has adopted a new local law to protect the new wellheads.

The “Wellhead and Public Water Supply Protection and Conservation Law” was unanimously adopted following a public hearing Dec. 14, at which several members of the public raised concerns.

Most were from Michael Romanych, Piseco, whose father owns property adjacent to the town’s wells on Stanton Hill; and attorney Fred Fink, who represents a property owner adjacent to the Bissell Pit wells.

Romanych had concerns with the 200-foot radius around the wellheads within which sewage, bulk storage of contaminants and manure piles are forbidden, and asked if it might limit access to portions of his father’s property.

Supervisor Clark Seaman it would not.

Fink asked, “Why does the town have to enter into so many regulations when there are so many regulatory agencies which already protect water supplies?”

Explaining his opposition, Fink said, “My concern is the law might fail on legal validity, but that might not come to pass unless someone wants to pick a fight.”

Susan Kennedy, a state Department of Health senior sanitary engineer based in Saranac Lake, agreed there are too many regulations but supports the law. She said it is similar to those of other municipalities.

A copy of the law can be found at mylonglake.com. Click on “LONG LAKE” and choose “LL Local Govern-ment.”

SAVING ENERGY

Long Lake will join the towns of Moriah and Schroon Lake in the Community Energy Efficiency Management pilot program developed by the Adirondack Climate & Energy Action Plan.

A committee consisting of Seaman, Councilman Richard Dechene and members of the community is being formed to implement the plan.

The first step will be to inventory the energy use of town-owned buildings and vehicles. Town officials will then come up with energy-saving plans, track the savings and share their experiences with other communities.

OTHER BUSINESS

• The town will give up any claims it had to use the beachfront property on Raquette Lake owned by Raquette Lake Supply Co. Councilman Dean Pohl explained, “We haven’t had any use of the beach in over 20 years.”

• Eric Holmlund, director of Paul Smith’s Watershed Stewardship Program on Long Lake and Raquette Lake, reported on the 2011 program that educates the public and inspects boats for invasives before they enter the lakes.

The program will continue, thanks to a grant from the United States Fish & Wildlife Service, a $4,000 donation from the town, fund-raising efforts by Long Lake Association and volunteer efforts.

“We are now starting to look for college-age lake stewards for the coming summer,” Holmlund said. “The pay is good; $11 to $12 per hour.”

The next meeting of the Long Lake Town Board will be Wednesday, Dec. 28, starting at 7:30 p.m. in Town Hall.