$172.66 an hour...

Dear Cris,

The Long Lake Town Board has voted its members a 100 percent increase in pay by reducing the regular meetings from twice to once monthly, thereby effectively reducing 24 scheduled meetings annually to a mere 12. The resolution did not appear on the agenda and had not been reduced to writing.

Councilman Richard “Dick” Dechene introduced it. He argued there isn’t enough business brought before the board to warrant meetings twice a month.

Apparently there are other, more pressing, personal activities that now take precedence over the commitments the councilmen made when they were elected and when they adopted and renewed the twice monthly schedule in paragraph 10 at the 2012 Organization Meeting back in January.

The board, of course, will continue to receive the same compensation for less than half the amount of time and effort.

If there isn’t enough business, it’s because the council doesn’t conduct itself in a proactive and creative way when it comes to the many issues confronting the community. As an example, each councilman is assigned oversight of a variety of official town activities, and the supervisor calls for councilman reports at mid-month meetings. Rarely, if ever, are any substantive reports (or any at all) offered.

The truth is the board members have been in office so long that they have become jaded, indifferent and bored. The fault lies within an electorate that suffers from chronic, contagious apathy spawned by, among other things, a false belief that, as individuals, they are powerless to initiate change.

Thus, more often than not, councilmen run unopposed for reelection and have lost sight of the importance of their role in the management of the town’s affairs.

Board members receive $4,143.84 annually, medical benefits and 24 hours per month credit to the NYS Retirement System. Heretofore, they actually served four hours a month (meetings run 60-90 minutes).

Allowing for occasional special meetings, offset by absences and generously allowing for two hours a meeting, the hourly compensation up until now equates to $56. Effective with the new schedule, the hourly rate of compensation will be $172.66.

Not bad for sitting in a chair and occasionally saying ‘yea’ or ‘nay.’ Nice work if you can get it.

Marty Friedman

Long Lake

Don’t miss the meeting

Dear Cris,

I cordially invite everyone to attend our next town / village revitalization meeting Thursday, Oct. 25, starting at 7 p.m. at Oak Mountain.

This forum will have time for you to give input, ask questions and see what our group has been working on for some time.

Please try to join us that night, as we make every effort to improve our prospects for a vibrant future.

Neil McGovern, supervisor

Town of Lake Pleasant

Do your homework

To the editor,

This November’s election is an opportunity for all to choose new candidates that can move this area forward. Do we elect representatives who view our community with thoughtful and cautious minds, or for those with closed minds who do not work for the people whom they represent?

The quality of life in Central New York is what the people who live here have always been proud of, and the main thing that has brought people to live in the area. The beautiful rural scenic landscapes, the historic heritage and clean land, water and air are what our communities can boast about and should be trying to preserve for our next generation.

Joseph Chilelli, who is running to represent NYS Assembly District 118, has a vision for our region based on what his constituents want. It is one that foresees spending money on issues that create jobs that will enhance our quality of life.

Citizens need to think carefully on Election Day. Do we want the status quo with incumbents who have been there a lifetime or do we want to move forward? Vote for representatives who will work for you. On Nov. 6, vote for Joseph Chilelli.

Linda Mitchell

Indian Lake

Support is appreciated

Dear Cris,

The Wells Historical Society wishes to thank all those who came to our recent potluck supper. We had a very good turnout and we all enjoyed a wide variety of good food as well as the music of Azalea and the Good Ol’ Boys.

Congratulations to Ellen Bardwell who won our raffle, a cruise and dinner on Raquette Lake. We look forward to seeing and serving you all next year.

Barbara Van Slyke

Wells

Trail ‘from hell’ is fixed

Dear Cristine,

I thank the volunteers from the Pleasant Riders Snowmobile Club who have worked hard on the stretch of snowmobile trail C8 known as the “2 Miles from Hell” between Lewey Lake and Perkins Clearing Road.

This trail is the only snowmobile connection between Speculator and Indian Lake. The trail is usually in awful condition due to lack of grooming, preventing many snowmobilers from using it.

Volunteers spent over 50 man-hours on this project during the summer, performing tasks such as securing DEC approval and eliminating major drainage problems that made the trail nearly impassible after rainstorms.

Once the Town of Lake Pleasant Highway Department fulfills its responsibility to repair several dilapidated bridges on this section of C8 before winter, the trail will be much safer for grooming and riding. Speculator and Indian Lake will receive an economic boost, with a positive ripple effect throughout the south-central Adirondacks.

Taking part in this project has been fun and rewarding for me. I’m amped up for winter and pray we get the snow that we didn’t get last year.

Darrin W. Harr

Indian Lake