46. New York Blue Line Council, Inc.
(Latest update 2001)
P. O. Box 204
Glens Falls, NY 12801
(5l8) 792-3856
e-mail: behan@capital.net
Key Personnel
Barbara Sweet, Executive Director
Pieter V.C. Litchfield, President
Robert F. Flacke, Vice President
Coalition Involvements
Adirondack Association of Towns and Villages
Adirondack Landowners Association
Adirondack Conservation Council
Adirondack Fairness Coalition
Association for the Protection of the Adirondacks
AFL-CIO
The Business Council of New York State, Inc.
Empire State Forest Products Association
Organization Goal
The New York Blue Line Council is a coalition of former state officials, educators, large Adirondack landowners, health care professionals and other professionals who seek a balanced state policy between the conservation of natural resources and the health and economic well-being of Adirondack Park residents.
The Council’s Board of Directors includes a former state Supreme Court judge, a former DOT commissioner, two former DEC commissioners, two former APA commissioners and a New York State Regent. Labor interests, tourism, forestry, and health and education interests are also represented.
Officers (1998)
Pieter V. C. Litchfield, President, Litchfield Park Corporation
Robert F. Flacke, Vice President, Fort William Henry Corp.
William C. Hennessy, Vice President, Hennessy & Plummer, Inc.
Mario Scarselletta, Jr., Secretary, United Paperworkers International
Union
Michael P. Brassel, Treasurer, Keeseville National Bank
Comments
During 1990 and 1991, the New York Blue Line Council:
(1) Published a line-by-line evaluation of Gov. Cuomo’s first and second Adirondack bills, as well as critiques of the Hinchey-Grannis-Weprin bill. The 40-page report became a reference document for legislators, staffers, agency people and reporters.
(2) Published a policy paper titled “Moderate Approach to Land Acquisition in the Adirondacks” which helped shape DEC’s first Open Space Protection Plan.
(3) Offered a blueprint for moderate Adirondack legislation-constructive proposals to reform the APA, increase local government’s role, ensure fairness for private landowners and the forest products industry, a d promote sensible regulations to protect shorelines, water quality and open space.
During the following years, the Blue Line Council fully established itself as the foremost professional commentator on Adirondack affairs. The Council:
(4) Commented on the High Peaks Wilderness Unit Management Plan
(5) Presented the “New York Blue Line Council-A Vision
for the Adirondacks,” stating that “A vision for the
Adirondacks that revolves around further state land purchases
is short-sighted,” and advocating policies to stabilize the
region’s economy and promote economic opportunity and conserve
the natural resources of the region.
The goals could be met by recognizing that individual commitment
and corporate stewardship have provided protection to the land;
eliminating disincentives to long-term private land ownership
by reducing state mandates on localities and reducing property
taxes;
encouraging forestry, tourism, and continued private land ownership
and reversing the trend of state acquisition of land
educating state policy makers that the economic and environmental
future are tied to the stability of land ownership, which is threatened
by large-scale state acquisition of private land;
streamlining and ensuring fairness, openness and predictability
in the regulatory process;
resisting the attempts to impose regulations that are unnecessary,
unreasonable, or unfounded in science.(1996)
(6) Participated in the DEC working group addressing the proper response to the July l5, 1995 blowdown. (1995-1996)
(7) Closely monitored and presented technical comments too numerous to list on the continuing APA regulatory revision process (1997-present)
(8) Opposed federal funding under the Northern Forest Stewardship Act of land acquisition in the Adirondacks (1997)
(9) Commented negatively on the State acquisition of the Whitney property (1997)
(10) Presented a review, “State of the Adirondack Economy”
by E. J. McMahon of Behan Communications (1998)
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