APA commisioner Lani Ulrich. Photo: APA
(09/16/11) Support is reportedly building behind Lani Ulrich to assume the chairmanship of the state Adirondack Park Agency. Ulrich has served as an APA commissioner since 2004.
The Glens Fall Post-Star reported yesterday that local government leaders and environmental groups in the Park have come together to push Gov. Andrew Cuomo to nominate her to the position.
But as Chris Knight reports, Ulrich may have to resolve a pair of APA violations on her property if she wants the job.
John Sheehan of
the Adirondack Council said he heard that Ulrich's name had come up for
consideration for the chair position following the resignation of Curt Stiles
this summer.
Sheehan said she's well-qualifed for the job. "I think the
name was one a lot of people had on their lists," Sheehan said Thursday.
"We'll see if its actually the person chosen by the governor. But I think
that having more than one segment of the Adirondack population be in favor of
you is pretty good in terms of helping your candidacy."
Fred Monroe, executive director of
the Adirondack Park Local Government Review Board, said on Thursday that he heard Ulrich would be
willing to accept the job of APA chair if it’s offered. But Monroe said he
had no "inside information" that Cuomo was going to appoint Ulrich.
Monroe says he thinks Ulrich would
have the support of his organization and the Adirondack Association of Towns
and Villages. He cited her involvement with the Common Ground Alliance, which
has been working to forge a dialogue between the different interests in the
Park.
"I think she takes a balanced approach and she's always willing to
listen to local government positions," Monroe said. "I've personally been
very impressed with the way she's facilitated those Common Ground meetings, and
kept the conversation civil with a group of players where it could get out of
hand very easily."
The news that she was being promoted
for the position came out the same day that APA staff acknowledged that Ulrich
and her husband are trying to resolve two violations of the agency's shoreline
setback regulations on their property in the town of Webb. The violations involve the construction of a deck and stairway complex along
the shoreline of the Middle Branch of the Moose River without a necessary APA
variance.
APA spokesman Keith McKeever said
the Ulrichs reported the violation themselves. He said they have submitted
plans to bring the structures into compliance by Oct. 1 of this year and won't
be facing any fines or penalties.
Comment on this story
