Mar 02, 2007 — Earlier this week, the Olympic Regional Development Authority's board of directors reopened the debate over how to spend $5.5 million slated for the North Creek ski bowl. That action infuriated Johnsburg town supervisor Bill Thomas, who says the fund should be used to connect the ski bowl to the state-run ski center at Gore Mountain. But the interconnect project has been delayed by an environmental review. Some ORDA board members believe that there might be better uses for the money. ORDA board president Patrick Barrett grew up in St. Regis Falls and owns property in Lake Placid. He was chosen to lead the development authority by former Governor George Pataki, who made the appointment just a week before leaving office. Barrett spoke yesterday with Brian Mann, about this controversy and about his vision for ORDA.