Local leaders to testify at mandate hearing

A group of local elected officials will testify at tomorrow's mandate relief hearing in Lake Placid, hosted by Gov. Andrew Cuomo's Mandate Relief Council.

The event kicks off at 11 a.m. at the Conference Center on Main Street.

A trio of Essex County officials will address the council: Jay town Supervisor Randy Douglas, who chairs Essex County's Board of Supervisors; North Elba town Supervisor Roby Politi, the board's vice-chairman; and county Manager Dan Palmer.

Franklin County will be represented by Legislator Gordy Crossman, D-Malone.

Saranac Lake village Mayor Clyde Rabideau is also scheduled to testify. He said in an emailed press release that mandate relief has been the mantra of every mayor in the state for the last quarter of a century.

Rabideau said he and other mayors met with Cuomo earlier this week. He said he plans to promote the governor's Tier VI pension reform plan as one form of mandate relief.

"Governor Cuomo fired-up every mayor in the room," Rabideau said, "and urged us to take the message back to our hometowns and to every corner of New York (state) and so I shall because that seems to be the most effective way to connect with Albany politicians."