RAY BROOK – A stakeholder group says it wants the public to see its consensus rails-to-trails decisions and not be distracted by its members’ disagreements along the way.

That’s one reason why it’s reinforcing its decision to keep its meetings closed to the public and press, according to notes from its third and latest gathering Oct. 12.

The group is coming up with a conceptual plan for a 34-mile recreational trail replacing current railroad tracks between Tupper Lake and Lake Placid. The state also plans to upgrade 45 other miles of the railroad line, allowing train service to go from Utica as far north as Tupper Lake.

The group cited five justifications for keeping the meetings closed:

“The stakeholders and state agencies want to continue to have productive meetings that focus on developing a high quality trail.

“Also, stakeholders and state agencies want to have the ability to work through differing opinions and reach consensus so the focus is on the draft product which will be shared with the public, (and) not on differing opinions.

“DEC is working to ensure this stakeholder process is more transparent by either issuing press releases or posting and/or sharing meeting summaries.

“Individual stakeholders are encouraged to share information with their constituencies and are not prevented from speaking to the press about the process if they choose.

“DEC will be providing the public an opportunity to review and provide comment on the conceptual plan prior to the final design and construction plans being developed.”

The Enterprise had requested access to the meetings, but the state Department of Environmental Conservation has instead said it will share meeting notes without requiring a formal Freedom of Information Law request. According to the state Committee on Open Government, the meetings are not required to be open since the meetings do not have a quorum of one state agency.

“No decisions are being made by the stakeholder group so meetings are not required to allow the presence of public or press under NYS Open Meeting Law,” the meeting notes say. The group is coming up with a proposed plan for the trail that will then be sent out for public comment before state agencies consider it and make a final plan.

DEC encourages the seven municipalities along the proposed trail to work together.

“The municipalities can work together or separately and can compile information however they deem appropriate (i.e. public meetings, stakeholder meetings, municipal board, assigned committee, etc.).

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Consultants

The Office of General Services, the state agency in charge of contracting and construction, has “hired Bergmann Associates, a consulting engineering firm with experience in developing rail trails, to assist with Program Report (Feasibility Study) and development of RFP (request for proposals) for design and construction of the recreational trail.”

OGS will also survey the 34 miles of corridor to identify topographic and historic features, as well as utilities, encroachments and adjacent landowners.

“DEC plans to meet with adjacent landowners through their municipal officials to hear their concerns and discuss options for addressing them,” the meeting notes say.

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Depots

Also at the Oct. 12 meeting, the group discussed four train depots within the proposed trail segment of the corridor.

The state Department of Transportation owns Union Depot in Saranac Lake. DOT said last week it had no plans for the station going forward, citing a pending lawsuit.

The Lake Placid-North Elba Historical Society owns the Lake Placid Train Station and maintains a local history museum there. Carla Eilo, director of the historical society, has not yet answered questions about the group’s plans.

The former Lake Clear Junction depot is owned by Charlie’s Inn, a restaurant and bar that caters to snowmobilers in winter.

Ownership of the rebuilt Tupper Lake depot is unclear, according to the stakeholder group. The town of Tupper Lake owns the land. but group members weren’t sure who owns the building.

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Attendees Oct. 12

1. Paul Maroun, mayor, village of Tupper Lake

2. Peter Edwards, code enforcement officer, village of Tupper Lake

3. Paul O’Leary, assessor, town of Tupper Lake

4. Patricia Littlefield, supervisor, town of Tupper Lake

5. Rich Shapiro, trustee, village of Saranac Lake

6. Chuck Damp, town of North Elba

7. Brad Hathaway, public works superintendent, village of Lake Placid

8. Art Devlin, deputy mayor, village of Lake Placid

9. Lee Keet, board member, Adirondack Recreational Trail Advocates

10. Tony Goodwin, Adirondack Trail Improvement Society

11. Jim McCulley, Lake Placid Snowmobile Club

12. Michelle Clement, Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism

13. Bob Stegemann, Region 5 director, state Department of Environmental Conservation

14. Fran Sheehan, DEC

15. Holly Kneeshaw, DEC

16. Steve Guglielmi, DEC

17. John Schmid, DEC

18. David Winchell, DEC

19. Ted Blazer, president/CEO, state Olympic Regional Development Authority

20. Kris Seymour, ORDA

21. Kurt Arnold, state Office of General Services

22. Carolyn Dunderdale, OGS

23. Mark Johns, Bergmann Associates

24. Mike Cooper, Bergmann Associates