Mark Hall speaks at the Adirondack Park Agency’s Adirondack Planning Forum held on May 8 at Hotel Saranac in Saranac Lake. Hall, who has served on the APA Board since 2020, was named APA Board Chair on Friday. (Provided photo — Adirondack Park Agency)

RAY BROOK — Mark Hall is the Adirondack Park Agency’s next board chair.

Hall, who has served as an APA board member since June 2020, was selected by Gov. Kathy Hochul to fill the role, the governor’s office announced Friday. The position opened in June when then-chair John Ernst announced his retirement. Since Hall is already a board member, his appointment as chair does not require state Senate confirmation.

He is expected to chair his first meeting on Thursday, when the APA convenes for its regular monthly meeting. Hall’s current board term expires on June 30, 2026. He resides in Star Lake, in southern St. Lawrence County.

In a statement announcing Hall’s designation, Hochul said the Adirondacks were both a “crown jewel” and an “economic cornerstone” for the North Country.

“Balancing environmental protection while promoting sustainable economic development is key to the Park’s long-term success,” she stated. “Mark Hall has worked tirelessly on behalf of North Country communities and the environment for decades. He will excel as the next Chair of the Adirondack Park Agency and help build a better and brighter future for the North Country.”

During his tenure as an APA board member, Hall has chaired the Public Awareness and Communication and Economic Affairs committees. He has also served on the Local Government Services and Park Policy and Planning committees.

In the statement, Hall said he was “pleased and honored” for the chairmanship. He thanked Hochul for the opportunity, and for her “outstanding support for the Adirondack Park and its communities.”

“The Adirondack Park Agency has grown under her leadership and today is well-positioned to achieve its mission,” he added. “From my earliest days, I have devoted my life to serving this Park and its people. I look forward to working with my colleagues and all stakeholders to ensure that the Agency continues its dual commitment to protecting the environment and supporting communities.”

APA Executive Director Barbara Rice said the agency was “thrilled” by Hochul’s decision to promote Hall to board chair.

“Mr. Hall has consistently brought strong leadership to the board since his appointment in 2020,” Rice said in a statement. “We look forward to his continued contributions.”

Hall previously served on the town of Fine’s board for 13 years, eight of which as town supervisor. During his tenure there, he oversaw an environmental cleanup effort to remove hazardous waste and industrial blight at a former iron ore facility near the town, according to the news release. He also helped improve rural telecommunication and broadband coverage and secured Local Waterfront Revitalization Program and Smart Growth state grants for Fine.

He currently serves as Fine’s Water Superintendent and is a certified water operator. In 2019, he led an $8.4-million water system infrastructure improvement project for the town, which was awarded “Project of the Year” by the American Water Works Association.

He also serves as a board member for the St. Lawrence County IDA and the Development Authority of the North Country, according to the press release, which added that Hall previously held board roles with the Adirondack Park Local Government Review Board, the Adirondack Association of Towns and Villages and the Clifton-Fine Hospital.

Hall’s selection returns the APA chair position to an Adirondack Park resident, as had historically been the case prior to Ernst’s designation. Though Ernst’s primary residence is in Manhattan, he and his wife, Margot, own Elk Lake Lodge and its surrounding lands in the town of North Hudson. In 1963, Elk Lake became the first and one of the most ecologically significant state conservation easement arrangements in the Adirondacks.

Of the 11 APA board seats, eight are appointed by the governor and require state Senate confirmation, with five of those reserved for in-park residents and three for out-of-park residents. The other three seats are held by designees of the state Department of State, state Department of Environmental Conservation and Department of Economic Development.

Along with Hall, the current in-park board members are Art Lussi, of Essex County; Daniel Wilt, of Hamilton County; Rush Holt, of Clinton County and Zoe Smith, of Franklin County. Out-of-park members are Benita Law-Diao, of Albany County; Jose Almanzar, of Nassau County and Kenneth Lynch, of Onondaga County. Matthew Tebo, Joe Zalewski and Stephen Hunt are the three department designees, respectively.

The APA is a state agency formed in 1971 that is tasked with land use management for both public and private lands within the Adirondack Park, including land use zoning and permitting for certain types of development. It has 54 staff members and is currently headquartered in Ray Brook, though the agency is contemplating a move to Saranac Lake.