To the editor:

Fred Balzac is a Green Party candidate for Saranac Lake village trustee on Wednesday, March 18. (The day before is St. Patrick’s Day, when people will be wearing green, not voting Green.) He wants a moratorium on waterfront development, although he likes the new Saranac Waterfront Lodge on Lake Flower! He also wants more solar and wind projects.

First, the new hotel is at the maximum allowable height for a wood frame building. Secondly, it is too large for its site, which any greenhorn can easily see since there isn’t much green on the site. Third, after-the-fact moratoriums are a green delusion!

The state has a siting board for wind and solar projects that may observe or waive local laws. The board usually waives project specific laws. So Harrietstown had best adopt a reasonable law immediately if Lee Keet’s 22-acre project hasn’t been formally submitted. The state Association of Towns can provide a reasonable model code if the town doesn’t have one.

Keet’s idea of turning the project over to a not-for-profit (NFP) is a noble but bad idea. NFPs usually lose money. For-profit businesses, like the Village Mercantile (formerly known as the Community Store), at least try to make money for their shareholders (although I haven’t seen any yet!).

Lastly, Balzac is running against incumbents Rich Shapiro and Tom Catillaz. Rich and his wife, Franklin County Legislator Lindy Ellis, helped build the Saranac Lake Skateboard Park. Tom is a homeboy in the best sense of the term. He would rather hang out at the Department of Public Works than go to a formal reception. He is honest, frank, even-tempered and a good listener!

See you in green on St. Patrick’s Day and at the polls the next day.

Paul Herrmann

Saranac Lake