Most residents were upset about the state Department of Environmental Conservation’s management proposal. The town had originally operated the beach for decades through a memorandum of understanding with the DEC, but during the pandemic, the beach closed. The town alerted DEC that it would not reopen it.
The town’s notice has left DEC staff with the job of telling residents if there’s no one to manage it, there will be no beach.
Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh, R-Ballston, and a representative from state Sen. Mark Walczyk’s office, R-Watertown, were at Tuesday night’s meeting. They said they would be taking notes and hearing from constituents.
No one from the Broadalbin Town Board attended and the town offices were closed Wednesday. The town’s attorney Anthony Casale said Wednesday the town’s leadership had changed. Former Supervisor Bruce VanGenderen resigned earlier this year due to health issues. Deputy Supervisor Doug Kissinger took his place. Kissinger was on vacation, Casale said.
Casale said the town board “has no intent of revisiting the issue of reopening the town beach at any time in the immediate future.” While he did not have specifics, Casale said the cost of patrolling the beach was too much. Town officials sought funding assistance from Fulton County, but Casale said that was unsuccessful.
In a presentation, DEC officials said they, too, did not have the resources to manage a public beach.
Josh Clague, Adirondack coordinator for the DEC, said the proposed management plan would likely see some changes after DEC reviewed comments, but added no public comments received thus far had included anyone else taking over the beach operations. The plan could be approved as early as the end of May. DEC staff said something would have to be done before the summer, and that amendments could always be made to…
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