For Immediate Release: August 6, 2013
Contact:
Keith P. McKeever | Public Relations | Adirondack Park Agency
contact@apa.ny.gov | (518) 891-4050
RAY BROOK, NY - The Adirondack Park Agency will welcome two new Board members to the Agency during this week's monthly Board meeting. In June, the New York State Senate confirmed Governor Andrew M. Cuomo's nominations of Karen Feldman and Daniel Wilt. The Senate also re-confirmed the Governor's nomination of Leilani Crafts Ulrich to serve as Chairwoman of the Adirondack Park Agency. Leilani Crafts Ulrich was the first woman to serve as Chair of the Adirondack Park Agency when Governor Cuomo nominated her for this distinction in November 2011.
"This is an exciting time for the Adirondacks and Chairwoman Ulrich is the right person to lead the Adirondack Park Agency," APA Executive Director Terry Martino said. "She has a unique ability to find common ground among diverse interest groups. Under her leadership dialogue has led to progress historic patterns of often heated interaction have been replaced with a willingness to collaborate to improve the economic outlook for Park communities while staying true to the APA Act. I have no doubt that she will continue to balance protection of our natural wonders while promoting economic opportunity throughout this magnificent Park," she concluded.
Chairwoman Ulrich stated, "I am truly honored and humbled to serve the Adirondack Park at this moment in time. It is a privilege to be confirmed by the New York Senate and I thank Governor Cuomo for this opportunity. The Adirondack Park has benefited from Governor Cuomo's substantial support. We live, work and recreate in one of the worlds greatest treasures and I believe with our strong partnerships we will continue to accomplish great things." Leilani Crafts Ulrich was first appointed to the APA Board in 2004. She chaired the Regulatory Programs and Park Ecology committees before being nominated as Chairwoman of the Adirondack Park Agency by Governor Cuomo in November of 2011. In 2006, Ms. Ulrich co-founded the Adirondack Common Ground Alliance (CGA). The Alliance convenes diverse groups from across the Adirondacks each summer and first published the "Blue Print for the Blueline."
Karen Feldman is an attorney with 30 years of legal experience in corporate, real estate, entertainment and sports matters. She provides legal, financial, and business consulting services to small entrepreneurial companies. Ms. Feldman serves on the Board of Directors of the New York State Humane Society. She is a volunteer ski and golf instructor for the Wounded Warrior Projects Adaptive Sports Foundation. Ms. Feldman is also a member of the Adirondack Landowners Association. She resides in Columbia County and enjoys spending time at her Adirondack camps in Essex and Hamilton County.
Since 1980, Daniel Wilt has operated Wilt Industries, Inc. in the village of Lake Pleasant, Hamilton County. Wilt Industries manufactures state of the art equipment for the Semiconductor, Glass, Fiber Optics, Scientific Glassblowing, Chemistry, Environmental and Ceramic industries. Presently, Mr. Wilt is a North Country Economic Development Council member. He served on the Town of Arietta's Zoning Board of Appeals from 1984 2013. Mr. Wilt is a past member and President of the Piseco Common School District. He also served as an Emergency Medical Technician for the Piseco Ambulance Squad. He enjoys fishing, hunting, boating, and golf. Mr. Wilt resides in Hamilton County with his wife Kendal. They have three children.
"I am so grateful to Governor Cuomo and the Senate for ensuring the Agency has a full and balanced Board. We have significant deliberations ahead and I am eager for our newest Board Members to join with our veteran members to respectfully address the challenges and opportunities before us," Chairman Ulrich said. The Chairwoman also thanked long serving Board Members Cecil Wray and Frank Mezzano. She stated, "I deeply appreciate the years of selfless public service that Mr. Wray and Mr. Mezzano gave to the Adirondack Park and this Agency. For over a decade these gentlemen always brought their best to the table and worked tirelessly on behalf of the Adirondack Park. They will be missed."
The Adirondack Park Agency Board acts on Park policy issues and permit applications during monthly Agency meetings. The Board consists of eleven members. Eight members are nominated by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. Three additional members are established through the Adirondack Park Agency Act and consist of the Secretary of State, Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation and Commissioner of Empire State Development. Board members are appointed to four year terms which are staggered to ensure continuity. Members can serve on expired terms at the discretion of the Governor. The Board was created to represent the diverse interests of all the people of New York State. Five of the nominated eight members must reside inside the Park. Three members must reside outside the Park. Current Board Members are:
Board Member Seat -County Term
Chairwoman Leilani Ulrich In Park - Herkimer 6/30/16
Mr. Sherman Craig In Park - St. Lawrence 6/30/15
Mr. Arthur Lussi In Park -Essex 6/30/17
Mr. William Thomas In Park -Warren 6/30/14
Mr. Daniel Wilt In Park - Hamilton 6/30/15
Mr. Richard Booth Out Park - Tompkins 6/30/12
Ms. Karen Feldman Out Park - Columbia 6/30/14
Mr. Bill Valentino Out Park - Albany 6/30/13
Department of State: Secretary of State Cesar A. Perales Designee: Dierdre Scozzafava
Department of Environmental Conservation: Commissioner Joseph Martens Designees: Bob Stegeman, Judy Drabicki
Empire State Development: Commissioner Kenneth Adams Designee: Bradley Austin
The mission of the Adirondack Park Agency is to protect the public and private resources of the Adirondack Park through the exercise of the powers and duties of the Agency as provided by law. For more information, call the APA at (518) 891-4050 or visit www.apa.ny.gov.
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