AMP Seeking Letters Of Support

LISBON -The Alliance for Municipal Power wants town supervisors and mayors to send letters of support to the governor to ensure the legal frame work for the North Country Power Authority is signed as soon as possible.

AMP Chairman Robert C. Best visited the Lisbon Town Board at the regularly scheduled meeting to update and inform the board of recent accomplishments and future plans.

AMP has been working for approximately 18 years to create a municipality run power company that can provide power to 24 towns and villages throughout St. Lawrence and Franklin counties.

Mr. Best said the dream is quickly approaching reality as the state Senate and Assembly have both supported the creation of the agency.

Mr. Best said the bill that would allow the creation of the North Country Power Authority (NCPA) has passed the Assembly and Senate months ago but still awaits ink from Gov. David A. Paterson.

He said in the coming weeks Sen. Darrel J. Aubertine is expected to bring the bill to Mr. Paterson and that letters from local municipalities explaining why they support the bill would be helpful.

"We want all of the supervisors and mayors that are members of AMP to express why this is important to them. We want as many as we can get," Mr. Best said.

Once the bill is signed, the next step will be creating a control board for the agency. He said the 24 towns and villages have been divided into seven regions and each region will be represented by a board member of their choice. Mr. Best said two more members would be appointed by the governor. All members of the board must live with in the towns or villages that are part of the NCPA.

Mr. Best estimated that once under way, the NCPA will employ 35 people including linemen and clerical positions.

Town Supervisor James W. Armstrong commended Mr. Best for his work over the past 16 years and agreed to send a letter of support when the time comes.

"I know you've been at this for a long time and we appreciate it," he said.