Franklin reps nix NCCC move

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July 13, 2007

Legislators pledge to help renovate, but say no new campus

By DENISE A. RAYMO The Press Republican Fri Jul 13, 2007, 07:53 AM EDT

MALONE -- Franklin County made it official Thursday: It is opposed to any action that would move the main campus of North Country Community College out of Saranac Lake.

As the legislators unanimously passed the measure opposing a move farther into Essex County, members offered to look at any future plans the college might have for phased-in financial support to repair and renovate sub-par buildings.

The college -- which is now billing itself the North Country College of Essex and Franklin in its advertisements -- has considered buying the former Upstate Biotech campus in Lake Placid and spending $52 million to renovate it.

It says it is out of space at the Saranac Lake campus and that the buildings there are old, non-compliant and in great need of extensive upgrades, which could cost up to $62 million.

But the move to Lake Placid would need the approval of both the Essex County Board of Supervisors and the Franklin County Legislature because they are the college's sponsors.

The Town of Harrietstown, the Village of Saranac Lake, the Saranac Lake Chamber of Commerce and the Brighton Town Council have already gone on record opposing the move, and legislators joined the list Thursday during their regular board meeting.

Members stressed that none of them are opposed to education or to the college itself, and Legislator Timothy Burpoe (D-Saranac Lake) said the resolution's text shows how much the college means to the North Country and the communities it serves.

He said the college was created 40 years ago to educate college-age and non-traditional students so they could find work or retrain for a different career.

HOUSING, COMMUTE

But some say the college has gotten away from that mission and is concentrating more on attracting out-of-county and out-of-state students, who pay higher fees to attend.

"It has a huge impact to the Tri-Lakes and Saranac Lake, in particular," Burpoe said of the college. "We really believe in the community college, but the direction it has proposed to go is heading in the wrong direction.

"Saranac Lake's main campus is Saranac Lake," he said. "To entertain an idea of moving the campus wholly or in portions to Lake Placid would be inappropriate and counterproductive for students."

He said they would either have to drive to Lake Placid to attend classes or find housing in the Lake Placid area, which is already scarce and costly.

CAMPUS CONDITIONS

Paul Maroun (R-Tupper Lake) said he has not heard from one person who thinks the move into Essex County is a wise one, adding that the board was not aware the existing campus was in such rough shape.

"We've never been notified that the problems were so bad we had to get a new campus," he said, adding that a new roof was mentioned and upgrades to the telephone system.

"This was something that didn't come out of the blue and happen," Maroun said. "No one ever told us it needs work."

He said the college could come up with a workable plan to renovate and repair the existing buildings.

In its resolution, the legislators stated that the college "is a significant contributor to the quality of life of the people of both counties" and that it "represents an economic impact of more than $60 million to the region and has created jobs and brought young people to the Village of Saranac Lake."

A draft copy of a campus site analysis completed by the college was presented to legislators; it called for the new campus.

Essex County supervisors tabled their vote on the move last week, saying they wanted to wait until the final report was ready in mid-May.

But Franklin County adopted the resolution that states that the legislature "pledges to do what it can after reviewing and approving a multi-year construction plan to be submitted to the State University of New York to assist in the reconstruction of this site" and will "only consider a multi-year plan that keeps (NCCC) in its current Saranac Lake location."

draymo@pressrepublican.com