99 NEWS FOR SATURDAY, 4/21/12

NORTH COUNTRY POWER AUTHORITY BOARD NOT YET FILLED, "AMP" SEEKS TO JUMP-START APPOINTMENTS-- NCPA board member and Potsdam Town Supervisor Marie Regan told the Town Council this week the work of the board charged with creating a public electric utility for its member communities remains on hold until Governor Cuomo appoints at least one more member to make a necessary five-member quorum out of nine total seats. The crucial fifth seat became vacant last year when Dr. Bob Buns, a former Potsdam Village Administrator, left over a dispute with other board members over the disclosure of what he feels is proprietary information related to the hiring of a law firm. The Alliance for Municipal Power (AMP) will meet next month to start the push for Cuomo to make at least one more NCPA board appointment. The Town and Village of Potsdam both support the appointment of Clarkson University professor Dr. Stephen Bird to the seat vacated by Burns. The Town Council voted Tuesday to appoint Wade Davis to AMP so he can speak at next month's meeting as the town's representative. Davis served as AMP's Vice Chairman. AMP was the group that pushed for the legislation in Albany to form the Authority to be passed by the legislature and signed into law by then-Governor David Paterson.