Inspector General’s Office received a letter concerning “corruption” in September, according to state data
By Gwendolyn Craig
The New York Inspector General’s Office dispatched multiple agents to the Adirondack Park Agency’s headquarters in Ray Brook last week, the Adirondack Explorer has learned, but it is unclear for what purpose.
The Inspector General received a letter concerning the APA and “corruption” in September, according to state data.
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John Ernst, chairman of the APA, said he was aware of the visit but told the Explorer he didn’t know what prompted it. He referred questions to APA spokesman Keith McKeever.
“Such matters, if any, are conducted confidentially,” McKeever said, “and the Adirondack Park Agency can neither confirm nor deny the details of the information requested.”
A representative of the New York State Public Employees Federation confirmed that the Inspector General’s Office was interviewing people recently at Ray Brook.
Monday afternoon, the Inspector General’s Office responded that “(i)n the interest of maintaining the confidentiality of complainants, witnesses, and subjects of any allegations, we do not confirm or deny the existence of any investigations unless and until a finding of wrongdoing is made. All such findings are codified in writing, and since November of 2021 those materials are released to the public, and will continue to be going forward.” Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
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The APA is one of the smallest state agencies, with a full-time staff of 54. It has some vacancies including its top counsel, who resigned last year. Associate Counsel Sarah Reynolds has been taking lead in the interim. The agency was created in 1971 and oversees long-range planning for the 6-million-acre mix of public and private lands that make up the Adirondack Park. It has an 11-member board that generally meets monthly.
The Office of the Inspector General is responsible for investigating “complaints concerning allegations of corruption, fraud, criminal activity, conflicts of interest or abuse” in all state agencies and departments, according to its website. “The Inspector General provides procurement and contract management monitoring, and investigates allegations of fraud and abuse.”
The Inspector General’s Office raided the APA in 2005 after it was discovered former APA Executive Director Daniel Fitts had what was described as inappropriate or pornographic images on his work computer, as did four other APA employees. Fitts resigned soon after.
Top photo: The Adirondack Park Agency’s headquarters are in Ray Brook. The agency is studying a potential relocation to downtown Saranac Lake. Photo by Gwendolyn Craig
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Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include the response from the New York Inspector General’s Office.
The DEC and APA with State Museum are Hiding Tons of Files and Records. They are refuse to obey the FOIL Laws and are actively Hiding submerged Indian Site records and Information especially at My Family’s Lands at East Lake George
Judson Witham
Let’s guess who is behind it. The parties that for months has been accusing the APA of corruption. I don’t thing we have to look very far who the letter came from.
Whenever one political party dominates a government it seems criminality just increases.
Karma.
Why don’t they head next door to the NYSP next…