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Lake Group Should Include Non-Elected Officials

The Chautauqua County Legislature is due to vote Wednesday to create a Chautauqua Lake Protection and Rehabilitation Agency.

The agency itself has no power or authority and exists only to look into the possibility of forming a lake district. In essence, the new agency is the county’s way of dipping its toe into the water of a new taxing and regulatory district without diving in headfirst.

According to a resolution discussed by the Audit and Control Committee last week, the agency will have nine members — two county legislators representing legislative districts bordering Chautauqua Lake which will be appointed by the chairman of the County Legislature; three town elected officials representing the towns bordering Chautauqua Lake appointed by the county executive; two village elected officials from villages bordering Chautauqua Lake appointed by the county executive. one property owner from the vicinity of Chautauqua Lake to be appointed by the county executive; and one member representing Chautauqua Institution that will be appointed by the county executive.

Creating the agency to discuss the formation of a lake district makes sense — but not as constituted in the resolution. The nine-member group is almost entirely elected officials. It would be better, in our view, if the county increased the number of non-elected officials appointed to the agency. The Chautauqua Lake Partnership and Bemus Bay property owners are proof that there are property owners concerned about the health of the lake and their property values. Their voices should be included in any agency that will have a role in making decisions about Chautauqua Lake and about the taxes those living in the vicinity of Chautauqua Lake will pay.

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