Comprehensive plan review continues; town attorney urges caution on Ridge Runners/National Grid trail lease

Steering Committee member Steve Salamone updated the Little Falls Town Board on the draft comprehensive plan at the May 12 meeting, saying MVEDD Planner Sara Bouillon wants any additions or changes submitted as soon as possible. Salamone said the planning board must complete a GML 239 form and the town board must approve the draft to send to the Herkimer-Oneida County Planning Board; after that step the town must hold a public hearing to solicit input.

Board members later raised substantive questions about the draft’s survey-result numbers. Councilmen Kirk Schwasnick and Mitch Soules and Town Attorney Nick Macri questioned the figures reported for resident views on solar projects; Macri said he believed the numbers differed from an original report by Ms. Mueller and said he would review the original document in his office.

Separately, Attorney Macri reported he had received Ridge Runners Snowmobile Club’s draft trail lease with National Grid and said he strongly recommends the board read the agreement thoroughly. He noted the draft was prepared by National Grid’s attorneys and said he is not sure what potential liabilities the town might be assuming if it signs the lease; he specifically raised questions about whether Ridge Runners would indemnify, hold harmless and insure the town and asked whether neighboring municipalities (Manheim and Fairfield) had signed similar agreements. The board tabled the matter to give members time to review the lease and asked Supervisor Casler to determine whether the other municipalities have signed.

The comprehensive plan matter remains active but no board action was taken at the May 12 meeting; the planning and legal reviews requested would be completed before any public hearing or board approval.

The board’s next regular meeting is June 9, 2026, when the comprehensive plan and the Ridge Runners lease could return to the agenda.