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Highlands Today

Brantley To Quit Lake Placid Town Council

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By BILL RETTEW JR.

Highlands Today

Published: August 22, 2008

LAKE PLACID - Two-time Lake Placid Town Councilman Bill Brantley is calling it quits.

He intends to officially resign from the town council at Tuesday's special budget meeting.

Brantley is the senior member of the four-member board. He was elected to two four-year terms and served as a council member for more than six years. His term ends April 2010.

His family is moving less than three miles away, but they will reside outside the town's borders, which is forcing him to give up his seat on council, Brantley said Monday.

The family plans to occupy a temporary home on Lake Placid until Brantley's custom residential home building company constructs the new family home on Holmes Avenue.

The self-described fiscal conservative wants to "do that country thing." He hopes to move to a nine-acre property, next to a 1,000-acre preserve where his wife, Denise, might ride horses.

The 38-year-old with two children, 3 and 6, hopes to spend more time coaching Little League football, soccer and T-ball.

Brantley and Lake Placid Mayor Tom Katsanis have clashed publicly before but Katsanis gave Brantley his due.

Wednesday, Katsanis said Brantley was "very mouthy and he didn't hold back words," but added that the retiring vice-mayor made Lake Placid a better place.

"He's kind of hard on some people, but his heart is there for Lake Placid," said Katsanis. "Sometimes I didn't agree with what he said, but I respect his opinion."

Fellow Councilman Ray Royce said Brantley "speaks his mind and looks out for the citizen's best interest. I think he'll be sorely missed."

The town council might select a replacement as soon as Tuesday. Arleen Tuck, town clerk, said Thursday that a simple council vote will decide who fills the vacancy to finish Brantley's unexpired term.

Brantley suggested Carol Smart, a longtime LPA member and two-time council candidate, as a possible replacement.

"It would be nice to see a woman on council," said Brantley.

Both Royce and Katsanis hope any new member would come from anywhere but the Lake June Point neighborhood, where all three current council members reside.

Lynn Connelly is another possible contender.

She ran for a council seat in April. Although she lost, she was a strong third-place finisher.

Wednesday, she said she still wants to officially represent the town as a downtown resident and worker.

"It would be my pleasure and an honor to represent the residents of Lake Placid if appointed by our mayor and town council," said Connelly.

If Don Bates, county commissioner, chooses not to run in the 2010 election, Brantley said he would consider running for the job.

"I won't be gone for long," said Brantley. "I'll be back in politics. I wouldn't rule out county commissioner or some board."

Brantley said his achievements as a councilman and a member of the town council were bringing downtown improvements, beautification, being on the Keep Lake Placid Beautiful Committee, water reuse, preservation of the town's police department and helping to preserve the small-town atmosphere.

He also worked to keep taxes lower, control large-scale housing growth and worked to limit the number of planned age-restricted subdivisions, he said.

Bill Rettew Jr. may be contacted at 386-5857 or wrettew@highlandstoday.com

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