Zarrillo & DeAngelo Re-elected as G.L. Commission Co-Chairs

By A.J. Arias

The Greenwood Lake Commission re-elected Floyd DeAngelo and Paul Zarrillo as the New York and New Jersey co-chairs during their first meeting of 2021. Zarrillo had previously resigned from the role back in August but showed interest in returning as co-chair during last month’s meeting. 

Both men were unopposed and received unanimous consent from the Commission for their re-elections. The Commission is facing multiple challenges as funding was cut from several bodies due to budget cuts from the COVID-19 pandemic. DeAngelo and Zarrillo both seemed dedicated to jump back into their projects as co-chairs leading into the New Year.

HABs Prevention

  The Commission’s January meeting was centered on listening to three presentations from companies proposing different Harmful Algal Bloom (HABs) treatment and prevention programs. Sis Bio, Solitude, and Ever Blue Lakes were the three companies that showed their own unique ways on tackling the challenge.  

  The Commission posed the same questions to each company that were crafted by the Commission’s New York Department of Environmental Conservation and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection representatives. The questions were geared to understand the scientific methods for each program and to make sure they were compliant with the laws of both states. 

Although being unique in their own ways each company stated that they needed to understand more about the lake itself and its specific issues to determine their plan for treatment and prevention. Each stated that could use the data that already exists from different groups regarding the lake instead of requiring additional studies.

   The Commission will select the company for the program in the coming weeks once they review the answers from each company and their economic costs.

Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on Wed., Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. on Zoom. For information about the meeting visit the Commission’s website at GWLC.org. The Commission will additionally be hosting a public hearing on Tues., Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. via Zoom about this year’s potential drawdown.  

The Greenwood Lake Commission is pictured during their monthly meeting (top row, from left) are: Secretary Allison Wagner, Jonathan Brett, NY Co-Chair Floyd DeAngelo, & New Jersey Co-Chair Paul Zarrillo; (middle row, from left): treasurer Dale VanNimwgen, Catherine Ahlers, Jonathan Graham, & George Vurno; (bottom row, from left): Eric Paine, A Sis Bio Representative, & Eric Hastings.