The head of the state-owned Belleayre Mountain Ski Center has been dismissed - that decision by the DEC leaves many questions... Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Dave Lucas reports
An official with the state Department of Environmental Conservation says Tony Lanza was fired - and that's all they'll say. Lanza gone from his post
he's held for more than a decadeat the helm of the Bellayre Ski Center.
The DEC runs Belleayre, but New York State is in the process of transferring that responsibility to ORDA, the Olympic Regional Development Authority which operates the Gore and Whiteface Mountain ski areas in the Adirondacks.
The ORDA takeover of Belleayre has been somewhat of a nail-biter: early this year the New York State Assembly adopted a new budget that called for Belleayre to remain under state control. The said deal was saved by the Republican-controlled Senate, which supported the idea originally proposed by Governor Andrew Cuomo, including in the final budget deal.
Lanza could not be reached for comment, and ORDA did not return calls for comment. In 2007, Lanza was under scrutiny as pat of a conflict of interest investigation by the state Inspector General’s Office. There is apparently no public record of any disciplinary action taken against Lanza at that time.
There has been no word as to who will replace Tony Lanza - Belleayre had no one available for comment.
DEC spokesperson Lisa King responded to requests for comment by email, stating - quote - "Mr. Lanza was dismissed. DEC is in possession of information that warrants Mr. Lanza's dismissal. As this is a personnel matter, we cannot provide more information." When reached by telephone, she would not comment further.
