June7, 2011

The HonorableAndrew M. Cuomo

Govemorof New York State
NYS StateCapitolBuilding
Albany,New York 12224

HonorableGovemorCuomo:

We the undersigned,consistingof all the Board of the North CountryPowerAuthority,

exceptfor the Chairman,arewriting to expressour concemsaboutthe chairmanof our_
Board,Mr. JamesMonroeandhis actionsin his capacityaschairman.We believethat
his actionsaredetrimentalto the point that he shouldbe removedas chair andfrom the
NCPA Board entirely. We bring this to your attentionbecause,as Govemor,you make
all appointmentsto this Board.

As chairmanof the Board,Mr. Monroehasdemonstratednegativeand divisive

leadershipwhich hasfrozen any type of future successfor the Authority. Mr. Monroe's
conducthasrcsultedin a repeatedbreachof confidentiality severelycompromisingour
negotiatingpowers. His unethicalbehaviorand commentsto the Boardmembersdirectly
violateshis oath of office. As an example,the chair actuallysentto the pressa
confidentialmemorandumfrom our attomeyand addressedonly to the Board.

Further,Mr. Monroehasusurpedthe power ofthe Board,taking over the day to day

operationsand decisionmaking. Lastweek Mr. Momoe requestedfrom the 24
municipalities,which were instrumentalin advocatingfor the legislationwhich created
this Authodty, operatingfunds,fundswhich the municipalitiesarerefusingto make
availableunderthe currentstateof affairs. No other Board membereverauthorizedsuch
action,nor werethey evenconsulted.Underthe presentcircumstances, we would not
agreeto suchaction.

Given ChairmanMonroe's blatantdisregardfor the statutesgoveminghis conductasa

memberof the North CountryPowerAuthority, including repeatedlytaking independent
actionwithout any Boardknowledge,we stronglyurgeyou to considerremovinghim as
a memberof the NCPA Board. Even if oneis actingwith the mostnoble of intentions,
the appearanceof improprietyis so greatthat it taints not only our actionsto date,but
jeopardizesthe goal ofthe Authority, to bring municipal electricpower to the 24
Municipalities.

Mr. Monroe'sstatements to thepress,to the Board'sappointedattorneys,andto the

AMP communitieshavenot beenauthorizedby the full NCPA Board,havebeen
inflammatory,anddo not reflect the views or the factsas seenby the other Board
members.His disregardfor his colleagueswas shownwhen BoardmemberGaleasked
Mr. Monroeto be specificandsharehis alternateplan of action andnamethe firm thal
waswilling to work on a contingencybasisandMr. Monroereplied"I owe you
absolutelynothing" when Galestatedthat he at leastowed us that information. This has
beenthe attitudesincethe initial meetingof the Board,andthe remainingmemberssee
no likelihood of a positive change.He hasutterly alienatedthe Alliance for Municipal
Power,the organizationconsistingofall the 24 municipalitiesmentionedabove,aswell
as,the attomeys,the engineerandthe Iinancial advisor.

This stateof affairs will now continuefor the immediatefuture. A well regardedBoaxd
membersenthis resignationto you recently,whichwe believewasa directconsequence
of his frustrationwith the unethicalbehaviorof Mr. Monroe. As only five appointments
hadbeenmadeto this nine memberAuthoritv Board.onlv four remainandno flrther
businesscanbe conducted.

On behalfof the communitiesin St. Lawrenceand Franklin Countieswhich we, in a very

real senserepresont,we believethat the futwe of the North CountryPowerAuthority
shouldnot be developedby one individual behindcloseddoorsandwith no regardfor the
othermembersof the duly appointedBoard. Affordable andreliable energyis our future
andwe urge you, GovemorCuomo,to removeChairmanMonroefrom office
immediatelyandfully evaluatethe needsof the NCPA communities. We askthat you
expeditethe processof consideringthe other four candidatescurrently designatedor
recommended to the rmfilled Board positions.

Sincerelv.

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CindvGale.NCPA BoardMember
FredMorrill, NCPA BoardMember
Marie Regan,NCPA BoardMember

cc: StevenCohen,Secretaryto the Govemor

Mylan Denerstein,Counsel
JudgeLeslieG. Leach,AppointmentSecretary
Director of NYS Authorities BudgetOffice
CounselofNYS Authorities BudgetOffice
RobertMegna,DirectorNYS Divisionof Budget