Hunter July Board Meeting Highlights

By Max Oppen

TANNERSVILLE — The Town of Hunter Board convened on July 23 to discuss various community matters and developments. Key points from the meeting are summarized below.

The EMS monthly report highlighted 49 calls, including 19 Advanced Life Support (ALS) calls. The police report for June included:

111 calls

Five arrests with seven charges levied

59 non-criminal complaints

52 traffic tickets

55 parking tickets

"It seems to be working," commented Sergeant Haines regarding towing on the mountain road.

Sergeant Haines addressed the staffing situation for the Laurel House Road parking lot, noting, "They're not super excited about it," referring to the two assistant rangers. With only three full-time Rangers in Greene County, one is permanently assigned to North/South Lake. Haines also mentioned volunteers from the Catskill Center, led by Jeff Senterman, who have been effective at trailheads in Platte Clove. "We haven't had any issues there, which is good," Haines said.

Councilperson Ernie Reale raised concerns about the impound lot size at Town Hall, which affects an upcoming stone carving event led by Kevin VanHentenryck. Haines and Supervisor Sean Mahoney discussed reducing the lot size, with Mahoney noting that Town Highway Superintendent Robert Blain is amenable to the change.

Councilperson Dolph Semenza noted the significant trash buildup around Fawn's Leap. Haines reported that the Town was not towing during the week and highlighted the difficulty of enforcing the cliff-jumping ban. "Unfortunately, nobody is paying attention to the [ban] on cliff jumping. I've seen tons of people there," he said.

Haines also observed more people using the Trolley to reach swimming holes and Kaaterskill Falls. Both Haines and Reale recounted seeing a woman in a wheelchair being lifted over the guard rail at Fawn's Leap, emphasizing the need for better safety measures.

The state has placed signage banning cliff jumping at Fawn's Leap around the area, including fines for littering. Having spoken to an anonymous source who was cliff jumping a few weeks ago, this source said that despite his cliff jumping and others in front of a state Forest Ranger, they were not fined.

Village of Tannersville councilperson George Kelly expressed frustration over littering at the area's swimming holes and asked about fines. Mahoney stated it was a $500 fine, but Reale pointed out the enforcement challenges due to the limited ranger presence. "We were supposed to have six rangers in this area, now we have only three," Reale said.

The Board discussed purchasing a new police vehicle and approved a motion to buy a Dodge Durango not exceeding $41,000. Body cameras for officers were also considered, with Haines presenting a quote from Axon for a 4-5-year contract at $26,544.36 for four cameras. The Board voted to proceed with Axon, highlighting its comprehensive system and seamless integration.

For June, the Town received nine building permit applications and four Short-Term Rental (STR) permits. Code Enforcement Officer Rose Santiago noted that STR permit applications seemed to be "simmering down." The Town is drafting a letter to address STR law violations.

The Board acknowledged the resignations of three police officers: Andrew Poladian, Richard Ryan, and Joseph Murray. Mahoney commented on the normalcy of staff transitions and expressed gratitude for their service. Supervisor Mahoney said of the resignations, "Most of these officers have not performed shifts in some time. Each of these individuals has other full-time commitments that limit their availability to serve Hunter's needs. While staff transitions are a normal part of any organization, we remain grateful for their service and wish them all the best in their future endeavors." Additionally, John Ferguson was reappointed to the Grievance Board for a five-year term ending in 2029, and Marquis Williams was approved for active membership with Lanesville's H.D. Lane Volunteer Fire Company.

Greene County secured a $25,000 grant for the Kaaterskill Rail Trail, for which Mahoney thanked them. The Mountain Top Historical Society requested $5,000 for general operations, but Mahoney clarified this as a budget consideration rather than an immediate check. Reale suggested the Society implement a reliable parking fee system.

The Town of Hunter Board continues to address community needs and improvements, balancing immediate concerns with long-term planning.