PHOTO OP... It may have been held indoors for the first time in years, but that didn't stop everyone from enjoying themselves immensely at the Onteora High School graduation on June 24...

By Brian Powers
            In the ongoing conference to identify which issues connected with the proposed Belleayre Resort will be later dealt with in trial "type hearings, the Catskill Preservation Coalition's expert witness lineup continued to pound away at the proposal, while in the lead item of procedural news, presiding Judge Wissler has denied the CPC's motion to force his agency to release expansion plans for its Belleayre Mountain Ski Area, contiguous with the proposed resort.


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CWT Clarifies
            Seeking to clarify or reverse an apparent position by the Coalition of Watershed Towns backing the proposed Belleayre Resort, its counsel, Jeff Baker, said at the project's hearings last week that  "We are here in this process not either in favor of, or in opposition to the Crossroads Ventures proposal, but simply to protect the broader interests of the watershed communities."
            Baker's comment at the resort's hearings was made the morning after a heated June 21 CWT meeting dominated by the subject, whose tone was set by Olive Councilman Bruce LaMonda: "Quite a long time ago you said we weren't going to take a position on this thing. I don't think we should take a position on any particular project. Our mission is to keep the DEP in line," said LaMonda. "We should be a neutral group on this."
            Noted but not read into the record by Chairman Pat Meehan at the meeting's outset were comments highly critical of the coalition's recent resolution on the project from Hardenburgh Supervisor Jerry Fairbairn, and reflecting similar comments from Marbletown Supervisor Vincent Martello. "We find it ludicrous" wrote Fairbairn "that the committee would consider this resolution without majority support from its membership-We strongly oppose any CWT resolution that specifically supports any individual economic entity whatsoever-We strongly feel that this resolution supporting Crossroads Ventures individually exceeds the parameters of the CWT's mission and its long-term goals."
            As to the source of any other misperception of the organization's position,  "I'm sure I gave the wrong impression," coalition co-counsel Kevin Young told the  CWT meeting, referring to remarks he'd made at the resort hearings.  "I apologize for that." The following day at the hearings, Baker also clarified that "the CWT is not taking any position on the issue of alternatives."

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