(letters from March 2, 2006)

Dear Editor,
We would like to start this by thanking everyone for coming out and helping my family on Sunday, January 29th. This has been a very difficult time for us and it is nice to see so many people in the community come and support us.
To John Parate and The Boiceville Inn, Thank you for loaning us your restaurant for the night. Sorry that we stayed a lot longer than anticipated. Your support and generosity is very much appreciated and we will never forget your kindness. Your food was great.
To all the generous businesses who donated to our cause. Thank you for your generosity and support.
To "52", Tumbio Blue, Malley Bragg, Second Nature and John and the Generous Thief, Thank you so much for donating your time and talents. You were all wonderful.
To all our friends and family that came out on Sunday, thank you so much for your help and support, we could not do any of this without you.
We want to especially thank my mother, Pat Stroh, for everything that you have done. You have been there through everything, picking up when we could not bear it any more, being a shoulder to cry on and giving us the resources that we need in order to get our kids home, we could have gotten this far without you. Charlie, thank you for your love and support, you really are my Dad. I Love you two (Jessica).
We also want to Thank Dean Gitter for your wonderful offer of the house. It was a great idea, we are so sorry that it did not work out, but I will never forget your generosity.
There are so many people to that have been so very helpful to us it is hard to remember everyone, so Thank You to anyone we may have inadvertently missed. The past ten months have been very difficult for us and those of you that have been there for us since the beginning, Thank you.
Jessica and Ed Ryder
Phoenicia, NY

Dear Editor,
I would like to thank all of the volunteers who expended a great deal of time and energy to put a great benefit together for the Ryder Family on January 29th. I would especially like to thank John Parete for allowing us to use the Boiceville Inn, John’s staff, the musicians of “52”, Tumbio, Blue, The Malley Bragg Band, Second Nature and John & The Generous Thief who gave their time and talent to the cause, and Suzanne Colp whose boundless energy kept us all on task!
The response to my letter to the editor was overwhelming. My initial hesitance about submitting the letter and planning a benefit turned from fear to enthusiasm. I received so many calls from people willing to help. Beautiful items where donated and wonderful pieces of art were contributed by local artists for the silent auction.
The benefit was a huge success. Not only did we manage to raise enough funds to be truly beneficial to the cause but we also raised awareness of the dilemma facing a family stuck in a very discouraging situation.
With the continued support of our community, Legislator Peter Kraft, Legislators Brian Shapiro & Don Gregorious, Congressman Hinchey’s office, and the diligence of those working at RUPCO, the County of Ulster, and Town of Shandaken, I am hopeful that my daughter, son-in-law and three grandchildren will find their way home.
Again, thanks to all who volunteered their time, individuals and business owners who donated items for the Penny Social and Silent Auction and those who contributed to make the benefit a success. Sincerely,
Pat Stroh
Phoenicia, NY

Dear Editor,
I was home this afternoon about noon when I heard a truck pull down to the end of my road on Lane Street. It looked like a truck that was equipped to drill wells. There were two men in the truck and a third followed in a separate vehicle. They backed up to the edge of my driveway and started looking at plans and began to unload some equipment. Naturally, I went out to inquire about what they were doing. The one gentleman told me he was working for a company that was representing the Town of Shandaken with regards to doing soil sample testing for the pending construction of the new sewer lines that were going to be implemented some time in the near future. He said they were doing the tests to see what type of material they were going to have to dig through in order to lay the lines and thus help determine the cost based on what they find down below. The harder it is to dig and the more time consuming it is, the more it is going to cost. He said mostly it's a lot of large boulders and rock outcroppings followed by clay below. He said this had been the norm so far. I asked him who was paying for all of this. I wanted to know if the town had to foot this bill or if NYC was going to since this was all being done in order to protect "their" precious water supply. He said he believed the town was paying for the testing. I do not know if this is true or not. Regardless, what I do know is that once again, NYC is determining what can and can not be in the Catskill Mountains all in an effort that benefits no one but them. What was it they were going to pay towards this system? Something like eleven million dollars? And, the cost of the hook up is supposed to be born by the homeowner or business owner along with a yearly fee as well? What happened to the idea of putting it to a referendum? And forget all of that. Why should we as homeowners who have working septic systems without problems have to pay one red cent towards this project at all? Who does it ultimately benefit? Are we going to be reimbursed as this gentlemen whispered to me this afternoon? And if so to what extent? I don't recall reading anything about that anywhere. Are they going to have excess flush fees or some type of monitoring device to know how many times your toilet or dishwasher or shower is used just like the water meter? Any of us that have to take a shower or do dishes with the current chlorinated water system in Phoenicia already know how well the "new and improved" water plant works. You can barely get it to your face; and would you drink it? If that is any indication of what is to come you better buy stock in plungers and "RidX". The bottom line is when are we going to stop paying for things that ultimately only benefit the Big Apple? If they want the sewage treatment plant and for our homes to tie into it then THEY SHOULD PAY FOR ALL OF IT. I'm not sure why people from NYC come up here for second homes anymore because it seems more fiscally beneficial to move down there. When is it going to end?
Drue Lynch
Phoenicia, NY

Dear Editor,
Onteora’s budget process is well on its way and it’s adding up fast. As reported the district is looking to purchase two new buses. At a recent Board of Education meeting business administrator Victoria McLaren made her 2006/2007 budget presentation on transportation. McLaren said that the district needs a 30-passenger wheelchair bus and a 66-passenger bus. Total cost for both buses would be $156,000. If the voters of the district didn’t approve the purchase of the two new buses McLaren said that we would have to do more repairs and maintain them. As far as maintaining the buses that the school has now the new ones would also have to be maintained. McLaren assured the board that the vehicles pose no safety risk. Someone on the board should have asked what it would cost to repair and maintain the two buses that the district wants to get rid of. I don’t see how anyone can make an intelligent decision to spend that kind of money if one doesn’t have all the information to compare the cost of new buses to the cost of keeping the buses the school has now. Board President Dave Patterson asked about the possibility of leasing the wheelchair bus. That might be a good thing if the school was able to write off the leasing cost as a business would be able to do. I was not at the meeting so there may have been some other discussions regarding the buses. If you don’t attend the Board of Education meetings, you’re left out in the cold and you do not know very much about what’s really going on at the school. The published minutes of their meetings are very vague. Most of them contain nothing that’s very informative. The published minutes generally contain the names of who gave speeches and motions to accept lots resolutions made by the Superintendent of the school.
Occasionally there is some constructive information in the school boards published minutes. In recently published minutes under new business Trustee O’Connor said that she spoke to the Olive Press and the Phoenicia Times asking the papers about the possibility of the Board having a column in their papers to keep the public posted. That’s a good thing. But, guess what? It was agreed to be put on a future agenda. I guess the board wanted to go home early that night. The board might want to consider being a little more tax payer friendly.
William Warnecke
Glenford, NY

Dear Editor,
On Monday Feb. 13, 2006 Onteora Central Schools had a bid opening for the district’s transportation needs for the coming year. The bid opening this year was not for each run individually but for all routes lumped into one bid winner take all...
If good business sense dictates that it is beneficial to put all your eggs in one basket AND eliminate competitive bidding perhaps the district has done well. If not… get ready to pay the piper. Looking back over the past years, the district in the early 60' s did exactly the same thing. All transportation was awarded to Lakeview Transit. The move lasted 4 months, at which time the company could not maintain a large enough driving staff to meet it’s needs... nor could it maintain its fleet of buses to the requirements of NYS DOT regulations. It is interesting to note that in the 60’s all regulations were only a small fraction of what they are today. Lakeview’s fleet had fallen under such gross disrepair that the State DOT in a surprise inspection stripped the inspection stickers off the buses and put them out of service on the spot. This was done in the middle of a school day, if it were not for the contractors that we are now eliminating via a take all bid this district would have had parents coming to pick up their children. These are only some of the risks we will face if this bid is accepted at the next board meeting.
It is my understanding that the lowest bid submitted by Hoyt Transportation Inc was $500,000 more than we currently spend. The current price if all runs were to simply be extended with a state mandated percentage increase would only be approx. $150,000.
All of this sounds wonderful for the OCS Transportation Dep’t. It would merely have to oversee Hoyt transit, eliminating all the hands on control we have carefully established for over 50 years. The system and the bus drivers who have been so dedicated to our children’s safety will fade away. Is this what the people and the Board of Ed. really want?
I have worked for the OCS transportation system since 1967 — 28 years as a full time OCS bus driver and after retiring I now drive for Tonche Transit. There have been many times during the years when the OCS district has investigated alternatives to a multiple contractor-District owned operation. The first time they tried, it failed miserably. When it was from time to time investigated, it was determined that we already had the best system to service our needs.
I believe that a change of this magnitude should be presented to the public, with all facts and figures, both pro and con, presented at an open forum where all sides may be heard. All the district has now is the opinion of a consultant. It is my belief that the past history of the district operation has not figured sufficiently into his opinion as to what’s best for all concerned.
When you toss out the local contractors and they seek work elsewhere OR reduce their fleet OR go out of business… What prevents the next round of bidding from going sky high, since the competition is no longer present to control it?
The district has the option to reject the existing bid and re-bid all routes or extend the current routes as per state mandates. I suggest that they give serious thought to doing one of the above. Attendance at the next board meeting might not be a bad idea for anyone who feels that this move might not be in our best interest
Steve Stettine
Phoenicia, NY

Dear Editor,
Dean Gitter's recent letter asking how we would like the community of Shandaken to spend a portion of the eventual profit from the proposed Belleayre Resort, seems generous, conciliatory and inclusive. But it preempts important issues.
The future existence of the resort and its profitability is far from certain. And we need to remain cleqrly focussed what we might be exchanging for this pay-off.
Judge Wissler's thorough work distilling twelve points of adjudication for the environmental impact assessment for the resort, gives some indication of our potential deprivation. We have chosen to live in a uniquely beautiful and fragile, wild environment; to many of us it is clear that, along with the nourishment we receive, goes the responsibility to maintain these increasingly rare advantages for future generations. To have the nature of our area despoiled by a massive development with its attendent structures and activities, so that the area becomes as uninviting as many other developed parts of this country, cannot be compensated with money. We must not be distracted by Mr Gitter's offer from the potential damage that may be caused by building this resort — the environmental impact must be thoroughly investigated.
But a question has been raised on how we would like to spend resources in the community, and this is worth considering. Growth and development are essential human activities; for to be fully alive we need to expand and deepen our endeavors and take up the considerable challenges of our time.
I would like to see growth in fearless generosity arising out of our fortunate living conditions. Therefore the items on my wish list are large, as well as vital for our future.
As examples, I would like growth in:- quality health care for all; better education resources and opportunities for all normal and challenged children; rehabilitation and education for this country's embarrassingly large prison population; worthy employment for all and removal of poverty; support for businesses taking care of employees and customers, using the environment sustainably, and protecting soil, water, air, forests, wildernesses, and community harmony; environmental protection of unique natural areas; clean water, air and soil; improved disposal and recycling of waste, clean-up of pollution, and constructive information and laws related to the effects of pollution on health; information on consumer products allowing us to choose to avoid exploitation of people and environments; research on sustainable agriculture, environmental practices, and alternative energy sources; support for wisely creative artists, scientists and social planners; urban and other living spaces that promote rich community life; secure and accurate electoral systems with candidates obliged to voters rather than the wealthy "investors" in their campaigns; international diplomacy that increases national security.
Historically we have sought growth in, for example:- production of consumer goods by means which destroy environments and human societies; non-nutritious, exploitive foods; access to oil and the war that maintains it; reduction in costs of polluting to the businesses which profit from it; subsidies for unsustainable industries; people marginalized from the community; differences in lifestyle, health and life-expectations for the wealthy and those from whom their wealth derives.
Those who dedicate themselves to improve constructively any of the above issues, leave their mark on history, locally, nationally, and globally. Now is the time to take up the real challenges of our time and place.
Ros Mcintosh
Mount Tremper, NY

Dear Editor,
I read with interest Brian Power’s signed editorial in the February 16th issue of the Phoenicia Times. To my mind, it makes a positive contribution to the controversy over the Belleayre Resort and I thank you for it.
Other than a few factual errors in your comments, the idea of good-faith negotiations is right on target and Crossroads Ventures is ready to enter into them at any time.
We would not enter into such negotiations with an all-or-nothing attitude. Our goal would be quite simple: to achieve agreement on a plan that would meet the minimal needs of all concerned. Our only proviso is that the plan must be economically viable and must allow the overall venture to make a significant contribution to the prosperity and betterment of the Shandaken-Middletown region and its citizens. That was our original intent and it remains so. All of our investors have maintained homes here for many years and we have a very definite personal stake in the region – whether or not some our more cynical critics believe that.
I know you and others have from time to time pooh-poohed our more altruistic motivations and I regret that distrust. But we have already committed ourselves in writing to contributing one-third of our profits to improvements and public service projects in Shandaken and Middletown. We are also serious about the need for several hundred full-time and part-time employees to whom we’ll offer good pay and, in the case of our 542 full-time employees, health and retirement benefits.
Most of these people will come from the area centered around the intersection of Ulster, Greene and Delaware counties. In fact, we fully expect that over 95% of our workforce will be staffed by people who already live here. A survey by a nationally-recognized labor research company completed for Ulster County a few years ago concluded that the total potential workforce in the commuting area numbered over 138,000 and over 19,000 of them would be interested in changing jobs in a jiffy if offered $12 or more per hour. As a result, we expect most of our work force will continue living right where they are, thus avoiding problems with housing or adding any significant number of children to the school systems. In addition, we expect that many of our seasonal employees will be people who now work at the Belleayre Ski Center only in the winter-time. By the way, 60% of our many workers will make a good deal more than $12 an hour.
As for taxes, you are misinformed. None of my ventures have received what you imply are sweetheart deals. There is a standard formula for new ventures in New York State which allows for PILOT taxation (Payment In Lieu Of Taxes) that starts at 50% of assessed value and increases by 5% annually over ten years when the property reaches full valuation. If we build a resort whose market value is $300 million and assume the current equalization and tax rates will continue we would pay $3,150,000 annually for starters rising to $6,300,000 annually at the end of ten years. As Yogi says, you can do the math.
In addition, we will be paying about $1 million dollars a year to the county through the newly enacted hotel room tax.
Beyond that, the Belleayre Resort, as presently conceived, would inject roughly $41 million a year into the local economy – new customers for local businesses and cultural activities, new employment and entrepreneurial opportunities, sales taxes, purchases in the area, plus jobs and materials purchases during the construction phase that’s projected to last over five years. These are not just our figures. They are based on standard multiples of revenue-producing properties.
I appreciate your public stand in favor of negotiations rather than taking a hard-and-fast advocacy position for one proposal or another. To my mind, one of the highest callings of the newspaper profession is taking a leadership role for civic betterment. All I need now is people on the other side who are willing to come to the table and talk in good faith.
Dean Gitter,
Mount Tremper, NY
Editor’s Note... We've done the math. We stand by our figures and cite as their source the information in the public record provided by Mr. Gitter's company.

Dear Editor,
When we see developer Dean Gitter pleading his case before the legislature to prevent a call for compromise and
skirting the edge of the zoning law in Shandaken with a huge billboard painted on the side of a truck, we know already what he will do if given permission to build his over-sized, poorly designed fantasy-land in the Catskills. We have seen this pattern before, when plans for the Ulster County jail, another venture backed by Ward Todd, were placed before the public.
Absolutely necessary. A great design. Will be built to impeccable standards. Won't cost the taxpayers a cent. Will save money, make money. Yeah, right. The only difference between the two projects is that the developer's scheme has a built-in contract manager: the Administrative Law Judge who ruled repeatedly that the environmental protections trumpeted by the developer for the past seven years simply do not measure up. So of course the
developer wants to go around that and try to convince the county legislators that the judge had it wrong.
Believe my numbers, he says, while Supervisor Bob Cross rambles about making sure that no one gets to see the very sobering economic analysis done by a professional economic consultant hired by the Town. Even Mr. Gitter's own expert admitted during the Administrative Law Judge's review that the project as designed does not pass muster economically. It's a boondoggle being driven forward by an enraptured investor who could just as well put her money behind Congressman Hinchey's proposal or any other more environmentally sound alternative design. What will make that happen? What will it take to prevent taxpayers from having to pay for another doomed project pitched as a boon for Ulster County?
Michele Wooton
Pine Hill, NY

Dear Editor,
Since Mr. Gitter has forced us to look at his tractor trailer sign with his message each day as we pass it, I thought it may be good to ask him a question. He proposes to bring in about 550 new jobs to our area. Sounds great, right? Now here is the question. Does anybody really know how many people a year it takes to maintain a staff of 550 people? Here is my experience. I own a manufacturing plant where we employ 65 people. We go through 265 people a year to maintain that staff of 65. This number is my experience of over 15 years in the manufacturing business. It is clear that the hotel and restaurant business has a much higher turnover rate. What this means is, by this standard, over a years time to maintain a staff of 550, there would have to be over 2,000 unemployed people each year that would come from this planned resort. Over a year’s time, you will find some people leave because they get hurt, some get sick, some get tired, and some get fired. This point is a fact of life in business. There is a tremendous turnover of workers each year to maintain a staff. Now let’s use a common sense example. Let’s say a mom who lives somewhere else is drawn to this area seeking work at our new hotel in the Catskills. Let’s say she takes up residence, puts the kids in school and then what? She gets fired! She gets hurt, or she gets tired. She leaves her great hotel job, goes on disability, welfare whatever and there she stays. Just because she lost her job, do you think she is going to take her kids out of school and just go back to where she came? This is what happened to Ellenville. This is what will happen to us.
I have another question for Mr. Gitter. He told me personally that his interest was not in building anything himself at that site. His plan is to get the rights to build on the site and sell his interests to the highest hotel chain bidder. Now do you really think that once the new hotel chain gets in after paying Mr. Gitter for his hard work, they are going to abide by his present claims? Do you think they are going to build the type of complex Mr. Gitter is going around showing everyone a model of? This is smoke and mirrors. He has no say once he sells his interests. This reminds me of Mr. Gitter’s tower dealings in Woodstock. He worked hard to get a tower erected on Overlook Mountain and promised he would not put a light it. In fact he did not, but then sold the rights to another company and they put the lights on the tower. Are we getting it yet?
Now, last but not least—everyday I commute, passing the Emerson place of Mr. Gitter’s and each day, I have to look at that long ugly white plastic fence erratically leading to nowhere. This white albatross demonstrates the image Mr. Gitter thinks is aesthetically pleasing. Now with a tractor trailer being placed there, it is like a slap in the face each time we pass. I would rather see a junk yard then this type trailer trash. Mr. Gitter, stop the lies and misleading games. We are not stupid and you have no right to shove this project down our throats so you can retire and move to St. Croix? We want to stay here and live here. We are here for the peace and solitude, not the low wage jobs. This is why people come to this area as they have done for hundreds of years. It is for the peace. It is for nature and natural settings. If you were allowed to have this project built, it would clearly destroy the beauty that we are here for. The people who support your project are a handful of people and they are seeking a monetary gain from it. The people who are against it are the people who are here for nature, peace and to be left alone. Please do not try and make yourself out to be a hero, like you are doing all this for the town. You are doing all this for yourself and the few who also stand to gain from it. Now take your trailer and put it in your own back yard and please stop your pushy games.
Peter Vinci
Shandaken, NY

Dear Editor,
It’s a marvel that there are still people in this town who trust what Dean Gitter says. Does he really think that his tractor trailer and big billboard-style sign is any less ugly and obtrusive in Mt. Pleasant than it was in Highmount, even with it all dolled up with lattice? I thought the new white fence along that field in Mt. Pleasant was unsightly and out of character by itself (why not something rustic like split rail?), but now with that truck-sign monstrosity marring the most beautiful view of Tremper Mountain (one of the most scenic views along all of Rt. 28 in fact), it’s obvious that Dean Gitter is thumbing his nose at the Catskill mountains and its residents. There is no shortage of people in the Catskill region who look at these mountains and only see dollar signs, and Dean Gitter is the worst of them. If you believe that anything he does is motivated by anything more than self-interest, think again. We don’t need his solutions to the perceived problems that he tells us we have. There are a lot better ways to achieve economic vitality in a beautiful mountainous region like ours, and it’s too bad that Dean Gitter doesn’t put his money and effort into projects that everyone can support instead of his grandiose, misguided schemes.
Chris Olney
Highmount, NY

Dear Editor,
There were two kinds of objections to the sign we recently deployed on our Highmount office site. One was that it was ugly. It was. I apologize, but we had little time to make it more attractive.
The second kind were cries of outrage from our opponents who evidently don’t approve of our educating the public with facts. They have deployed signs condemning our “Monster Resort” (their words) on roads all over town for almost five years.
Evidently their concern for free speech does not extend to the developers of the Belleayre Resort.
The sign will be situated on our property in Mt. Tremper for the foreseeable future. We will, however, endeavor to make it more aesthetically pleasing; in keeping with the way we have beautified properties all over Shandaken for years. We intend to continue bringing before the public the benefits they will enjoy from the project: career paths for their kids, relief from ever more onerous property and school taxes, economic revitalization of the Belleayre region.
Dean Gitter,
Mount Tremper, NY

Dear Editor,
Although we agreed with much of what the editor of the Phoenicia Times wrote in his most recent issue regarding the Belleayre Resort development, we couldn’t disagree more with his musing that homes might be built on the eastern side of the project instead of the proposed resort.
Such a notion, although well intended, is completely inconsistent with the recent 166 page ruling by the State Administrative Law Judge. What’s more, it makes no sense from either an environmental or quality of life standpoint for the residents of the Catskills.
Following extensive hearings and with testimony from all sides in the dispute, Judge Richard Wissler ruled that 12 major issues were not sufficiently resolved by the developer and warranted adjudicatory hearings and possible modification of the project in order to satisfy state law. The majority of those issues are specific to the eastern side of the project.
Development on the east side presents insurmountable hurdles for many reasons. Construction would be atop very steep slopes, some even steeper than the Belleayre Mountain ski slopes, down which rainwater, mud and detritus would drain. Because the developer plans to clear 25 acres of forest at one time, (although the state recommendation is 5 acres at a time), there are grave concerns about storm-water run-off, which the developer claims would be “controlled” by temporary detention basins sized for the “design ten-year storm” (six inches of precipitation in 24 hours). In that regard it is worth noting that we have had two 100-year storms in the past nine years at this location.
The Judge expressed concern for several water-related issues pertaining to the east side. He questioned if the available groundwater supply will be adequate and he noted the potential de-watering of surface waters, in particular Birch Creek, which drains the eastern side of the project.
In addition, any sort of construction on the east side would jeopardize world-class trout streams. The eastern side drains to the Birch Creek and Lost Clove Brooks, which are tributaries to the Esopus River that maintain breeding populations of trout—including rainbows as well as feral browns and brook trout. The Esopus is already classified as “impaired” by state and federal standards due to turbidity. To make matters worse, the Ashokan Reservoir, the ultimate destination of the waters flowing from the eastern site, is a terminal reservoir for downstate water consumers and must remain protected as the primary unfiltered water source for 9 million people.
The Judge pointed to discrepancies between the developer’s modeling results and observations in the field, and he noted that a model for predicting water runoff was misapplied on the steeper eastern side. The Judge also questioned whether or not baseline hydrological conditions were adequately considered in the developer’s analysis including the role of wetlands, groundwater seeps, sensitive streambed features in Birch Creek and even sensitive soils offsite, which may be impacted during heavy rain events. He was also very concerned about pollutant impacts on the local water bodies, in particular the Esopus Creek.
Finally, any kind of building on the east side would endanger some of the crown jewels of the State’s Catskill Forest Preserve. The land there is adjacent to the largest tract of constitutionally protected Wilderness in the Catskill Park, the Big Indian and Slide Mountain Wilderness areas. It acts as a buffer to this Wilderness and if clear cut, will act as a conduit for invasive flora and fauna and will over time, result in the overall decline of the ecological health of the nearby Forest Preserve. The Judge expressed concerns about the visual impacts from the Forest Preserve, not just from trails, but from anywhere on the forest preserve a hiker or camper may be. He also concluded that the developer did not adequately address noise impacts on the Wilderness areas of the east side and cited several documents produced by the DEC, including the Land Use Master Plan and the Public Access Plan, and he quoted the State constitution’s Article 14, all of which support his view that no large development on private lands near Wilderness should degrade it.
As for economics, experts testified at the State Issues Conference that the project, as currently proposed, is an economically risky venture and that a much smaller, economically viable project would be preferable from an investment perspective. Furthermore, building on inappropriate sites like the east side of this project, is a primary cause of increased service demand from local governments, not to mention increased flooding mitigation and recovery costs, all of which serve to dramatically increase the costs to the town and county, and ultimately, to taxpayers.
In summary, no kind of construction at all belongs on the east side of the Belleayre Resort - because of its location, topography, and ecological significance –it is simply not suited for development. If the developer wants to act in good faith for our community, he might start by doing away with the east side of the project as Congressman Hinchey wisely suggested (and the developer discounted out of hand) because neither science, nor the law, nor common sense will support it.
Tom Alworth, Spokesperson
Catskill Preservation Coalition (CPC)

Dear Editor,
A public hearing on dam safety was held this past Thursday (yesterday) at Schenectady Community College. State Assemblypersons Paul Tonko, RoAnn DeStito, Thomas DiNapoli, Kevin Cahill, and Aileen Gunther comprised the hearing panel. Individuals providing testimony included Congressman Mike McNulty, DEC Commissioner Denise Sheehan and others from her staff, DEP Commissioner Emily Lloyd and others from her staff, SEMO Deputy Director Thomas Fargione, Susan Savage - Chair of the Schenectady County Legislature, Mike Berardi - Legislator in the Ulster County Legislature, and several others from Schenectady County, Schoharie County, and Sullivan County.
I was particularly interested in the fact that there appeared to be only the three of us from Ulster County. Indeed, most of the information related to the Gilboa Dam and the possible effects towards the north of a breach in that dam However, Assemblyman Cahill
was very focused in his questioning on the effects to the south of continued releases through the Tunnel at Allaben and how the overflows into the Esopus affected the area both above the Ashokan Reservoir and below the Ashokan Reservoir. The concern towards the north is in regards to an actual failure of the dam, while the concern towards the south is in regards to the activities being taken to mitigate a possible failure of the dam. To the north, the effect is on the population living along the Schoharie and the Mohawk, while to the south, the effect is on the population living along the Esopus.
The hearing discussion provided greater definition of the lines of regulation and authority related to upkeep and maintenance, inspections, record-keeping, and the permitting process. One question to which I heard possible answers concerned the hierarchy of authority between the DEC and the DEP. Questions arose on whether there should be more regulatory requirements; does the DEC have enough authority; should more be done legislatively?
An important statement was made that these dams are dams for containment reservoirs; they are not dams for flood control. A line of questioning by Assemblyman Cahill related to possible future reconstruction of dams. He asked whether the DEC will recommend that dams be modified in the future to prevent or to ameliorate floods — that is, to make them into flood control dams. DEC Commissioner Sheehan replied that, when considering possible reconstruction, they will look at all dams in terms of flooding, and address first what other forms of mitigation are possible before considering reconstruction. I believe that her measured response was appropriate, at least as it pertains to our situation with the overflowing and possible flooding along the Esopus south of the Ashokan Reservoir. There are actions that can be taken in the near term to relieve or attenuate some circumstances; however, it is the long-term look that also needs attention. Ifpeople have built in the flood plain, how can communities deal with that? The answer may be not necessarily through state regulation, but rather through community planning. This speaks to the issue of safety in where one builds one’s home. This is not just a DEC/DEP issue; it is also a community planning issue. Yes, this is a long-term look at and response to flood impact.
In a current emergency, it is necessary to have a much shorter term response. The weakness demonstrated in the Gilboa Dam has been very much a learning experience by the various agencies responsible for the integrity or soundness of these structures — the integrity of construction, inspections, permitting, and maintenance. The emergency management teams have had an opportunity to see where some of the loose ends exist during a time when we have only a “possibility” of a disaster, not an actual one.
This was an important (and missed) opportunity for more individuals from the Ulster County Legislature and the Towns along the Esopus to learn directly from the involved agencies how each of them sees, and acts on, its obligations and authority and how all are attempting to work together to develop a rapid response to emergencies, but before that, to try to mitigate the actual problem with the Gilboa Dam.
Helen K Chase, Town Councilman
Town of Olive

Dear Editor,
We would like to tell you a story about our neighborhood. We live on Station Road in Shandaken, just off Fox Hollow, and directly opposite the now infamous 'bat factory', also known as the Charles D. Roberts Mill. Station Road used to be a modest, but pretty, tree-lined street - and we all got a lot of pleasure from caring for our yards and flower beds, and sitting on the front porch to wave at the occasional passers - by. People used to come down Station Road just for the pleasure of walking on a little traveled road which leads into the woods. In June the lilac bushes on both sides of the road would bloom right near the entrance, and it was a pleasure to drive through this tunnel of fragrant flowers. The old mill property was just behind a narrow screen of trees and bushes, but they did a nice job of protecting us from the noise and dust and the visual impact of a rather messy industrial site. On weekends we could sit on our porch and enjoy the day and not think too much about the mill just feet from us. We always said "Thank God for those trees."
On Wednesday, February 22, this year, the town highway department began removing this row of trees that were our only protection from the mill. They took every tree and nearly every shrub, all the way down to the beginning of the road. The lilacs are mostly all gone - on both sides of the road. Why? They also began taking down some trees in the yards on the other side of the street. Why? They claim that they have to clear the old railroad right of way that lies under this strip of land. We find this to be an obvious lie, since they are clearly not cutting all of the trees along the whole railway line. I spoke to several people who are familiar with the planning for the railroad, and they said it will take many years and millions of dollars before the railroad can progress this far, so why the rush? Then a few hours ago, a new explanation arose - they have to put in a new drainage ditch alongside the road. Since the trees were up on the bank several feet from this proposed ditch, this also doesn't wash.
I have to admit that on Friday morning when the trucks came back I felt like my heart would stop. I couldn't bear to watch. We have a row of maple trees and some venerable cedar trees in the front of our yard. I briefly considerd a one-person sit-in to try to save those trees, since my husband had left for work. I knew there was nothing I could do - since logic is not one of the tools that these men are used to. Our neighbor had asked for a temporary reprieve until the spring - so that some of the trees near her property coud be moved out of harm's way. But there was no reprieve. Everytyhing had to be cut down immediately. For some reason the trees in our yard are still standing, but who knows for how long. The destruction may or may not be finished, but we know that this was an act of vengeance - and directed at a few specific families.
We know that this is retaliation for our attempts to make the newest tenants of the mill property follow proper zoning laws, like seeking a zoning variance to do business in a residential zone, and filing a site plan, and conforming to environmental laws regarding noise and air pollution. (Please keep in mind that this whole area, including the mill property, is zoned Residential 1.5.)
If this is the way the Cross administration deals with it's opponents, we'd all be advised to brace ourselves. We will continue to oppose illegal use of the old mill property, since they have already done their worst to us (we think). We are asking our friends, and anyone who was familiar with Station Road to come and take a look, and let others know about this. The only way to stop these people from frightening everybody in town is to shine a bright light on what they are doing. Anyone who lives on a road in Shandaken is at their mercy. These people are bullies, and hopefully their grip on our town will soon be broken. And keep in mind that our new highway supervisor, Keith Johnson, is asking for a raise.
That's just our opinion,
Dennis and Diane Ladner,
Shandaken, NY

Dear Editor,
A salute to the Shandaken fire department for the immediate response to a 911 fire call on the Super bowl Sunday afternoon. They rushed to my home on Route 212 and were present fighting the fire 5 minutes after they had been notified. They prevented the fire from spreading to our living quarters, which is a miracle. Although the studio and apartment in the downstairs are totally damaged due to fire and water, we were grateful that our 2-story home did not get burnt. No one was home at the time of the fire and everyone is safe, however the renter is without a place to live right now and will find temporary shelter at his brother's home.
Also thanks to all my alert neighbors who keep an eye on our neighborhood and report anything unusual. The fire department received 4 calls within a couple of minutes.
Grateful in Mt. Tremper,
Rita Schwab