Your Award-Winning News Source for the Upper Delaware River Valley Region Since 1975
Vol. 42 No. 34
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AUGUST 25-31, 2016
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www.riverreporter.com
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$1.50
Toronto saga continues No officials take action
By FRITZ MAYER
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MALLWOOD, NY — Dozens of residents gathered at the recreation area of the Toronto Reservoir on August 20 for a demonstration in support of keeping the access area open to the public. The New York State Department of Health (DOH) said the area was a public beach and it was being operated without a permit. DOH wrote, “The Toronto Reservoir has no supervision, lifesaving equipment, potable water supply or emergency response communications, all of which are required at permitted bathing beaches.” Supporters of the reservoir assert that several other public access areas in Sullivan County have not been closed by DOH and are being operated under the exact
TRR photo by Fritz Mayer
Dozens of people cross into the taped-off area of the Toronto Reservoir Recreation Area in the Chapin Estate in violation of the New York Department of Health policy that the area should not be used.
same conditions as the one located inside the gated Chapin Estate community. Those access areas include another one on the Toronto Reservoir at Moscoe Road and one on the Swinging Bridge Reservoir. Like the Chapin Estate access area, both of those access areas are required to be maintained by the owner of the reservoirs, Eagle Creek, as a condition of holding a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission license to operate a hydroelectric power plant on the Toronto Reservoir No police or other officials were on hand to try to disperse the residents or to prevent them from using the part of the beach that the DOH says is off limits. There were several people wearing clothing that indicated they are employed by Eagle Creek.
Sullivan soon to award jail contracts Residents still express strong opposition By FRITZ MAYER
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ONTICELLO, NY — At the executive committee meeting on the morning of August 18 at the Sullivan County government center, legislators were told they would likely be awarding contracts for the construction of the new county jail sometime in September. At the monthly legislative meeting a couple of hours later, residents lined up once again to register opposition to the $95 million project. Speaking during the public comment period, former legislator Kitty Vetter questioned the need for such
a large facility. She said, “Two doctors’ offices and a dental room, a large medical records area in today’s digital age? There’s a large chapel.” Liberty resident Kathie Aberman said the petition drive started by her and Barbara Lerner to stop the project fell short of the necessary number of signatures needed to bring the matter to a public referendum, in part, she said, because of a lack of information among members of the public. She said, “Almost everyone I spoke to required a full discussion to understand what was happening, and once people know the facts they were almost
Belly up to the bar At the newly re-opened Western
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universally willing to sign.” She and others gathered 600 signatures in 40 days. Undersheriff Eric Chaboty said people trying to collect those signatures were “going door to door with an emphasis on senior citizens, and spreading misinformation intended to cause fear and alarm among our residents.” He noted that if the jail had been built when the issue was first addressed by county officials in 1990, the cost would have been $30 million, and the bond would have been paid off six years ago. Continued on page 3
White herons are great, too An endangered treasure in our backyard
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TRR photo by Fritz Mayer
Austin Greene of the Youth Economic Group was one of several people who spoke out against the proposed new Sullivan County Jail at the government center on August 18.
SPANNING 2 STATES, 4 COUNTIES, AND A RIVER THAT UNITES US