By CHRIS CONROY

BETHEL - After months of revision, evaluation and more revision, the Town of Bethel's new boating law was passed. Barely.

Throughout the process there were differences of opinion on Proposed Local Law #3 of 2000, the Boating and Watercraft Law. When discussion was opened at the May 25 Bethel Town Board meeting, it was quickly clear that some of those differences would remain.

"This law is discriminatory to anyone who rents boats on the lake," Leo Glass, attorney for Gene's Boat Rental, told the board. Glass was referring to two key parts of the law, one that levied higher registration fees on the rental outlets than on private boat and watercraft owners, and another that imposes operating hours on the rental outlets. "This will not stand up in court," added Glass, once again raising the question of whether or not the town board has the jurisdiction to create and enforce the set of rules put forth in the law.

"What the board is trying to do," responded Supervisor Allan Scott, "is ensure the safety of people on White Lake/Kauneonga Lake."

How much safety would be ensured was also in question. According to New York State law, people who rent personal watercraft such as Jet Skis and who do not have a boating license must stay within 2500 feet of the rental outlet. Due to the geography of the White Lake/Kauneonga Lake body of water, this will force most of the rental watercraft into a small area, disproportionately crowding one part of the lake. The state had been asked by the board to comment on the law, possibly even waiving it in favor of a similar protocol that would better suit the local geography. A response was never received.

When the time came for a motion to be made to approve the proposal, the board was silent.

The motion was called for again, and still there was silence.

Following a brief discussion of options, and the board's own differing views on a proper course of action, the motion was finally made, seconded and voted upon.

It passed. Bob Blaise, Lynden Lilley and Scott voted in the affirmative. Harold Russell and Bob Bonaci voted "no".

"There has been a lot of hard work put into this law," Russell told the rest of the board, "but there are some aspects that should still be addressed. We need to be clear on whether we have the jurisdiction to regulate the lake."

Some of the issues, namely the higher fees for rental registration, will not come into their own until next year. Most of the registration fees for this summer have already been paid.

The work will continue through this summer, Scott assured the assembly. The boating committee, comprised of residents and businesspeople around the lake, will continue to look at the pros and cons of the law. It is expected that at least one revision will take place over the next year, a process that should prove easier than proposing it as a new local law. Further discussion will take place during the second town board meeting in June.

"We want to see business prosper," said Lilley. "But we want to protect the citizens who use the lake."

At the meeting the board also: announced that the 150th anniversary of the Mongaup Valley United Methodist Church will be celebrated July 23; announced the opening of Buster's, a new restaurant on 17B and determined that an official ribbon cutting and welcome ceremony would take place on June 1 at 4:00 p.m.; and drafted a letter of support for the Monticello Central School District's request to the state for grant money to pay for two school resource officers in the district.