By CHRIS CONROY

BETHEL - There was good news and bad news at the Bethel Town Board meeting on August 31. The good news: a multi-million dollar performing arts center. The bad news: local residents are still waiting for answers about the mid-August Green Party political rally that disrupted their lives.

Starting on a positive note, supervisor Allan Scott repeated the announcement that had been made by Governor George Pataki on August 29. A $40 million performing arts center will be built on the site of the 1969 Woodstock concert, located on Hurd Road, once part of Max Yasgur's farm.

Then Scott turned to the other Woodstock-related matters that the public had gathered to hear about. On the weekend of August 11, a Green Party political rally took place on land owned by Roy Howard and Geryl Abramson. For neighbors, it was a nightmare. For the town board, it was a reminder of an ongoing problem.

"The event was not in the best interest of the Town of Bethel," Scott said.

Neighbors of the site, which, while not part of the original Woodstock concert site was part of Yasgur's farm, then began to speak their minds. No one had much good to say about the event.

Residents voiced complaints about excessive campfire smoke, noise, drug use and trespassing. Public nudity and urination were also issues.

The most vocal opposition came from Harold Russell, the closest neighbor to the site. Russell is a member of the town board, but made it clear that he was speaking as a neighbor when he said, "I hope there won't be another gathering like that." Even before the event officially began, he experienced problems with loose dogs chasing his cows. "I lost four cows that weekend," he said, explaining how stress can cause the animals to stop eating.

When the discussion turned to what can be done about the event, answers did not come easily. Howard and Ambramson, who were expected to attend the meeting, were not present to answer the questions of the gathered citizenry. According to one member of the event staff, the only event representative in attendance, the pair could not make it due to family obligations.

Noticeably absent were any official representatives of the Green Party. Bethel resident Ted Yeomans suggested that any legal action initiated should include the party. "If it was their event, it is their responsibility," he said.

"Every year we go through the same problems," said board member Lyndon Lilley. Citing the history of the conflict between Howard, Ambramson and the Town of Bethel, Lilley continued by saying that what he has a problem with isn't what they are doing. "How they are doing it is what I have issue with."

As a political rally, the event did not have to follow the same rules as a concert or other large gathering. In the past, Howard and Ambramson have contended that they would not be awarded permits by the town. According to Scott, town records show no instance when they or their associates ever completed permit procedure.

"Anyone is more than welcome to apply for event permits," Scott said. He further pointed out that GF Entertainment, the main force behind the announced performing arts center, "jumped through all the hoops" dictated by the planning board. Board member Robert Blaise suggested that the board seek out the advice of legal counsel, so that options for action can be found.

In order to deal with the situation, the board resolved to spend up to $5000 to retain counsel with the Nixon Peabody law firm, experts in cases such as this one, to investigate the town's options. The resolution also called for a request to Sullivan County to join in the process. The resolution also allowed the Bethel Planning Board to retain its own legal counsel so it can more immediately enforce its ordinances. Russell abstained from the vote.