Highland constables mutual aid policy unchanged

By DAVID HULSE

ELDRED — Despite recent reporting of the importance that mutual aid has been to the Highland constables, Town of Highland officials are apparently sticking to an earlier decision to prohibit town constables mutual-aid assistance outside town limits.

The topic wasn’t reconsidered by the Highland Town Board on December 11, even after chief Constable Robert Maas related the story of a recent incident at the parking lot of the apartments at the former Northwood Lodge on County Road 33.

Maas said Highland was called to deal with a man menacing others with a .30-caliber carbine.

State police and Lumberland constables were called to assist, but because of the distance state police had to travel, they didn’t arrive until the incident was “wrapped up,” Maas said.

No one was injured and the unidentified man was disarmed and taken into custody.

“It sure was great to have Lumberland only five miles away,” Maas reported.

In other town board business, Supervisor Allan Schadt reported that the National Park Service (NPS) was seeking a local government sponsor to seek federal transportation grant funding to stabilize and repair the remains of the canal locks near the Roebling Bridge.

Councilman Peter Lilholt, who also serves as Commissioner of the Sullivan County Department of Public Works (DPW) said NPS had solicited DPW to seek the grant, as they had in the past, but Lilholt said he does not have the available staff to undertake the lengthy grant application work again.

Funding for work on the locks remains unresolved.

The board also approved up to $1,500 in funding to remove seven trees from the front and side of the Barryville Town Court and scheduled a combined year-end, re-organization meeting at 6:30 p.m. on January 2.