Sheriff’s letter rescinds opposition to contested reservoir launch site

By CHARLIE BUTERBAUGH

BETHEL, NY — A letter from Sullivan County Sheriff Daniel Hogue in support of keeping open the Toronto Reservoir boat launch at the end of Town Road 62 sustained the Smallwood Civic Association’s case against the Bethel Town Board.

In August, Hogue voiced concern about public safety at the Toronto Dam Area, which provided the basis for the town board’s August 14 resolution to authorize steps leading to closure of 62 and enhancement of the Route 55 access. The civic association contests the conslidation on the grounds of a tradition of usage and a federal provision included in the original Swinging Bridge conservation project.

After three of the five town board members accepted the resolution, civic association corresponding secretary Bob Barrett said he showed Hogue the federal license that he claims requires not only public access to the launch area by the Toronto Dam, but also passage to the adjacent Black Lake Creek, a trout stream he said is visited regularly by anglers. Barrett said letters from the Smallwood-Mongaup Valley Fire Company and the White Lake Fire Company agreed with Hogue’s support of the launch site remaining open, though these letters were not read at the September 25 board meeting.

The launch site will only serve its purpose if the road leading to it remains open. Hogue said the town road—currently riddled with potholes—needs to be fixed in order to provide passage for emergency vehicles to the site. Councilman Robert Blais agreed, saying potholes on the road need to be repaired.

The civic association believes town residents deserve to continue using the access road, one that has provided fishermen passage to the site for many years, Barrett said.

A letter from the civic association expressed desire to adopt the road, but Deputy Supervisor Victoria Simpson concluded that the issue had previously been tabled, so no action could be taken regarding adoption.

The letter also requested that the August 14 resolution be set aside, but Simpson provided the same response.