Casino related crime report issued

MONTICELLO, NY — In 2002, Atlantic City recorded 12,924 crimes per 100,000 population, more than three times the national average. Ten categories of violent crime increased by 64 percent in Gulfport, Mississippi and 46 percent in Biloxi, Mississippi in 1994, a year after riverboat casinos opened. In Ledyard, Connecticut the incidence of crime in the community increased 532.2 percent between 1990 and 1998. Foxwoods opened in Ledyard in 1992.

These figures are drawn from “Gambling, Who’s Really at Risk” a 44-page study by Richard M. Aborn, a consultant to criminal justice agencies in the U.S. and Europe and a former New York City prosecutor.

The study, which was released on May 19 and is available on the Internet at DontGambleOurFuture.org.

Chamber president resigns

LIBERTY, NY — Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce President Jon Westergreen reportedly resigned his position without notice on May 12.

The Livingston Manor resident, who was named to the position last December replacing former President Jacquie Leventoff, was said to be leaving for personal reasons.

Vice-President Terri Hess of Jeffersonville has been named as interim president.

Former Sullivan officer named director of DEC law enforcement

ALBANY, NY — A former Sullivan County Environmental Conservation Police officer (Eco) and Bethel resident has been named to head the state department.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Acting Commissioner Denise M. Sheehan on May 13 announced that Colonel Robert T. Lucas has been named the Director of DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement.

After joining DEC in 1980, Lucas transferred to Region 3 in 1982 and worked as an ECO in Sullivan County until 1988 when he was promoted to a Lieutenant position in New York City.

Lucas will be responsible for enforcing the state’s environmental conservation laws and regulations in addition to law enforcement services, outreach and education to the public. The authorized strength of DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement is 339 members.

Legislature okays flood planning

MONTICELLO, NY — The Executive Committee of the Sullivan County Legislature on May 12 approved two resolutions to initiate a three-year flood management planning effort.

Commissioner Dr. William Pammer said the program was a collaboration between his Division of Planning and Community Development and the Soil and Water Conservation District to identify, locate and map high-risk flood areas which would be integrated into geographic information system (GIS) mapping. The resulting information would be used to review existing zoning and prepare educational curriculum for the towns to implement changes. The program would also eventually lead to “on-the-ground” mitigation work for the most critical points.

Resolutions approved last week included the creation of a $37,500 GIS Technician position, and program support for a three-year program with an estimated cost of $285,000.

Bethel backs FERC ruling on Toronto

KAUNEONGA LAKE, NY — On May 12 the Bethel Town Board passed a resolution in support of an April 18, 2005 ruling by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), which defended the public’s right to access a boat launch near the hydroelectric dam on Toronto Reservoir.

At the meeting Bob Barrett of the Friends of Toronto Reservoir urged the board to remove a gate that has been used to prevent traffic on a .78-mile stretch of road that leads to the boat launch. Board members said they would look into the matter.

The resolution passed unanimously.

DEC grants awarded to local conservation groups

ALBANY, NY — State Senator John Bonacic announced on May 12 that several area conservation organizations will be receiving New York Conservation Partnership Program grants and technical assistance to aid their open space conservation programs.

Local awards included $9,600 for the Delaware Highlands Conservancy, $19,200 for the Orange County Land Trust and $2,900 for the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development.

Groups in Bonacic’s 42nd Senate District will receive a total of $46,400.

Homeowner hints at litigation against town

ELDRED, NY — Announcing that he has been diagnosed with pneumonia, which he blames on mold and dampness problems in his Yulan home, Highland resident John Watters on May 10 continued his efforts to prompt town officials to pay for renovations to his house.

Watters, who claims that the town improperly approved a certificate of occupancy for his home despite his ongoing concerns about construction problems, has been unsuccessfully querying the town board at its meetings for more than a year.

As he has in past, Supervisor Allan Schadt replied to Watters last week by saying that at the advise of counsel,“ I can’t talk to you.”

“What’s it going to take? Punitive damages? A couple of million dollars to bankrupt the town?” Watters said.

Delaware Valley school taxes rise

WESTFALL, PA — The Delaware Valley School Board cut more than $182,000 from the district’s spending plan as it approved a $57,247,412 budget for the 2005-06 school year on May 5.

The cuts combined with higher revenue forecasts, reduced a tentative 8.3 percent tax increase to 5.95 percent but the increase remains the highest single-year jump in the past 10 years.

The increase equates to a 5.31 mill increase to a total of 95.49 mills.

Western Wayne school costs increase

HONESDALE, PA — New staff and rising oil prices contributed to a 3.7 percent increase in the tentative 2005-06 budget for the Western Wayne School District.

The school board approved the $29,794,262 budget on May 2.

Spending in the new year reportedly would increase by $1,181,411 and would equate to a new tax rate of 12.517 mills.