Highland defeats gun club law

By ROBERT WOODS

ELDRED, NY — Town of Highland Supervisor Allan Schadt and other board members knew they’d have their hands full the night of July 12.

Local residents filled the town hall to capacity and anxiously waited for the board to resume its discussion of a proposed local law that would prohibit new construction within 500 feet of any hunting club’s property lines. The law would run parallel to one recently passed by Town of Deerpark officials.

Three board members, Robert Burrow, Joseph McDonald and Paul Zimmerman, expressed dissatisfaction with the law. Then Schadt opened the meeting for public comment.

Several residents said they believed the proposed law to be unconstitutional. “This law violates our constitutional rights,” said one unnamed resident. Others were concerned that the law could decrease property values and that tax-paying citizens would suffer.

Town Attorney Michael Davidoff said, “The board knows my opinion. This law has serious concerns with constitutionality.” When asked to explain, Davidoff said he was concerned with how the law was written.

Fred Bosch, one of three Highland residents who expressed support of the proposed law, said it would help control the high deer populations wreaking havoc on local townships.

Councilman Andrew Valenti acknowledged his membership at several gun clubs. He said: “I sympathize with the plight of gun clubs. However, as an elected official, I have a responsibility to the citizens.

“Gun club owners should petition at the state level to rescind the law,” Valenti said, referring to the New York State law that prohibits firing a gun within 500 feet of a residence. Supporters of the proposed local law have said that residential subdivision and development of lands bordering properties of hunting clubs could render hunting unsafe on thousands of acres.

“But it is not fair for us to put the burden on the landowners to correct a problem that was created at the state level,” Valenti said.

With thunder crashing in the distance and lights flickering, the board held a roll-call vote. Schadt abstained because he is president of the Excelsior Hunting Club. Valenti, Burrow, McDonald and Zimmerman all voted against the law.

“The board acted very responsibly in tonight’s decision,” Davidoff said.