Highland’s budget increase lowest in years

ELDRED, NY — The Town of Highland unanimously adopted its 2010 budget at its monthly meeting on November 10, following a series of budget hearings over the past several months. The budget reflects an increase of 1.37 percent, one of the town’s lowest increases ever. “We worked very hard to maintain fiscal control,” said town supervisor Tina Palecek.

The town board also passed a resolution to draft a letter stating that the Town of Highland does not support the county’s proposed solid waste user fee. “It’s grossly unfair to the person who recycles,” noted councilman Fred Bosch.

Sullivan selected for pilot crop insurance program

LIBERTY, NY — The USDA is launching a new Risk Management (Crop Insurance) Program to insure pasture, rangeland and forage, and Sullivan and Ulster counties have been selected as pilot counties. The program was developed to provide livestock producers the ability to purchase insurance for losses of forage as grazing or hay.

There will be a meeting to explain the new program as well as other parts of the new farm bill to local producers on Thursday, November 19 at the Cooperative Extension office in Liberty from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. This will be a free meeting with a lunch included. The risk management agency will be discussed until 12:30 p.m., when there will be a break for lunch, after which grazing management will be discussed.

To register call 845/292-6180.

Meeting held on new waste facility

MONTICELLO, NY — A public informational meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, November 19 at 1:30 p.m. in the legislative meeting room in the Sullivan County Government Center at 100 North Street. The purpose of the meeting is to allow for oral and written comments on Sullivan County’s proposed construction and operation of a materials recovery facility and solid waste transfer station (MRF/TS) at the Sullivan County Landfill at 91 Landfill Drive.

Sullivan County proposes to construct and operate a 40,480 square foot MRF/TS at the existing Sullivan County Landfill site, with a proposed through-put capacity of 800 tons per day (tpd) of municipal solid waste, construction and demolition debris and source separated recyclables. The MRF/TS will replace the Sullivan County Landfill (which is expected to reach capacity in December 2009) as the primary means of waste disposal for Sullivan County. No increased truck trips are planned to the site compared to those currently generated by operation of the existing landfill. Export trailer traffic will utilize Route 17 exits 106 and 107.

Region 2 gets new EPA administrator

NEW YORK STATE — President Barack Obama has selected Judith Enck to be the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) administrator for region 2, which encompasses New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and seven tribal nations.

Regional administrators for the EPA promote state and local environmental protection efforts and serve as a liaison to state and local government officials.

Enck has served as the deputy secretary for the environment in New York State since 2007. Prior to that, she worked for eight years as a policy advisor to the attorney general of New York, for five years as the executive director of Environmental Advocates of New York, and as a senior environmental associate with the New York Public Interest Research Group.

A thumbs down on tax and fee hikes

ALBANY, NY — New York State Assemblywoman Aileen M. Gunther (D, C, I - Forestburgh) has issued a press release announcing that the assembly has voted down a series of taxes and fees proposed to help plug the state’s budget deficit. Among them are a proposal to require all New York drivers to buy new drivers’ licenses, a tax on flavored malt beverages, a tax on non-diet soft drinks and a tax on movie tickets, sporting events and other personal services items.

According to Gunther, rejecting these proposals saved New York families more than $2.1 billion. The New York State budget deficit now stands at $3.2 billion, and other ways will have to be found to fill the gap.

Port goes solar

PORT JERVIS, NY — Port Jervis has received a grant of $400,000 for the installation of solar panels for its municipal building and water filtration facility. The grant comes from the New York State Research Development Authority.

The outgoing mayor, Gary Loprioire, and the director of public works, Vince Lopez, applied for the grant. Savings of up to $26,000 per year are projected for the city once the new systems are in place.

Ferndale man charged with rape

FERNDALE, NY — Richard Jennings, 41, has been charged with the rape of a girl who is under 17 years old, according to state police. The crime is a felony.

Jennings has been sent to Sullivan County Jail without bail.

Liberty budget keeps tax increase low

LIBERTY, NY — A preliminary budget for the Town of Liberty was passed at the November 16 council meeting by a vote of 3-2. All line-item budget cut items that had been discussed during budget work sessions were deleted from the 2010 budget.

As a result of the cuts, tax increases for the taxpayers of the town are expected to fall in the 2 to 2.5 percent range. Without them, the increase would have been in the 7 to 8 percent range.