Group named to study county executive position

MONTICELLO, NY — The Sullivan County Executive Research Committee has announced the names of those who will be commissioned to look into the feasibility of presenting a referendum to the voters to amend Sullivan County’s Charter to create the elected position of county executive.

They are Marc Baez, former president of Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development; Steve Burke, vice-chairman of the Sullivan County Conservative Party; Pamela Rourke, director of adult education, BOCES and former commissioner of personnel for Sullivan County; Deborah Manley, chairwoman of the Town of Liberty Democratic Committee; Greg Goldstein, president of Misner Insurance, supervisor of the Town of Neversink and former county legislator and Republican Party chairman; Tami Chaboty, chairperson of the Sullivan County Independence Party; Neil Gilberg, former Sullivan County Clerk and councilman Town of Fallsburg; Linda Babicz, former supervisor, Town of Callicoon; Jack Gallagher, political scientist and former member of the Charter Review Commission; Bill Pammer, former Sullivan County Commissioner of Planning and Economic Development; and Nadia Rajsz, supervisor of the Town of Lumberland.

Former legislator Sean Rieber, head of the research committee, said the “ultimate goal is to put this issue of county executive up for public referendum in November 2010 to allow the voters to decide once and for all, and we encourage our current Legislature to support us in this bipartisan effort.”

The idea was studied last year by the Sullivan County Charter Commission, which determined the county was not yet large enough to support a county executive.

Bonacic is sole Republican to sponsor state ethics bill

ALBANY, NY — State Senator John J. Bonacic has urged that the legislature enact comprehensive ethics reform when it re-convenes next month. Bonacic is the only Republican state senator in New York to co-sponsor bi-partisan comprehensive ethics reform legislation (S.5738).

The legislation creates a commission on governmental ethics to cover both the executive and legislative branches. It would consist of nine members, appointed by the governor (three), the comptroller (one), the attorney general (one), the senate majority leader (one), minority leader (one), speaker of the assembly (one), and minority leader of the assembly (one). No appointee could be a lobbyist, or employee of a political consulting firm, or the recipient of a state contract, and the chair and vice chair would have to be members of different political parties.

To date, the legislation has 21 sponsors. It is likely that the legislation, or a similar version, could be voted on in early January in the Senate. Bonacic also will shortly be introducing legislation to open up public meetings of the ethics committee to public scrutiny.

Speed enforcement stepped up

LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY — In response to complaints about cars passing school buses and exceeding the speed limit in the Lake Huntington/Fosterdale area, the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office has stepped up enforcement there. Increased vigilance was rewarded at about 2:45 p.m. on December 8, when deputy Eric Breihof in the sheriff’s K-9 unit clocked a black Honda Civic going 85 m.p.h. in a 30 m.p.h. zone.

The driver, Alexander Smith, 18, of Kenoza Lake, was taken into custody on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. A passenger, Daniel Sullivan, age 17 of Cochecton, exited the vehicle and ran, but was eventually apprehended behind a commercial building at 6592 Route 52 in Lake Huntington, and charged with criminal mischief in the fourth degree and resisting arrest.

Both suspects were released to appear January 18, 2010 in the Town of Cochecton Justice Court.

UDSB towns receive grants

NARROWSBURG, NY — Five member municipalities of the Upper Delaware Scenic Byway (UDSB) received their shares of a $65,000 New York State grant on December 8 for projects that fulfilled community needs and stimulated economic development along the New York State Route 97 corridor.

The City of Port Jervis received $7,454 for a roof replacement project at the 1793 Fort Decker Museum, enhancement of the Neversink River bridge and a concert series. The Town of Deerpark received $8,176 to improve the Mongaup parking lot on Route 97. The Town of Highland received $10,151 to reclaim D&H Canal Lock 69 environs in Barryville. The Town of Delaware received $14,182 for improvements at the Callicoon Creek Park and enhancement of town signs. The Village of Hancock received $13,678.45 to improve the boat launch at the Pennsylvania Avenue Access.

For more information visit www.upperdelawarescenicbyway.org.

Two charged in Monticello slaying

MONTICELLO, NY —David Perkins, 16, and Jaquis Lowry, 17, have been charged in the shooting death of Carl Williams, a 25-year-old resident of Monticello who was killed five months ago. The two have been arraigned on charges of second-degree murder, first-degree robbery and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

According to District Attorney Steve Lungen, the motive is believed to have been robbery. Williams was lured into the Shore Garden Apartments by a third man, Lawrence Watson, 25, who said he wanted to buy marijuana from Williams. After he arrived, Williams was shot and killed with a .22-caliber handgun and robbed of some cash, a gold chain and a small amount of marijuana. It is not known whether Watson, currently in jail on another charge, was present during the killing.

The accused have been sent to Sullivan County jail without bail.