ELDRED, NY — Town officials last week called on Sullivan County to put a referendum question on the November ballot to decide if county government should retain its county manager system or elect a county executive.

 Highland resident and Sullivan County Charter Commission member Norman Sutherland introduced a resolution provided to all Sullivan municipalities calling for the referendum. The preface of that resolution stated the commission’s support but did not call on the towns to endorse their position, only to call for a referendum.

Board members Jim Hanson and Jim Gutekunst spoke in favor of the elected executive, but the board’s resolution took no position on the question.

In a May final report to the county legislature, the charter commission wrote that it “strongly recommends that the Sullivan County Legislature adopt a local law to amend the Charter to provide for an elected County Executive instead of an appointed County Manager and require that the law be subject to a mandatory public referendum.”

Appearing before the board earlier this year, Legislator Nadia Rajsz, who represents the southern portion of the town, said she felt the county executive question would probably have to go to a referendum.

Reporting on the town’s zoning effort, Supervisor Jeff Haas said a lot of additional work was needed. Haas credited the work of the zoning task force, but went on to say that the effort “lost track of where we were going and how to get there,” and that the concerns of the town’s restaurants and other business were “left out.” Haas said the board will be meeting again with its planning consultants.

Considering the upcoming preparation of next year’s budget, funding and construction of a new highway department building and salt shed, he said the board has “a ton of work” ahead but that he hoped to have the revisions completed by next month.

Separately, the board heard from resident Nancy Esposito, who read a statement complaining about town inaction over the past two years regarding a neighbor’s alleged trespassing and zoning violations, which she had repeatedly reported.

She claimed the neighbor, Zach Klein, had created a community of some eight “tiny” houses, sized in violation of the town’s 500-square-foot residential minimum, and that residents there habitually trespass on her neighboring property. She said that despite her repeated contacts with Code Enforcement Officer Dave Kuebler, she had learned that as of two weeks ago, town attorney Michael Davidoff was unaware of the situation.

Klein’s 50-acre property and its “off-the-grid” community was the subject of an in-depth, September 23, 2015, New York Times, Fashion and Style Section story, which featured numerous photographs of the community and its homes.

Haas said that he knew that violation notices had been issued but was unaware of any disposition or settlement. “I don’t know why this hasn’t progressed between Kuebler and Davidoff.”

“If they’re under 500 square feet, they’re illegal,” Councilman Scott Hallock said. Noting that at least one violation had been served, Hallock said that “Maybe a visit from a sheriff’s deputy or constable saying ‘you’re done’ is needed…this needs to get acted on immediately.”