GLEN SPEY, NY — Following a half-hour executive session on September 10, the Lumberland Town Board formally recognized the Laborers’ 17 International of North America union “as the sole bargaining agent” for the town’s highway employees.

Supervisor Nadia Rajsz said the action came after eight employees “apparently signed” a petition naming the union this spring.

In May, after a lengthy discussion, the board had agreed not to decide anything regarding the union’s request for certification.

Councilman James Akt opposed the certification, saying then that it would increase already high town taxes and make living there less attractive. “A lot of people want to leave town,” he said.

In the May meeting, Rajsz had outlined the board’s efforts to maintain good faith negotiations with the highway employees and benefits already in place. In declining to take action on the request at that time, Rajsz said, “It’s time the public understands where the board is, for the best interest of the public as well as the employees.

In other business, following a public hearing, the board unanimously approved a local law allowing a non-county resident’s appointment as deputy town clerk.

During the public hearing, one resident objected to the law, saying that it was not for the benefit of the town, but for the benefit of Town of Deerpark resident, Michelle Myslinski, who was town clerk Virginia Horn’s choice.

Rajsz noted that without specific authorization, the town has had non-Sullivan County resident employees in official positions in past.

Horn introduced Myslinski later in the session, noting that Myslinski was once Horn’s supervisor in another position.

Pending her appointment as deputy, Myslinski will serve as part-time clerk to Horn until October, when the local law is officially filed with the state.

The board will meet in the adjoining senior citizens center in October, while the floor of the town hall is being refinished.