ELDRED, NY — Highland officials are hoping that moving the landing of river boating traffic further downstream in Barryville will alleviate traffic problems raised in last month’s complaints from River Road residents.

They’re also hoping that the use of a downstream, walk-in, emergency access will not create new problems.

Code Enforcement Officer (CEO) David Kuebler reported on August 11 that he had contacted Lander’s River Trips and learned that the livery was moving from the controversial landing at the Spring House, one-quarter mile downstream to the walk-in access, on the north side of the interstate bridge.

Residents complained that Lander’s disorganized landings of large rafting groups—several hundred persons at a time—of summer campers had resulted in trespassing and public urination on private property on River Road.

Kuebler said there was no discussion about a special permit to use the area, or the need for one; and that the use of the access would be limited to this season only.

The current problem is that boaters, livery vans and trailers now use the town-owned cul-de-sac at the end of the county-owned River Road, which is the only highway approach to the river access.

“There has to be a solution to the traffic issue,” Supervisor Andrew Boyar said. “This is an emergency water access. It can’t be compromised.”

“There’s no bathroom facilities there. We can’t have buses clogging the roads,” Councilman Jim Gutekunst added.

Officials were not unanimous. “It’s a state access. The public is entitled to use it,” Highway Superintendent Tom Ebers said.

Councilman Jeff Haas said that National Park Service had been contacted about the appropriate use of the access. However, responding to Ebers, he said the state launch is also an emergency access for fire services and “that’s a different issue.”

Upper Delaware Council (UDC) Chair Al Henry has argued that a public access was supposed to have been created on New York State (DOT) Department of Transportation-owned property on the downstream side of the bridge. That property, also deeded to the owners of the Carriage House Restaurant, is now being leased by Reber’s River Trips and is used as a private livery landing.

An NPS spokesperson said that the NYDOT is researching the titles to the property and will eventually provide a report to the UDC.

In other business, the board approved a resolution based on the concerns of CEO Kuebler to hire town engineer Joe Gottlieb for a possible safety inspection of the commercial building formerly known as the Pisanelli Building, at 562 State Rte. 55 in Eldred; and a resolution to fund September bookkeeper training costs for Terri Robertson and Doreen Sweeney, who are proposed candidates to replace retiring 17-year incumbent Jean Vandermark, with the proviso that costs are to be refunded if either declines town employment in 2016.

Additionally, the board heard declared supervisor-candidate Chuck Petersheim question the bookkeeper nominations of Robertson and Sweeney, who are existing town employees in the assessor’s office, saying the position was “one of the most important, and not for brand-new people without experience or mentoring.”

They also heard Peter Carmeci, the county VFW commander, strongly criticize the maintenance and upkeep at the county’s Minisink Battleground Park in Minisink Ford, where the VFW recently participated in annual flag retirement ceremonies.

In response, town clerk Doreen Hanson said she had recently attended a bridal shower at the park pavilion and found that it was “so nice, beautiful up there.”

Boyar suggested that if problems exist at the park, a volunteer town effort could be organized to help.