LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY — At its December 9 monthly meeting, the Cochecton town board postponed two public hearings, choosing instead to address year-end business matters and several first-of-a-kind situations.

Highway maintenance money was among the first of the board’s year-end business matters. A lengthy resolution urging Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature to increase highway maintenance funding to local governments, which bear 85% of the cost of road and bridge maintenance, passed unanimously.

The town then put its own money where its mouth is, unanimously approving transfer of funds to cover the cost of a new highway maintenance truck with plow and comprehensive accounting software designed specifically for highway maintenance oversight. Highway superintendent Kevin Esselman said he expects the software to yield more detailed and accurate recordkeeping, increased transparency of highway funds management and ultimately operational efficiencies. Supervisor Gary Maas asked Esselman if the software would be able to monitor fuel consumption of individual vehicles; Esselman said that it would.

Tax collector Eileen Hennessy’s monthly reports to the board during off-collection season invariably conclude with the dollar amount in the town’s tax collection checking account—and it’s usually pennies. This month her report began with, “There’s something wrong.” An electronic debit by a vendor whose name is unfamiliar to Hennessy and her colleagues at the county level has resulted in a negative balance of the checking account. “It could be fraud,” said Hennessy, announcing that an investigation into the matter has begun.

Maas said that even if the vendor turns out to be one of the town’s legitimate vendors doing business under another name, obtaining payment via electronic debit of the tax collection checking account is not a legitimate business practice. He added that legitimate vendors are paid by check from the contractual balance of the tax collection budget, and said that the board will continue to monitor the situation closely.

“Anything new at the sewer plant?” Maas asked sewer officer Michael Walter.

“Rats,” replied Walters. “We’ve had mice before, but never rats.” Public health issues aside, the rats are problematic because they’re gnawing through sewer plant infrastructure, insulation and all. An extermination plan has been put into effect.

As Maas read a report from dog control officer Rosemary Barile, he brought the board up to date on the latest exchange between the towns of Cochecton and Bethel. In early 2015, Cochecton borrowed a dog trap from Bethel, which was then destroyed by a large feral dog in Cochecton’s custody. Although Cochecton subsequently replaced the trap, following Barile’s recommendation for a replacement of quality and cost comparable to that of the destroyed trap, Bethel was not satisfied with the replacement and asked that Cochecton provide a sturdier one. Urging the board to agree to Bethel’s request, Councilmember Anna Story said that each town would bear half the cost of replacement; the board approved Bethel’s request.

In the absence of code enforcement officer Greg Semenetz, Maas said that there were more building permit applications in November 2015 than in July of most years.

The board recessed into executive session, but not before scheduling its next meeting for December 30 at 6:30 p.m. and announcing that the public hearings postponed from December 9 would be held January 27.

For more information visit townofcochectonny.org.