LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY — It was where it should be on Saturday evening, March 5, gone the next morning. Witnesses present at the March 9 Cochecton Town Board meeting, Supervisor Gary Maas and Highway Superintendent Kevin Esselman among them, testified to that. Said Scenic Byway liaison Larry Richardson, “It had vandalism-proof bolts designed to make it immovable. Someone had to work hard to steal it.”

They were speaking of the sign and town map located at the pull-off on Route 97 just north of the old pump station and Route 114 intersection. It was not the first time that the sign has been vandalized; two years ago it was defaced with spray paint. After returning the cleaned and restored sign to its place beside the scenic byway, Maas said, “Let’s see how long it lasts this time.” Sunday he got his answer. Anyone with knowledge of the crime is asked to call Maas at 845/932-8360, ext.15.

Upper Delaware Council liaison Richardson also reported on the proposed hydroelectric plant planned for the West Branch of the Delaware River at the Cannonsville Reservoir, the newest of New York City water supply reservoirs. Announced in September 2014, the project was scheduled to start construction in early 2016, but has since been delayed indefinitely and now faces expiration of its Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) license. Richardson said the project’s future is now uncertain, noting that FERC rarely extends licensing deadlines.

In other business, Cochecton Youth Commission (CYC) chair Sue Rodriguez told the board that the county would match a town donation to the group and, said CYC hoped the town would make one as well. The town did, donating more than $350.

CYC receives some of its funding from the state and raises the rest from moneymaking activities, including an upcoming penny social on May 1 at Lakeview Pizzeria (formerly Angelina’s on the Hill). Doors open at 2 p.m. Calling starts at 3 p.m. Prizes and donations are sought. Visit townofcochectonny.org/boards/youthboard for more information.

Karen Grund’s resignation from the CYC board created a vacancy filled by candidate Kristin Lockwood, her appointment unanimously approved by the town board.

During the highway superintendent’s report to the board, Esselman said that the time-honored practice of purchasing highway department heavy equipment via competitive bid is fast becoming a thing of the past. The process used to require a bid notice in local newspapers with subsequent opening of sealed bids at a town board meeting. But, according to Esselman, most towns have moved to an Internet-based bid process administered by the National Joint Powers Alliance (NJPA).

Per Esselman, the town must first become a member of NJPA, but he insisted that there are no membership dues or other fees and no mandatory purchases. Maas and board member Sean Nearing said that it sounded too good to be true and insisted that there must be a catch, Maas asking how NJPA manages to make a profit. Esselman said that membership is free to municipalities but not to vendors. NJPA is a nationwide organization and so makes national brands available to local dealers.

Nearing announced that the Cochecton Men’s Club will hold an Easter egg hunt on Saturday, March 26 at 1 p.m.

The board recessed until March 22 at 6:30 p.m., when it will consider whether to permit solar farms in the town.