Cochecton copes with COVID-19

LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY – The April monthly Cochecton Town Board meeting was supposed to have been closed to the public, with board members and department heads only present, as indicated by supervisor Gary Maas’ notice on the town’s website homepage (www.townofocochectonny.org):

“Our regular monthly meeting for April 8th will be held with only the board members and the town clerk and any department head with pertinent business. If you have any concerns or questions for the board, please call me [845/932-8360 ext. 15] or email me [supervisor@townofcochectonny.org], and we will address it and get back to you.”

Maas, deputy supervisor Ed Grund, councilman Sean Nearing, councilman Michael Walter, and deputy town clerk Peggy Richardson were present, as was superintendent of highways Kevin Esselman and one media representative. Councilman Paul Salzberg was absent. Although only the media representative was masked, everyone observed generous social distancing, board members so far apart megaphones would have been welcome.

Asked if Cochecton plans to hold board meetings via Zoom and/or teleconference during the remainder of the COVID-19 shelter-in-place order, Maas cited well-publicized privacy breaches associated with Zoom as the reason for the “closed” live meeting. He added that he plans to participate in Tusten’s April 14 town board meeting via Zoom; if that digital experience goes well, Cochecton may follow suit.

Maas made it clear that most annual town events normally scheduled for this time of year are postponed until after the shelter-in-place order has been lifted, cleanup days and litter pluck among them. But the board did decide that, when cleanup days are eventually held, the town will again accept discarded tires.

Surprisingly, some construction and repair projects are going forward during the COVID-19 crisis. Code enforcement officer Greg Semenetz reported issuance of seven building permits during the past month: one for a manufactured home; two for existing home renovations; and four for construction of new single-family homes.

In response to a personal plea from Maas, Sen. Jen Metzger, who on March 8 met with Maas and other local government and nonprofit leaders at a venue off Route 97, promised that guardrails long missing from that state byway will be replaced during summer 2020, two years earlier than NYDOT’s prior prediction of 2022 replacement.

Esselman talked about the social distancing challenges his highway department endures daily. It means the department must operate with four trucks instead of the usual two, one man to a vehicle. And every day, at day’s end, each truck cab must be thoroughly sanitized inside and out. “I need sanitizing wipes, disinfectant spray, paper towels, and whatever else you can give me,” said Esselman.

“We just got some of that stuff in with our office supply order,” said Maas. “Help yourself.”

Then came a moment of Zen amid COVID-19 anxiety. Maas announced that Rufus, a dog repeatedly abandoned by its owner to the town’s care, has been adopted into a forever home by a loving family. 

“It’s the best possible thing that could have happened to that dog,” said Maas.