In a possible precursor to upcoming family gatherings, the Mamakating Town Board meeting on November 15 was full of lively debate, good-natured laughter, and impassioned accusations.

Topping all other agenda items was one single road with not just the maintenance responsibility but even its size in contention. What was agreed on was that Fish Hatchery Road, a town-owned dead-end dirt road with several properties, suffers from serious neglect.

Fish Hatchery Road was on the agenda for the board to accept Sullivan County's measurement of the road at 2,640 feet. The measurement resolution would have been the first formal step in determining who is responsible for the road maintenance: the town or the owner of the largest land parcel at the end of Fish Hatchery Road.

The road and parcel have fallen into such disrepair that even after researching town records and speaking to former department officials, Deputy Highway Superintendent Tom Morrow could not concretely determine the road's maintenance history. Records included at least two different measurements and as many measuring points. Putting boots to soil, Morrow, using a surveyor’s wheel, took a measurement of 2,121 feet.

His appraisal of the road was brief, as he was managing the trucks for the first snow storm of the season already in progress. Morrow urged the board to determine an official measurement number and issue him guidance, as he stated it is "prudent that elected officials make the decision," adding, "I need to know what do we [the highway department] do tonight, because we've got trucks out." He further explained that the road lacks a turnaround for the salt trucks.

The maintenance dispute has stretched on for at least 30 years. The board noted that the previous owner did not want the road maintained, who is even rumored as standing at the gate with a shotgun.

The current owner of the parcel at the end of the road, Ambika Conroy, who commented via Zoom, bought the land in a tax sale roughly seven years ago. She said Highway Superintendent Robert Hufcut plowed the road. This opened a big debate, in which the prevailing summation was that Hufcut plowed the road twice last year against then-Supervisor Janet Lybolt's advice, as she saw the road as unsafe for the drivers.

With a business on the line and family to provide for, the owner is ready for an official determination as well. She argued that she has improved the land at the end of Fish Hatchery Road, which she said was like a "junk yard," and that she is bringing in revenue.

Public comments continued, including from other Fish Hatchery Road residents and the former council member for the area, John Lacey. Comments described the poor condition of the road, leading to the argument that too much overhaul (ie. grading, easements, culverts) is needed. Residents argued that this work needed to be done before trucks could plow and that the responsibility should not fall on the town. But, no one went as far as Lacey who asked, "Who does this woman think she is?" Lacey asserted, "This young lady asking you [the town board] to maintain the road in order to get to her illegal short-term rental ... and two buildings [for which] she has violations since 2015 ... all at the tax payers’ expense."

Several commenters on Zoom were prompted to speak up in defense of the owner. They said she was being picked on and one questioned the board's interest in tourism.

Supervisor Mike Robbins spoke on behalf of the board and made it clear that their issue is not about a person, but about a road. The resolution on the agenda to accept the county's Fish Hatchery Road measurement was not voted on. Instead, the board agreed, with the help of an attorney on Zoom representing the town, that an official determination needs to be made on abatement, size, and maintenance.

The other issue stemming from this road discussion is another more common in recent history — short-term rentals (STR). Continuing the search for an STR decision, the town will have another STR workshop/board discussion open to the public and available for public comment after the board discussion on November 30 at 6 p.m.

Town Matters

During the meeting’s public hearing, one resident spoke on the proposed town budget, which the town had extended to one more month to give all residents a chance to review it. When asked why the public has no vote on it and can only comment, the answer was the public gives their vote during elections. However, historically these elections lack voter participation. Robbins cited a fire company commissioner election last year in which a total of 25 people voted.

Regarding the recent mid-term election, planning board member John Lacey described the process as, "a disgrace." Speaking as a veteran and captain of the American Legion, Lacey said he "did not serve eight years to have residents, 15 of which I know personally of, to walk off the voting line and not vote." Lacey was referring to the unprecedented hour-plus wait at the Mamakating Town Hall and the Mamakating Town Park polling places. Lacey noted that it was not the democratic elections he and others fought for to have elderly, disabled, and workers unable to vote because they could not stand in line for over an hour. It has not been determined what caused the long wait, but it is clear that Mamakating voters are angry. Several town residents were in agreement with Lacey and some said they contacted the Sullivan County Board of Elections.

In other news Janet Barnett asked the board for a letter of support for the Friends of MEEC to seek a grant from Parks and Trails New York. Robbins elected to create a resolution immediately and the board approved the motion.

The board closed the meeting wishing everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving.