LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY — Tourism, and all that comes with it, loomed large at the February 11 Cochecton town board meeting. In the absence of deputy supervisor Ed Grund and councilperson Anna Story, the board tackled no resolutions. Instead, it discussed some of the various avenues it is exploring to capitalize on new revenue expected from the proposed higher county sales tax.

Supervisor Gary Maas introduced the topic, saying that it was expected to profit the county’s eastern towns, Thompson in particular, with casino-related trade constituting the bulk of it. He also said that some counties have revenue-sharing plans that distribute sales tax dollars evenly among their towns; Sullivan County does not, and Maas would like to see that change. At 8.47%, New York State sales tax is already significantly higher than that of neighboring states with destination gaming venues (NJ 6.97%; CT 6.35%; PA 6.34%, according to taxfoundation.org/article/state-and-local-sales-tax-rates-2014), potentially making it less attractive than its nearby competitors.

Cochecton is currently poised to play a more influential role in county government, thanks to two of its own: Councilperson Larry Richardson has been appointed to the Sullivan County Charter Commission, a group tasked by the Sullivan County Legislature with examining the county’s charter and recommending possible updates to it, and Highway Superintendent Kevin Esselman, who has just been elected president of the Sullivan County Highway Superintendents Association. In his new capacity, Esselman has formally requested additional county funds for road maintenance and has been informed by the county that additional funding will likely be unavailable for at least five years.

That Cochecton is currently faced with severe economic hardship was evidenced by tax collector Eileen Hennessy, who was unable to give the board an accurate accounting of 2015 real property tax revenues collected to date, because of the extraordinarily high percentage of bounced tax payment checks and stop-payment orders, saying that this is unusual during her 10 years in office.

Richardson’s Upper Delaware Council report confirmed evidence that local businesses are experiencing challenges as well, outlining a protest against Executive Order 13658, which mandates a $10.10 hourly minimum wage, effective 01/01/2015, for all employees of the federal government and its contractors. Insofar as all vendors operating in lands under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service are deemed by default to be federal government contractors, canoe liveries and other businesses operating within the river corridor are decrying what they say will be prohibitive salary costs, especially in light of the many unskilled teenage workers with which they fill seasonal jobs. Executed by President Obama, the order was intended “to improve the quality and efficiency of services provided to the government, lower employee turnover, increase employee morale, and lead to higher productivity overall on federal contracts.” Additional information regarding interpretation, enforcement and compliance of the order can be found at www.dol.gov/whd/flsa/eo13658/index.htm.

In anticipation of the next snowfall, Esselman issued an official alert that plowing, shoveling or otherwise moving snow onto public roads is illegal in New York State and punishable by fines of up to $1,000 per offense.

For complete meeting minutes, see www.townofcochectonny.org/.