WHITE LAKE, NY — At the Town of Bethel town meeting on January 27, supervisor Dan Sturm announced that the town is once again the recipient of a grant of $50,000 from Albany. It will allow the town to pay for repairs and renovations to the Senior Citizen Center and the Town Justice Court Building.

According to a press release from Sen. John Bonacic, who helped secure the grants, the improvements to the building will include, “new windows, the replacement of three exterior doors, replacement of a handicap railing and ramp, replacement of a HVAC unit, and exterior painting.”

“Improvements like this will have positive impacts for the seniors in the town,” said Bonacic. “I have no doubt that this project will save money for Bethel taxpayers.”

Supervisor Dan Sturm said, “Senator Bonacic has always been good to the Town of Bethel, and I am always appreciative of his support of the town. This grant will help us immensely, with work that is desperately needed.”

Abandoned property addressed

Also at the meeting, B.J. Gettel, the building department enforcement officer asked the town board to authorize sending the town engineer to 96 East Thompson Place in Smallwood. Gettel said the property, which had been badly damaged in a fire, is in violation of town and state codes. She said the owner has been notified of the violation but has not taken any steps to remedy the situation.

As the board was looking at pictures of the house, Gettel said “The insurance company did not pay according to what the property owner thought they should pay.”

Councilperson Vicky Simpson asked, “So they just left everything.”

“Right,” said Gettel.

The town typically removes several badly neglected homes every year, with the cost of demolition added to the property tax bill. If the owner does not pay the bill, the county eventually forecloses on the property and sells it at the county tax auction.