GLEN SPEY, NY — A much debated plan for a town program to spay and neuter cats in Lumberland is still up in the air, as the Lumberland Town Board voted down a motion to reduce the program fee.

Animal rights activist Joan Rosenfelt had lobbied the board for months to take action, and until late last year, the officials had said they could not legally spend taxpayer funds on such a program.

The apparent break came when the attorney for the town, Danielle Jose-Decker, employed an amendment to state Municipal Home Rule law allowing a town to “supplement” provisions of the state Agriculture and Markets Law.

A local law was drawn and approved, essentially allowing the town to administer a “certificate program,” in which residents would take title to feral cats and purchase up to 25 certificates annually at $50 per certificate, which would be honored by The Animal Rights Alliance (TARA) for neutering of cats.

The town would pass the $50 payments for each certificate through to TARA, so the program would be at no cost to taxpayers. The problem arose when the law included a $2 service charge in addition to the $50. TARA objected to the extra fee, calling it a fundraiser.

Last month Rosenfelt and several other residents asked the board to rescind the $2 fee, and the resolution was on the board’s February 10 agenda for the change.

The resolution prompted no debate, but it was defeated by a 2-3 vote. Councilmen Leigh Sherman and Joe Carr were opposed, along with Supervisor Jenny Mellan.

In other business

A late-filed resolution in opposition to the proposed natural gas compressor station in neighboring Highland was directed to Jose-Decker for review and action at the board’s March meeting.

Speaking on behalf of the Lumberland Concerned Citizens group, resident Pete Comstock urged town action against the compressor station. “It’s an uphill battle, but it doesn’t hurt to give it a shot,” he said.

Following a public hearing, the board adopted a local law that accepted Sullivan County’s new scale of senior citizen income allowance levels related to property-tax exemptions. The new scale allows income of $20,500 for a 50% tax break, with a sliding scale up to $28,900 for a 5% reduction.

Following another hearing, the board adopted a second local law amending town zoning to remove a requirement for planning board approval of a special use permit to allow installation of geothermal heating systems. Code Enforcement Officer Dave Sparling supported the change.

It was determined that a condemned and apparently abandoned building on the former BelAir mansion on County Road 42 is owned by a Philadelphia church group, which is tax exempt. Removal of the unused building would be at town expense, Sparling said.

The board passed a posthumous resolution recognizing the longtime service and dedication of former planning board and zoning re-write team member Susan Morely, who passed away at home on January 22. A retired teacher, Morely was active in town activities for 25 years.