LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY — The Cochecton Town Board unanimously passed a resolution at its June 8 meeting creating tobacco-free zones in the playground areas of Town of Cochecton ball fields and parks. Effective immediately, smoking is prohibited in the playground areas of Heinle’s Field in Cochecton Center, the Cochecton Men’s Club Field in Cochecton and Solly Katzoff Memorial Park in Lake Huntington. More information about each of these community recreation areas can be found at www.townofcochectonny.org/community/communityspaces. “No Smoking” signs will soon be posted at each of the three indicated recreation areas.

The resolution has a two-fold purpose: it seeks to protect children at play and the adults with them from harmful primary and secondhand smoke, and it promotes a model of non-smoking behavior. Sample text for the resolution was obtained from Tobacco Free Action Coalition (TFAC) of Ulster County. Said supervisor Gary Maas, “A TFAC representative from Kingston called me out of the blue and urged the board to take this positive action for the youth of our community. I’m glad we did. We expect it to play a small but important part in improving long-term overall health of town and county residents.”

The board moved on to other business, but stayed with a healthy lifestyle theme. During public comment, resident Jerry Yavarkovsky told the board that the Grover M. Hermann Hospital Auxiliary is looking for a site to host its yoga and tai chi classes for seniors and asked if the community room of the new town hall could be used for that purpose. To which Maas replied with a question, “Is this a for-profit venture?”

Former councilman Larry Richardson weighed in, reminding the board that it had previously decided, as a matter of policy, to restrict use of the community room to not-for-profit activities. Yavarkovsy said that the instructor would be paid by the Grover M. Hermann Hospital Auxiliary, a not-for-profit organization, with money collected from those enrolled in the class. There would be no cost to the town.

Councilman Paul Salzberg, MD, endorsed use of the room as a senior exercise facility, noting that there are few such venues in this part of the county.

Town attorney Karen Mannino urged that the board to examine its town hall liability insurance policy, to see if this type of activity is currently covered. She said that if it is not and the board elects to go forward with the classes, additional coverage would be required. Another spectator asked if the hospital auxiliary, sponsor of the classes, could be required to provide the requisite liability coverage.

The request was tabled, pending research of the liability issue.

Mathematician and chair of Keep Cochecton Clean, Yavarkovsky developed a mathematical prescription for countering the recent increase in litter: he proposes that residents pledge to pick up just five pieces of litter daily. “If 100 people take the pledge, that would be 500 pieces per day, 3,500 pieces per week and 35,000 pieces over a 10-week period. By the end of August, we’ll be fighting over litter.”

Failing that, a program called “Alternatives to Incarceration” may provide the manpower necessary to keep Cochecton relatively litter free. Tonya Martin of the Sullivan County Probation Department confirmed that litter-plucking can be used to fulfill community service sentences, but that medical and transportation issues are common impediments.

Salzberg announced that he will speak at the June 17 Senior Legislative Action Committee meeting on the need for additional geriatricians and geriatric services in the area.

The meeting recessed to June 22 at 6:30 p.m., when the board will consider solar farm zoning requirements.