LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY — Spring in Cochecton means renewal, change, disposal—and bats. Larry Richardson of the Cochecton Preservation Society (CPS) announced during the June 13 Cochecton Town Board meeting that CPS will sponsor a July 10 presentation by National Park Service (NPS) Biologist Jessica Newbern, aka “The Bat Lady.” Newbern will talk about local brown bat habits, habitats and the role bats play in the Upper Delaware ecosystem. The presentation will take place in the society’s home, the restored Cochecton Train Station at 8537 State Rte. 97.

Newbern is lead researcher in a multi-year NPS study of brown bats from several Upper Delaware colonies, one of them at the train station. With luck, event attendees may get a firsthand look at study subjects going about their nocturnal business.

In other business, supervisor Gary Maas reported on a proposed change in the way employee workmen’s compensation insurance is handled by Sullivan County. Last year, Cochecton paid $35,600, based on workmen’s compensation losses. This year, Cochecton will pay $53,000, based on a payroll-plus-losses formula. The new methodology, reviewed at a public hearing on June 14, was adopted by a vote of 7-2 on the same date. It is expected to save the county $850,000, by redistributing costs to towns and fire districts. Maas said the bottom line is that, in most cases, town taxpayers will shoulder the costs once borne by the county. Forestburgh is the only town expected to see a cost decrease under the new plan. The others are expecting increases, and some, like Cochecton’s, could be substantial.

Workmen’s Compensation currently provides volunteer firefighters with accidental death and disability benefits for injuries sustained in the line of duty. But fire district liaison Anna Story reported that volunteer firefighters who fight structure fires from the inside will soon be eligible for tax-free disability and death benefits as well if they have been diagnosed with certain cancers. A new state law that takes effect January 1, 2019, will also provide healthcare benefits to volunteer firefighters diagnosed with any of the following cancers: lung, prostate, breast, lymphatic, hematological, digestive, urinary, neurological, reproductive system and melanoma.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the New York State Volunteer Firefighter Gap Coverage Cancer Disabilities Benefits Act, in late October. Although the legislation has been widely hailed in the firefighting community, it will help only those diagnosed with cancer in 2019 and beyond; it does nothing for those already battling the disease. For more information on benefits guaranteed by New York State Bill S1411B- A711B, visit www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-signs-legislation-deliver-health-benefits-volunteer-firefighters-across-new-york.

Dr. Paul Salzberg reported that the Lake Huntington Lake Association has initiated an internship program as part of its effort to remove toxic algae from the lake. Under the program, interns from an upstate college lake management course will work with local high school students and community volunteers to gather, test and analyze water samples as part of a comprehensive plan to detoxify the lake. The fledgling organization of lakefront property owners has recently established itself as a not-for-profit entity and is now tax exempt.

Maas reported that the town’s cleanup days (May 19 and 20) netted seven full dumpsters and an additional metal container filled to capacity.