GLEN SPEY, NY — A much anticipated repayment provided a holiday gift for Lumberlanders that highlighted the town board’s brief December 14 meeting.

The gift came in Supervisor Jenny Mellan’s announcement that Time-Warner Cable TV had confirmed that the company owed the town “a little over $40,000” for payments that should have been made to the town for the cable franchise over a period of years.

Mellan went on to explain that there would be no related charge-backs due to the payment, and Time-Warner customers’ monthly service payments would not be affected. Her announcement prompted applause from the meeting audience.

Mellan said payment also would not impact January tax bills, as the repayment had already been budgeted.

In September, the supervisor announced that an audit of Time-Warner Cable (TWC) franchise payments had revealed that the town had received monthly franchise payments of 3% over a six-year period, when the agreement called for 5%. She then said the missing 2% over the period amounted to $43,748 according to the audit conducted by the Cohen Law Group of New York City.

Town historian Frank Schwarz announced that he had received a letter from the New York State historian seeking more information on his “self-guided tour” brochure listing Lumberland’s highway historic markers; and that he was planning a presentation he would make to the 2017 statewide municipal historians’ convention in Poughkeepsie.

In other business, the board re-appointed Jean Mulcahey to the town’s board of assessment review.

They also approved the $653 purchase of a new computer for the town code-enforcement officer, a $100 donation for the constables from MLK Camp, creation of an independent project reserve fund for parks and recreation with a starting balance of $2,150 from current budget line surplus, up to $1,500 for Hunt Signs replacement of the town welcome sign at the County Route 31 and New York State Route 97 intersection, an update of the town constables procedural manual, a new two-year snow and ice removal contract with Sullivan County calling for payment of $5,684 per lane-mile, and the acceptance of dedication of the 1,500-foot Shafer Heights Road.

The board will hold a re-organization meeting on January 4, at 7 p.m., prior to the board’s regular workshop meeting.

Town offices will be closed for the holidays on December 25 and 26, and on January 1 and 2.