NARROWSBURG, NY — The Town of Tusten moved a step further on their Climate Smart journey with the council’s unanimous vote to proceed with the conversion of lighting at the Town Hall and Town Barn to LED. NYSEG will cover up to 73% of the cost of conversion. The Town will pay $286 per month for two years with no interest costs, and realize a savings of $39,000 over five years. The work can start in eight weeks and take two days to complete.

Brandi Merolla reported that the town has applied to the state for Climate Smart Community certification, which will open up significant grant monies to the town. Code enforcement officer Gary Amerbach will soon complete a NYSERDA residential and commercial green-training course, after which the town will receive $5,000 in grant money. One of the projects being considered for the grant money is a town compost system. The resulting compost could be bagged and sold as Tusten compost.

Merolla also reported that greenhouse gas emissions decreased 24% in 2017 as a result of the various initiatives and that solar lighting makes the town carbon-neutral.

Jane Luchsinger reported on the progress of the Sullivan Renaissance Municipal Partnership Grant, stating that the town is behind on its plan as a result of the May 15 storm. They are rescaling the original plan and making changes as the work progresses. She said that the garden on the Flats is started, though it is smaller in size than originally planned and that only one half of the proposed walking trail will be put in place at this time because contractors that could be used for this are busy with remaining storm damage restoration. Trees are to be planted on Kirk Road. A plea was made for help on the Flats, stating that no amount of help is too little. Volunteers can contact the town clerk’s office or Tusten Youth to assist in planting, fencing and placing posts for bird houses.

Jill Padua noted that in some towns, goats are being employed to eat up knotweed, which is a viable long-term solution to the problem.

Community member Star Hesse stated during public comment that Merolla’s tenacious effort to break logjams in various initiatives has resulted in the town’s great environmental accomplishments. Said Hesse, “Everything we’ve been working on for the past five years is coming to fruition.” The board heartily agreed with Hesse’s assessment.

Regarding the Cackletown Road Pond, Supervisor Carol Wingert reported that she had spoken with the owner, Robert Olman, who has engaged a civil engineer team recommended by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Olman identified himself from the audience and stated that he has also engaged a wildlife management expert who, upon receiving DEC approval, will install an apparatus dubbed a “lake leveler,” which would prevent the lake from overflowing and “allow the beavers to do what beavers do—and allow us to have a lake and a road and people and wildlife can live together.” Responding to comments made at the June meeting, he said, “We do respect nature. We love Sullivan County and we want to keep it beautiful—that’s why we bought the property.”

Wingert stated that she had spoken with the DEC point person and has requested through written communication that the town be apprised by the DEC of any permits that are issued. She stated that the town is alerting the DEC of the town’s knowledge of goings-on with the property as is the town’s responsibility, due to deed restrictions that had been put on the property by the DEC years ago. The correspondence from the town was precipitated by concerns raised by town citizens about water levels and the effects on wildlife and endangered species. Wingert said that the town is “doing its due diligence and following up with the DEC, no more and no less.”