MONTICELLO, NY — “People living next to these properties have real issues,” said legislator Joe Perrello toward the end of the June 3 Public Safety meeting. The usual reports had wound down.

Perrello’s district encompasses Fallsburg. “We need to put something in place,” he continued. “It’s time for us to step up to the plate... Their quality of life is changing because of weekenders” staying in short-term rentals.

“It’s an issue,” legislator Alan Sorensen agreed, but he pointed out that New York is a home-rule state. 

In other words, towns and counties can exercise self-government, rather than the state imposing a lot of oversight. “It’s a local building and a local planning issue,” Sorensen said. He suggested that towns reach out to the New York Department of State. 

“Towns can’t let their towns run wild,” chairman Rob Doherty objected. Noise from short-term rentals is “ruining the quality of life in Smallwood.” 

“Some towns see it as a problem,” county attorney Michael McGuire said, underscoring the reason it’s a home-rule issue. “Some don’t. Some like the revenue, some want to shut it down.” 

He recommended calling the police. “They’re not immune to having law enforcement paying them a visit.”

Noise aside, he added, there are sewage issues. Maybe zoning could come into play? “It’s very hard for the county to impose on the towns what’s essentially a zoning law.” 

The number of calls to law enforcement increases substantially in the summer, said former deputy and legislator Luis Alvarez. Officers have to prioritize. He suggested adding manpower to the sheriff’s department in the summer.