Southern Ulster Times Mar. 02 2016

TIMES SOUTHERN ULSTER Vol. 13, No 9 3 MARCH 2 - 8, 2016 Dukes hoist Section 9 trophy 3 ONE DOLLAR Highland robotics Page 3 Page 38 SERVING HIGHLAND, MARLBOROUGH AND PLATTEKILL Fire consumes Highland home Lloyd appointment process questioned By MARK REYNOLDS [email protected] Photos by Mark Reynolds Highland firefighters Christine LaForge (l.) and John Gallagher (r.) battled a blaze Monday night at 26 Tina Drive. By MARK REYNOLDS [email protected] The call came in at 11:47 p.m. on Monday evening for a residential chimney fire at 26 Tina Drive in Highland. By the time the Highland Fire Department arrived the entire roof structure was fully involved. Fire Chief Peter Miller said at 1:08 a.m. the fire was under control and they began to check inside for any visible flames, hot spots or extensions into walls that could flare up. They did not leave the scene until 4:01 a.m. Miller said his company had three engines, a Rescue truck and a Ladder truck at the scene and were assisted with tankers from several area companies: Milton, Esopus, New Paltz and Clintondale. Mobile Life Support Services and the Ulster County Cause of Origin team were also there. Miller said they had to tap the Maple Crest Pond on Pancake Hollow Road, for water that was pumped up to a “drop tank” close to Continued on page 2 WWW.SOUTHERNULSTERTIMES.COM The Lloyd Town Board’s appointment of Elaine Rivera as alternate #2 to the Zoning Board of Appeals sparked a spirited discussion on how residents are chosen to serve on boards. Councilman Joe Mazzetti said Rivera already serves on a board and her ‘significant other ‘ serves on another board. He said Rivera’s appointment to the ZBA may not allow an opportunity for someone else. Rivera is a member of the Revolving Loan Committee and is now a ZBA alternate. Mazzetti said, “I think the whole idea of boards is getting different people and giving different opinions and to give an opportunity for all the townspeople that want to be involved to be involved, rather than put one person or one family on three different boards.” He recommended that the Town Board table the ZBA appointment and forward the matter to the town’s Ethics Committee “to see if we are creating some ethical issue.” Supervisor Paul Hansut said there is no ethical issue concerning this matter “because we have many boards where multiple people serve on multiple boards.” Councilman Kevin Brennie added that an ethical conflict would occur if an individual were to receive some financial gain, which is not the case in this appointment. Town attorney Sean Murphy advised Continued on page 25