BETHEL — During the Bethel Town Board meeting June 25, it was announced that the New York State Department of State’s Division of Local Government Services (DLGS) has made funding available through a NY SWIMS Lifeguard Grant program to address a critical shortage of staff lifeguards at public locations in New York municipalities. 

Through the DLGS program, the Sullivan County Parks, Recreation, and Beautification Department has secured a reimbursable grant of $3,125 for Bethel, which will cover the cost of advertisements, salaries and certification courses for the recruitment of lifeguards through September 30, 2025.

The county will be designated as the “Contractor” and the Town of Bethel as the “Sub-contractor” in the retaining and submitting of receipts, payroll documents, and paid invoices for the reimbursable costs. 

Bethel Town Supervisor Dan Sturm thanked Matt McPherson and the County Legislature for the work they performed in procuring the grant.

Discussion of moratorium scheduled for July 9

Councilman William Crumley suggested that the topic of the moratorium, be addressed at a Town Board meeting. The Bethel Roundtable had presented a petition asking for a moratorium on large-scale high-density construction for a period of six months with a renewal option, as the Town Comprehensive Plan is being rewritten. 

The petition had been signed by more than 500 Bethel residents and was accompanied by a legal document drawn up by Attorney Jeff Baker, which was suggested as a framework for the Town’s implementation.  When asked on occasion, Supervisor Sturm had stated that he would reach a decision “at an appropriate time.”

Sturm acknowledged he would allow time for public comment on the issue at the next Town Board meeting on July 9. Denise Frangipane asked whether the Town Attorney would be present. Because the reply was no, that he would not be, several people asserted a need for his presence. 

Frangipane also asked “Are you planning to discuss the moratorium in general?” She stated that it is “unconventional to discuss a moratorium” without reference to a specifically defined moratorium, and cited the document that Baker had presented three months ago. 

She said, “We worked hard to provide the Town with a document “outlining [the Roundtable’s] idea of what the moratorium will be. People may think it disallows construction of a house. The definition can be broad.” 

Jonathan Hyman, of Smallwood, offered, “It’s nice that there is some movement to enter into a more serious discussion about the moratorium process and the need for a short term pause in certain types of development applications and construction. The Roundtable effort is to ensure the time and resources necessary [for a] vision of Bethel and the zoning to support it…this is an inclusionary vision…to foster sustainability for our town’s water, environmental resources, and infrastructure, for the long haul.”

“Rather than [a simple] informal discussion about this important initiative, the better…way to proceed is to propose a specific local law and then vote to send it to a formal public hearing that carries legal weight…(including) an environmental review under SEQRA…The Roundtable submitted a professionally drafted moratorium law that we know is subject to revision…I hope it will be the central focus July 9.”