BARRYVILLE – Two Barryville-based businesses are being pursued in a civil action lawsuit by the Town of Highland to enforce a stop work order which was issued in February.
Highland Town …
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BARRYVILLE – Two Barryville-based businesses are being pursued in a civil action lawsuit by the Town of Highland to enforce a stop work order which was issued in February.
Highland Town Attorney Michael Davidoff was directed to file a civil action against Barryville Oasis and River Holding Company following an emergency Town Board meeting on April 19.
The town is alleging that the business owners, Johnny Pizzolato and Roswell Hamrich, continued to operate the businesses in violation of that stop work order and also did not get the proper permitting necessary to operate the businesses, according to Supervisor Jeff Haas.
The duo also operate the Stickitt-Inn Cidery, which is a one-stop shop and gas station just off Route 97 in Barryville.
The town saw it “necessary to seek Judicial Intervention to enjoin and restrain the operation” of the businesses. Town Supervisor Jeff Haas went on to say that “everyone in the town has to play by the same rules.”
According to the resolution, the Highland Building Department had issued various Town Code violations and New York State Building Code violations, as well as a Stop Work Order against the businesses, which was issued on February 24.
Business owner Pizzolato claims that the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Chair Larry Fishman said that the project did not require a special use permit before the business opened.
Additonally, prior to the Oasis opening its doors, the owners reported to have submitted a letter of intent to notify the town about the business’ intent, and Pizzolato and Hamrich received no violations up until a fire inspection after opening, at which time they received violations.
Pizzolato said that there are no proper mechanisms to be followed in this situation, and that this event is just one in “a continuous attack on [his] character” and businesses.
The Supreme Court’s response is yet to be determined but is expected within the coming weeks.
Coincidentally, Pizzolato will be running on the Democratic ticket for Town Supervisor to challenge incumbent Supervisor Jeff Haas for his seat in November.
Pizzolato ran against Haas in the last election, losing in his bid to unseat the incumbent Supervisor.
Diesel pump destroyed
The Town of Highland issued a press release on Monday, April 24 intended to provide an official update to an accident outside the Barryville Oasis which destroyed its diesel pump.
The town reported it has video evidence that the accident was caused by a car transport vehicle sideswiping the property.
It noted that “the Town Board does not and will not tolerate or condone targeted violence against any business or property owner and must be fully transparent in matters of public safety.”
“Further investigation determined that the car transportport truck originated in New Jersey and was carrying vehicles to a car salesman located on County Route 21 in the hamlet of Barryville when it accidentally, and likely unknowingly, sideswiped the diesel gas pumps at the Barryville Oasis,” according to the release.
“Allegations of vandalism, a hate crime, and a threat to public safety prompted a swift response by the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department and the Town of Highland Board’s Public Safety Committee…” the release noted.
Barryville Oasis owner Pizzolato replied to the town’s statement soon after it was posted, claiming the town provided misinformation with the story.
“There are several inaccuracies being reported in the post [report] and all is still an open investigation,” Pizzolato said.
“We were hard pressed to find the footage of the event on our cameras as the incident occurred at around 6 pm on Thursday, April 20 in broad daylight.”
He stated that the driver hit the pump 4 times and then returned to put gas in his tank, and then drove away, further destroying the pump, going on to say that “the driver either has sobriety issues, road rage, or intentionally meant to destroy the pump – it was no fender bender.”
Pizzolato reported that the driver came back to “punch the digital screen and then dismantled the top part of the dispenser.” He noted that the neighbor’s camera was able to see the companies’ logo on the truck, but the incident was not caught on the neighbor’s recording.
“We did not make any allegations toward the town, we simply posted that our pump was destroyed and the town issued us a violation after an emergency 8 a.m. meeting Wednesday… the suggestion that we would do this for political gain or to sully the name of the Town of Highland is really disheartening, but we all have free speech, and if that’s how you choose to celebrate your freedom, so be it,” Pizzolato said.
The Democrat reached out to the New York State Police and the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office for official responses on the incident from the law enforcement agencies.
The State Police said that they are in contact with the investigators, but they do not have any information regarding the investigation at present.
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