THOMPSON — During the May 4th Mamakating Town Board meeting, the board voted on writing a letter of intent to take over the D&H Canal Interpretive Center located on Bova Road.

The motion narrowly passed with Supervisor Janet Lybolt, Deputy Supervisor Eileen Rogers, and Councilmembers Thomas Morrow and John Crudo voting in favor. Councilmembers Gary Forthoffer, John Lacey and James Carney voted against the motion.

Before the vote took place, there was much discussion on the letter.

Supervisor Lybolt explained during the work session that County Manager Joshua Potosek asked Mamakating for the letter of intent to take over the center to start the process that was started over four years ago.

Lybolt stated that the center was underused and under promoted by the county and Mamakating's board has been discussing this issue since February. Lybolt explained that the property which would be handed over to the town for a nominal fee included the interpretive center, 3.5 acres of land, the dry dock and Booth's house.

The interpretive center was built approximately ten years ago with a $1.1 million grant from the Department of Transportation, and this addition would be a “good opportunity” that “compliments” the Comprehensive Plan of Ecotourism and ties in with existing trails in the town, Lybolt said.

The Opposition's Stance

Councilman Lacey led the opposition and pointed out that it cost $9,700 to run in labor and maintenance in 2019. In the same year, he said only 93 people visited the center.

He asked the board, “Does the town have the manpower and resources to run this?”

Lacey also brought up a presentation to the County Legislators in March about the center where it was mentioned that the Mamakating Local Development Corp (MLDC) could potentially take on the center if the town board did not want to.

The MLDC is a nonprofit organization that exists outside of Mamakating's board to help encourage the local economy through a variety of different projects.

Lacey stated that he would be in support of the MLDC taking ownership if they can fund it instead of the town.

In addition, Lacey asserted that the town has taken on too many projects already. He listed the current projects:

• The Mamakating Environmental Education Center (MEEC). He said that the repairs on the MEEC have been ongoing for 15 months with a bid just coming in recently.

• The Bloomingburg Dutch Reformation Church. Lacey stated that the roof has been temporarily repaired, but the roof has not been fixed yet, and painting the building is expected in the future as well.

• The new D&H Canal Trail behind town hall has just started construction.

• The Wurtsboro Art Alliance building had a major break with the pipes, and Lacey questioned if insurance would cover it.

• The Mamakating Historical Society, which is located in the Summitville School House.

• The Town Park basketball hoops. Lacey stated that the project to fix the hoops was $12,000 over budget.

In addition to all these projects, the town wants to take on ownership of the D&H Canal Interpretive Center.

“How many buildings can we maintain?” Lacey asked.

Lacey added that the MEEC is doing well and “looks promising,” but he was not interested in taking on another project.

He also claimed that this project of taking on the Interpretive Center is Lybolt's project, not the boards and urged the board to vote no.

Lybolt's Response and Further Discussion

Supervisor Lybolt was quick to rebuke Lacey's claims citing a need for many corrections. She told Lacey that “the town board, not Janet and Dave [Lybolt], approved this.”

Lybolt referred to a motion made by a previous town board to take on the Interpretive Center four years ago.

She stated that she was only a councilmember four years ago, and Lacey's claims were false.

The reason that the center was not brought up sooner is because Mamakating's board was focused on getting the MEEC up and running, Lybolt said.

Lybolt continued by telling the board that they had over three months to look over everything and to ask questions. She reiterated that the County never promoted the center and wanted to give it to the town because it was hard for them to care for it.

“No one knew it was there ... A sign was not even there,” she said.

She also explained that the town already funds the center through County taxes, and the amount to fund the center would equate to $1.50 per year per tax parcel.

Lybolt said that was “not too much to ask to gain a million-dollar building” especially since the building would be purchased for only a nominal fee.

Lybolt also addressed the many projects that Lacey mentioned:

• Lybolt explained that the contractor for the MEEC repairs has been chosen, and the project is underway.

• The Bloomingburg Dutch Reform Church had its contractor chosen at the previous board meeting.

• The new D&H Canal Trail behind town hall is already in construction. Lybolt explained that the trail is a “tremendous asset” for those who need to get to town hall and other places but do not want to walk on Route 209.

• Lybolt also explained that the Wurtsboro Art Alliance building did experience a problem, but the damages have already been repaired and were covered by insurance.

• The Summitville schoolhouse is leased to the Mamakating Historical Society, and there are no current projects there, Lybolt said.

• Lybolt also addressed Lacey's past comments about the replica boat by stating that if the project comes to fruition, it will be paid for with grants and donations. The various projects mentioned here are also largely funded by different grants and awards.

Lybolt explained that the board's role should be to “give people better opportunities that they can't give themselves,” especially when it comes to recreation.

She noted that the trails in town were “overused” during the pandemic as this was many people's only way to get out and get fresh air. She also cited an article she read in The Times Herald Record that stated that New York State has been investing in their parks systems and the result was that New York State has seen a significant increase of visitors to parks and trails. She urged the board to accept the building that will “pay for itself in the long term.”