By Matt Youngfrau
MONTICELLO — October 9, 2001 – Sullivan County, through the foreclosure process, took title to four parcels of Monticello land formerly known as the NaLou Properties.
For the last few months, the county has applied to the Town of Thompson to get the zoning changed to Highway Commercial. That was approved at the Town of Thompson Board meeting on Tuesday, October 2, but it did not come easy.
A public hearing was held on the matter on September 5. At that time, Concord attorney Gary Silver formally opposed the zone change. The board could not take a vote that night. Thompson Supervisor Tony Cellini was unable to attend the meeting, and Councilperson Bill Reiber Jr. recused himself from voting because he has a client interested in those lands.
At the October 2 meeting, Thompson attorney Bill Rosen stated that Silver could not make the meeting because he was sick but had filed a written opposition to the change. Also, Monticello attorney Barbara Garigliano stated that she represented a client that had filed the petition with the county but now the client was separating from the county. Garigliano did not state who her client was.
County Attorney Ira Cohen asked the board to do what they felt was in the best interest of the town. Once again, Reiber recused himself from the vote. The zone change, which was recommended by the zoning board, passed by a unanimous 4-0 vote.