By Susan Monteleone
NARROWSBURG — March 29, 2005 – At their recent meeting, the Town of Tusten board members dealt with an issue that so many other area towns are discussing.
That important issue is whether or not the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s statewide ban on feeding whitetail deer should be rescinded.
“It is a shame to see the deer starve when the food is scarce during the winter months and I feel that we should band with other townships and see if we can help the deer and prevent them from starving, and we should support the Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs [of Sullivan County] efforts in this matter,” Town of Tusten Supervisor Ben Johnson said.
Councilman Charles Knapp added, “It is a shame to see the animals starve when people are willing to feed them, and I feel we should support the proposed resolution also.”
With the vote before the board, Supervisor Johnson read the resolution that stated in part, “Whereas the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has imposed rules and regulations banning the feeding of whitetail deer in the State of New York, and the winter months with deep snowfall and subfreezing temperatures in Sullivan County has caused considerable deer mortality and starvation, the Town of Tusten believes that it would be beneficial to all residents and hunting clubs to feed deer, rather than witness the death and starvation of the deer during months when their food is in short supply.”
The board members then approved the resolution in support of rescinding the ban on deer feeding.
Also coming before the board for discussion was the upcoming Road Rally New York event, which is scheduled to be held in April. Ed Jackson, who is one of the organizers of the Road Rally New York event, was at the meeting.
“The event is scheduled to take place on April 15th and 16th, and we are expecting a big turnout,” he said. “Local organizations will be holding refreshment stands and the Boy Scouts are allowing the use of their land for the event. We are currently expecting up to 75 Rally Cars for the event and the cars will travel the Beaverbrook area, the Cochecton Turnpike area and the Miles Pond area.”
Knapp also noted that upon reviewing the recent town bills, the prices have gone up a lot with fuel, heating oil and other items. He said that increase should be put into the concept in upcoming budget issues.
Johnson added that he has received a request for the Town of Tusten to follow the Town of Deerpark’s recent approval of a law allowing 500-feet setbacks for the construction of new homes when they border a hunting property. Johnson noted that he has turned the request over to the town attorney.