Nearly 50 people attended a Catskill Village Board public hearing Wed., Aug. 28, at the Catskill Senior Center on the proposed brine ban law. The board is contemplating the adoption of a local law to prohibit the use of waste brine from fracking as a de-icer on village roads and properties. Several speakers questioned elements of the draft law, including the fines to be levied, and village property versus private property. The majority of those who spoke were in favor of the law as presented and urged the board to move forward with the legislation and make the necessary amendments later. Among the Village Trustees in attendance, two indicated support of the ban, while two others said they will hold off on making a decision until they better understand the issues. The board agreed to conduct additional research into similar bans passed in nearby towns, and to tighten up some of the language in the draft. The board is expected to vote on the law at its next meeting in two weeks.

PLAY Joseph Kozloski, Catskill Village Trustee and Greene County Legislator (1:29)
PLAY Stan Dushane and Patrick McCulloch, Catskill Village trustees (2:07)
PLAY Vince Seeley, Catskill Village President, and Lewis O'Connor, Catskill Village Highway Superintendent (3:45)

The public hearing can be heard in its entirety in the WGXC archives (45:56).

Sam Sebren