NARROWSBURG — At the Town of Tusten's public hearing recently, no residents spoke for or against proposed Local Law #5, “A Local Law Placing a Three-month Moratorium on Solar Energy Systems in the Town.”

The moratorium was then approved by a unanimous vote of the board members present during the following board meeting.

Board member Ned Lang was absent. Town Supervisor Carol Wingert said, “We have no solar zoning regulations currently, so we need to have a law on the books in order to allow commercial solar projects to proceed.”

The purpose of the moratorium is to allow the town time to “consider, formulate and amend its local laws and regulations in accordance with the Town's Comprehensive Plan.”

The board also approved a motion to amend the town's NYS Unified Solar Permit application, including setting the application fee at $125. By using the state's standardized permit, with locally approved amendments, the approval process for installing solar in the community will be streamlined, resulting in reduced costs.

Once finalized, the permit application will be available on the town's website. Upon completing the amended application, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority/Consolidated Funding Application (NYSERDA/CFA) will award the town $2500.

In other business, the town addressed the feral cat issue, and as last year, approved up to $750 for T.A.R.A. (The Animal Rights Alliance) to spay/neuter and give rabies shots to any feral cats caught by the Narrowsburg Cat Patrol. With the recent increase in reports of rabid animals in the county, the board also considered instituting a dog enumeration. Owners would be given an opportunity to get the required vaccinations for their dogs. Non-compliance would result in a fine. The issue will be discussed further at next month's regular board meeting.

The board also welcomed new business owner Vinny Doria, owner of Uncle Vinny's Restaurant in Narrowsburg, and approved a motion to expedite his application with the NYS Liquor Authority.