BARRYVILLE – The former Catskill Mountains Resort property at 211 Mail Road in Barryville, which has been operating as a camp and yeshiva since 2022, was ordered stop work orders from the Town of Highland Building Department after multiple notices of violations.

The property also received violations from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), which in a letter dated October 29, said there are “multiple failing septic systems” on the property “causing a contravention of water quality standards.”

The DEC letter also states that the property’s State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) permit is expired and that the property owners must apply for a new one.

The penalty is stated at $37,500 per day for each violation. 

On October 28 the Town of Highland Building Department issued multiple violations including pumping of raw sewage.

On October 22 the Town of Highland announced that it would be partnering with AG Environmental to test the wells at addresses surrounding the 211 Mail Road property.

According to Town of Highland Supervisor John Pizzolato, the properties tested negative, however, the yeshiva property tested positive for fecal matter at unsafe rates.

The town also served violations for third-floor bedrooms not having automatic sprinkler systems, upgrading a septic tank to a larger size without a permit or plans, and for building a swimming pool for use as a mikvah (a ritual bath used in Orthodox Judaism) without a permit.

The violations are addressed to the Yad Yecheskel D’veretzky Foundation, which has an address in Brooklyn.

According to the Charity Navigator website, the foundation was granted tax-exempt status in 2023. It is associated with the parent organization, Mosdos Veretzky, which has yeshiva locations in Brooklyn and Lakewood, NJ and lists the Barryville location on its website.

The Democrat reached out to the property owner listed on documents and Mosdos Veretzky but did not hear back by presstime.

Pizzolato said, “We want to find a way for everyone to be compliant and meet in the middle and find uses that keeps the public safe.”