HORTONVILLE  — The Delaware Town Board began preparations for 2025 with a reorganizational meeting that included reappointing personnel, setting salaries, renewing insurance coverage and reports on ongoing and upcoming projects. The monthly meeting was held this past Wednesday, January 8, in the town municipal building in Hortonville.

The town board approved a long list of appointments and salaries, which included official depositories of Jeff Bank, Wayne Bank and NY Class. The Sullivan County Democrat was also reappointed as the official town newspaper.

David Bodenstein, owner of Mike Preis Insurance, presented the board with a renewal of its insurance policy from New York Municipal Insurance Reciprocal (NYMIR). Bodenstein explained that the town could save $2,000 if they increased their property deductible from $2,500 to $5,000, to which the board  unanimously agreed. The board also reviewed and discussed needed coverage for new equipment and new wells to the hamlet of Callicoon’s water system.

NYMIR’s insurance coverage for the municipality, which increased approximately four percent, was renewed by a unanimous vote.

Building Inspector Kristofer Scullion reported there were 100 building permits issued last year. He said many builders are now working inside during the colder weather.

He also updated the board on a potential project on Swiss Hill Road involving Bnos Rochel, a summer camp for Hasidic children. Scullion said the camp is drawing up plans for the  demolition of a dormitory and the building of two new dormitories, a project expected to cost millions.

Representatives from Bnos Rochel will be at the next week’s Delaware Planning Board meeting on Wednesday at 7 p.m. to discuss the project.

Engineer Bill Brown from Delaware Engineering then gave a status report on several ongoing projects, including a water project on State Route 17B, upkeep and repairs for the Delaware Youth Center’s tennis and pickleball courts, and a grant for the highway garage. 

Supervisor Scott Dubois said the town would be looking for a new grant for the Town Highway Garage because the former grant required matching funds, which was cost prohibitive.

Brown said that the Callicoon Water System project is progressing, with the water wells slowly being installed.

“Right now we have 110 of the 150 users of the system who have installed the necessary water meters,” Brown said. “We still have about 40 or so to go. These installations need to be done immediately so we can complete that part of the project and fulfill the statute.”

Town Clerk Tess McBeath said that any Callicoon Water System user who has not had their meter installed can call her at 845-887-5250 to set up an appointment.

Brown said, “Once all the meters are installed we can record one year’s usage and this could be the basis for water rates, if the board desires.”

Brown said that Delaware Engineering is working with the Delaware Youth Center to go to bid with their upgrade work on the tennis and pickleball courts, whose monies are coming from a Sullivan 180 grant awarded last year.

Last on the meeeting’s agenda were resolutions to approve money for highway expenditures  and an agreement with the newly-appointed planner, Genius Loci Planning, which were both unanimously passed. 

The board also announced that all Town Board Meetings for the year will be held at 6 p.m. on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 104 Lower Main St., Hortonville.