MONTICELLO — While Wednesday night’s weather outside Monticello Village Hall at 2 Pleasant Street was hot, so too was the discussion inside as village board members weighed the transportation benefits of a proposed private bus service against concerns over traffic safety and appropriate pickup locations.

While the board ultimately agreed to table the request, members asked representatives of the bus company to return with revised stop locations that would better accommodate passengers while minimizing impacts on traffic and nearby properties.

Speaking on behalf of the proposal, resident Yakov Mandelovics explained that the privately owned Kaser Bus Service operates multiple daily routes between Sullivan and Rockland counties and hopes to expand service by adding additional stops in Monticello.

He detailed that the proposed additions would include stops on St. John Street, Broadway, and the corner of Hammond Street and Fraser Avenue, giving residents another transportation option between Sullivan and Rockland counties.

“It could be a tremendous benefit for a lot of people in any community,” Mandelovics said, adding that the service offers affordable transportation for residents.

Trustee Gordon Jenkins voiced his primary concern with the proposed St. John Street stop, stressing that the area was already heavily congested.

“I almost had an accident—a head-on accident. Twice,” Jenkins said, noting that adding another bus stop in the area could increase the likelihood of a serious accident.

Mandelovics assured the board that if members opposed a specific location, the stop could be relocated rather than eliminated altogether.

Deputy Mayor John Barbarite also questioned several of the proposed pickup locations, particularly the Hammond Street and Fraser Avenue stop. He emphasized that buses should not stop where passengers would be forced to wait in the roadway or on private property.

In turn, Barbarite said future proposals should identify locations where buses can safely pull out of traffic while providing adequate space for riders to board and exit.

Responding to suggestions that the matter be tabled, Barbarite said the next step should be for representatives of the bus company to return with revised locations before any approval is considered.

However, the discussion became more animated as Mandelovics questioned whether the same standards were being applied to Move Sullivan bus stops, noting that the county-operated system already utilizes numerous pickup locations throughout the village.

“I want to see what [action] the board is going to take…against Move Sullivan, just like you did with the proposed Kaser stops,” Mandelovics said, arguing that regulations should be enforced equally regardless of the operator.

Jenkins responded that if existing Move Sullivan stops present similar safety concerns, they should also be addressed.

“I don’t play favorites in this village,” Jenkins said, emphasizing that his concerns were based solely on public safety and not on who submitted the proposal.

The exchange continued as Mandelovics expressed frustration over what he viewed as inconsistent enforcement, while board members maintained that their decision was based on the suitability of the proposed locations rather than opposition to the service itself.

Clarifying the board’s position, Trustee Theodore Hutchins assured Mandelovics that members had not denied the application outright, but were instead requesting safer pickup locations before moving forward.

“The board did not turn the bus company down,” Hutchins said. “They just want you to pick locations where you don’t have a dangerous situation.”

For now, the proposal remains tabled pending revised stop locations and additional review by the board.