NEVERSINK – The recent monthly board meeting of the Town of Neversink Town Board included a personal tribute from Supervisor Chris Mathews to Clayton Brooks, the former Town of Denning (located nearby in Ulster County) supervisor who passed away on September 10. Mathews reflected on Brooks’ personal impact as a mentor and his historic role in watershed history.

Mathews recalled meeting Brooks at a Catskill Watershed Corporation (CWC) annual meeting alongside current Denning Supervisor Dave Brooks and former Sullivan County District 3 Legislator Mike Brooks. When the others had to leave early, Mathews offered Clayton a ride home, giving the two nearly an hour to talk.

During the drive, Brooks shared stories about his time as Denning supervisor and the lengthy negotiations with New York City officials that culminated in the historic Memorandum of Agreement (MOA).

“I got to sit with Clayton and really hear the history,” Mathews said, recalling the late nights, countless meetings and difficult negotiations that helped shape the agreement.

The MOA established rights and protections for watershed communities west of the Hudson River while allowing New York City to protect watershed lands and maintain the quality of its water supply.

Mathews described Brooks as one of the agreement’s “founding figures,” saying the conversation gave him a deeper appreciation for the work that went into securing it.

“He became a mentor to me,” Mathews ardently recalled.

According to Mathews’ prepared remarks, Brooks was one of the founding members of the Coalition of Watershed Towns and helped bring about the creation of the CWC. Both organizations continue to support watershed communities through advocacy, negotiations, legislation and funding.

The conversation was so engaging that Mathews was surprised by how quickly the drive passed.

“It felt like it was 15 minutes because we just spent that whole time [talking],” Matthews recounted. “I really got a glimpse into the history.”