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Town of Highland hits Catskill Mountains Resort with code violations

Isabel Braverman - Staff Writer
Posted 7/27/20

BARRYVILLE — The Town of Highland issued code violations to the Catskill Mountains Resort on Thursday morning.

Highland Supervisor Jeff Haas said the hotel is operating as a camp, which …

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Town of Highland hits Catskill Mountains Resort with code violations

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BARRYVILLE — The Town of Highland issued code violations to the Catskill Mountains Resort on Thursday morning.

Highland Supervisor Jeff Haas said the hotel is operating as a camp, which violates its special-use permit.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order banning sleep-away camps from opening in the state. However day camps are allowed.

According to Haas, the resort does not have a current health inspection or fire inspection, and they haven't allowed the town or the New York State Department of Health (DOH) to access the property.

A spokesperson for the DOH confirmed that following reports of multiple businesses in Delaware and Sullivan counties operating in violation of state law, the New York State Department of Health issued seven cease and desist orders and served a notice that these businesses are in violation of public health law.

“The Department will continue to aggressively hold camp operators accountable for following all COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. As these are active investigations, we cannot comment further at this time,” the spokesperson said.

Haas said they are waiting for further guidance from the state and are working with Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther's office.

“The neighbors are upset with the noise and the buses, and it's basically being run as a camp, not as the special use permit was intended to have it run,” Haas said.

Catskill Mountains Resort owner William Zaccari says it's not being run as a camp.

He said two weeks ago a customer booked all 30 rooms at the hotel. There is currently a group of 40 Hasidic Jewish children and 30 adults on the property and have reserved the rooms until mid-August.

Zaccari said they are wearing face masks, getting their temperatures checked and complying with rules.

Catskill Mountains Resort has hotel rooms and suites, cabins, a restaurant and a banquet hall.

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