Following executive session discussion Friday, supervisors decided they’d had enough:
They unanimously passed a motion authorizing the Wladis Law Firm to file a lawsuit against Empire State Development over the $35 million, decade-old Streambank Project.
A second motion—also unanimous--allows Wladis’ Kevin Murphy to make DEC a “counteroffer” regarding future work and responsibilities in what’s become a who’s-on-first dispute that goes back to Hurricane Irene.
In 2015, work on a handful of streams intended to prevent a repeat of the devastation was put on hold after the USDA/ Natural Resources Conservation Service, which was funding it, issued a stop work order, charging ...

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Know someone who deserves to be recognized for making Schoharie County a great place to live?
The clock’s ticking down on your chance to nominate them for the Times-Journal’s inaugural Top 5IVE community changemakers.
The Times-Journal is looking to shine the light on local individuals, businesses, and non-profits that make the Schoharie County area a great place to live by recognizing them as among the inaugural Top 5IVE community changemakers.
Deadline for nominations in five categories--the top five women, men, BIPOC, youth ages 15-23, and businesses and non-profits—is Friday, March 28.
Nominees must be people who live, work or were raised in the greater Schoha ...

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The Joshua Project moved much closer to having its first-ever home last Tuesday.
The Sterling Insurance Company Foundation gave the faith-based organization $30,000 towards the new building planned for East Cobleskill.
Sterling CEO Nino Cogliandro said the Foundation board was impressed with the Joshua Project’s work, including many food programs for needy families, furniture for those in need, visiting shut-ins and more, all in Schoharie County.
“Their mission aligns with the Foundation’s––keep it local, giving back,” Mr. Cogliandro said.
“It’s a bull’s eye of good, honest people helping people. The Joshua Project’s been on our list for a long time.”
He a ...

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Whether to cut a librarian is delaying a decision on Cobleskill-Richmondville’s proposed 2025-26 budget.
After hearing pleas from the public to save the position Monday night, school board members were divided on the cut, a move recommended by Superintendent Matt Sickles.
C-R’s issue is that expenses are rising faster than revenue. Spending in the proposed budget is $48.38 million, while revenues fall short of that.
The district started the budget process with a $1.8 million gap between expenses and revenue, but taking more money from fund balance and reserves, plus cuts in positions, has narrowed the gap to $262,150.
The librarian was one of those cuts, and spea ...

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The Schoharie County Democratic Committee has hired a law firm to file an Article 78 proceeding against the Schoharie County Board of Supervisors.
The legal challenge charges that supervisors failed to follow New York State Election Law in the appointment process for the Democratic Commissioner of the Schoharie County Board of Elections.
Supervisors disregarded legal procedure by refusing to consider the Democratic Committee’s recommended candidate, Michael Dugan, and instead reappointing incumbent Clifford Hay without proper authority, the suit charges.
Democrats have hired the Luibrand Law Firm, which they said has a “strong track record of holding government official ...

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