5th Annual Catskill Scenic Trail Marathon & Relay
Walkable Art Page 7
VOLUME 135 — WHOLE 7175
Page 15
WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 2019
WWW.THE-REPORTER.NET
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High Flying Joy
Dispute Cause For Suspension?
County Attorney Threatens DSS Commissioner, Supervisor Chair Threatens DSS Staff By Lillian Browne DELHI - While Delaware County has remained mum on requests for information regarding the suspension of Department of Social Services Commissioner Dana Scuderi-Hunter on July 9, a letter penned by County Attorney Amy Merklen and signed by Merklen and Board of Supervisors Chairperson Tina Molé to Scuderi-Hunter on June 11 may have revealed the underlying cause for Scuderi-Hunter being placed on involuntary administrative leave with pay. The letter was circulated to members of the county’s social services, legislative and human resources committees. Merklen’s letter chides Scuderi-Hunter for having contact with children’s attorneys in legal proceedings in which Merklen’s department is involved. “On or about May 31, 2019, you advanced a position contrary to that of the County,” the letter states. In that case, the letter continues, Merklen advised ScuderiHunter to “step away from the juvenile delinquency proceedings as this was a petition brought by the Department of Probation from my office, as the statutory presentment agency.” According to the letter, an attorney opposing Merklen in the child’s case, called ScuderiHunter to testify regarding the child’s placement. In the letter, Merklen asserts that ScuderiHunter “further advanced your
Delaware County Attorney Amy Merklen position against the Department of Probation, and as such the County Attorney.” Though the testimony is not revealed in the letter, it is unclear whether Merklen is simultaneously representing the Department of Social Services, Probation and the County in the same case, which may all have opposing interests. Merklen further accuses Scuderi-Hunter, in the letter, of instructing DSS staff to call the child’s lawyer regarding an incident where the child in question had run away. Merklen additionally condemns Scuderi-Hunter for advocating for the child to be admitted to drug and alcohol treatment when the probation department was advocating that the child be held in youth detention. “My office made it abundantly clear to the court that the County’s position was of the Probation Department.” In a subsequent court appearance, Merklen states in her letter, Scuderi-Hunter advocated for the child to be released from See DSS Suspension page 3
17th Annual Delaware County 4-H Duck Race
Lillian Browne/The Reporter
Madison Scofield, 7, of Walton, has a mid-stream strategy for collecting plastic ducks at the 17th annual Delaware County 4-H Duck Race held on July 20. By Lillian Browne
Serving Delaware County and the Surrounding Areas Since 1881 ———— Delaware County’s Leading News Source
WALTON - Delaware County 4-H members found an easy way to stay cool during the 17th annual Delaware County 4H Duck Race held on Saturday, July 20 in Walton’s Third Brook - by splashing in the water to collect plastic ducks. Winners of the event include: • $500 first place - Gia Cantwell of Delhi, who purchased a winning duck sold by Brianna May of Delhi, a member of Hollister Hill See Duck Race page 8
Benjamin Patton/The Reporter
Mirabella Buckland, 3, rides an airplane at the Deposit Lumberjack Festival on Saturday.
New And Veteran Dairy Farmers Participate In 89th Del. Co. Dairy Farm Tour By Rosie Cunningham STAMFORD - “We are going from a farm who has been in the business of hauling milk since March and the next stop will be a farm that has been in operation for about 200 years,” said Mariane Kiraly, educator at Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) of the diversity of the 89th annual Delaware County Dairy Tour which took place on Tuesday, July 23. The drive-yourself event hosted by the CCE was, once again, well attended. Sunny Alp Farm on Wickham Road in Stamford owned by Rudy Landolt and Nina Hade, was the first stop of the tour. Hailing from Switzerland, Landolt worked in an ag-related industry in the U.S. and now milks organic, grass-fed cows and ships to Maple Hill. The farm was once owned by Warren Post and Mollie Brannen-Spangenberg. Recent changes on their farm include the purchase of two Harvestore silos, setting up the grazing system and adding a milking parlor. “We have been working on this for the last three years - it’s been a lot of work,” said Hade, pointing out the tie stalls in the open barn. “I don’t like cows tied up and we milk 32 cows cross breeds; Jerseys and some Holsteins.” Hade, a native of Sweden, dabbles with creating butter, ice cream and milk for personal consumption. Landolt grew up on a farm and Hade, an integrated nutrition and health coach, said she loves the farming lifestyle. “This was his dream,” said Hade of Landolt. “We found this place and just loved it - there is something special about this area.” Landolt, who milks at 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily, See Dairy Farm Tour page 6
Rosie Cunningham/The Reporter
Rudy Landolt and Nina Hade, at Sunny Alp Farm on Wickham Road in Stamford.
Delhi Village Mayor, Trustees Clash Re: Funds Promised To the Town Pool By Rosie Cunningham DELHI - A disagreement between Delhi Village Mayor Richard Maxey and Deputy Mayor Chris Maney regarding the new pool in Delhi made for an interesting meeting Monday, July 22. After 16 years of planning and construction, residents in the town and village of Delhi officially have a new, public pool. The pool is open seven days a week from 12:30 to 8 p.m. and free swim lessons are available. Establishing a pool was a joint effort between the Pool Advisory Committee (PAC), made up of four members from the original pool committee, representatives from the town of Delhi, the village of Delhi and the town of Meredith.
The PAC answers to the town of Delhi and is responsible for overseeing all operations of the pool. Maney, who is on the joint services and recreation committee along with trustee Barbara Jones, said many individuals have expressed how they are happy to have a public pool in Delhi. “It has been well received,” he said. “But, let’s talk about the money situation.” Maney addressed Maxey about $100,000 that the village set aside in an account “years ago” to go towards establishing a pool in the town. Eight thousand of that $100,000 was used to survey the grounds of where the pool currently exists next to Delhi’s American Legion fields.
“There is $92,000 left over,” he said. “Let’s give it to them (the town).” Maxey said the village’s contribution to the pool was gifting them with more than three acres of property, a structure and a playground. “Bill and Pete Bracchy wanted to match a park grant,” said Maxey. “Myself, Bill Oles and the Delhi supervisor were pleased with it (the land) to go to the pool for the match.” Maxey said he doesn’t believe the village should give both the property and cash. “We thought the park and pool needed to go together and we could not parcel that off ,” said Maney. See Delhi Village page 4