Construction site fence is in order


PINE PLAINS — Jerry Couse, a code enforcement official for the state Education Department, appeared before the Town Board June 21 to address concerns he had with a construction zone bordering Stissing Mountain High School.

"I’ve run into a problem at the school with Mr. Lenny Laberta’s construction," he said. "They are not maintaining the fence and because it is not being maintained and because the town is not enforcing it to be maintained, the town is in a liability issue.

"Unofficially, I want to bring you up to speed on that," he added.

Couse said he and town Building Inspector Drew Weaver had discussed the matter and that Weaver should be able to enforce the rules and regulations at the site.

But town Supervisor Gregg Pulver said a few days later that Couse’s visit before the Town Board was based on misinformation.

"I talked to Drew Friday morning and he was aware of the situation. He showed me in the code book that they were in compliance," Pulver said.

Couse stated before the board that the construction site’s fence was unacceptable and that it "has to be substantial enough to keep people away from the construction area."

He suggested Laberta look into renting a fence.

"I’m willing to work with you," he said to the Town Board. "I want to try to be Mr. Nice Guy."

Pulver, however, said there’s no need for Mr. Nice Guy. That’s because there were no infractions that needed to be taken care of.

"The building uniform code does not say that they have to do anything more than they’re doing," he said. "And Drew does an outstanding job for us. He had no idea that Gerry Couse said he was coming that night. Drew never knew or he would have been right there."

In addition to getting Weaver’s take on the fence, Pulver also got approval from Town Engineer Ray Jurkowsky on how the construction site was being managed.

"Ray confirmed that they were in compliance as far as the fencing goes."

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