The Town of Gardiner’s decision that it is possibly seeking new legal representation to deal with growing concerns about the Awosting Club sparked a lot of public debate about the private wilderness reserve at the Sept. 6 Town Board meeting.
Young/Sommer, an Albany Law firm that specializes in environmental and energy law, currently represents the town.

“Some town board members were not pleased with the legal representation to date,” Supervisor Marybeth Majestic said. “The motion that was made to investigate other attorneys does not prohibit the town board from staying with this firm.”

After some discussion, the board decided to discuss interviews for legal representation at its next regularly scheduled Sept. 13 meeting.

The Awosting Club is described on its website as “A private wilderness Reserve dedicated to preserving the natural and scenic resources of the Shawangunk Ridge while continuing its half century commitment to its conservation and education based community.” The website notes that the site was originally a Girl Scout Camp, that has been updated with new tents and other facilities.

Neighbors of the Awosting Club have complained that the club has built unpermitted structures over the last two years, including large geodesic domes on platforms, with electricity. They have expressed particular concerns about the structures’ proximity to the Palmaghatt Stream, one of the most ecologically sensitive sites on the Shawangunk Ridge.

Janet Kern, a town resident and a member of the Environmental Conservation Commission, has been one of the most outspoken critics of the Awosting Club. She supported changing law firms dealing with Awosting Club issues.

“I think it’s a good idea to consider other legal advice, given that Young/Sommer and David Brennan (a partner in the firm) were very involved in how in heaven’s name we got to this point at all,” she said.

While Kern agreed with some board members’ sentiments about changing law firms, she continued to take town officials to task for not cracking down on what she perceived as inaction surrounding the permitting process for the Awosting Club.

“I cannot help but wonder still why deadlines for permit applications were waived over and over,” Kern said. “No fines imposed. No consequences. Why is there still no cease and desist order since the Awosting Club has essentially been operating illegally for 2 and ½ years? Shouldn’t there be a cease and desist order since they’re operating without permits?”

“I’m not going to answer that, Janet,” Majestic replied.

“OK, I’m not surprised,” Kern responded.

A number of town residents near the Awosting Club spoke up in favor of it, however.

Mark Ferri of Camp Ridge Road said he had lived there for 30 years. He praised owner Camilla Bradley for preserving the land and retaining it as a family-owned business.

“We couldn’t support what’s happening up there more,” Ferri said. “It’s a great use of the land. I know Camilla grew up on that property and she loves that property and the fact that she’s trying to keep it whole and family owned and have people enjoy it in the process rather than develop it and subdivide it in some other way. We’re happy to have a little excess traffic past our house.”

Andrew Hague and Dr. Steve Cordovano were other town residents who spoke in favor of the Awosting Club.

“I’ve been to the Awosting Club and I think it’s great,” Hague said. “It supports nature. The people who want to go to the Awosting Club are the kind of people we want because they are the people who believe in nature and care about nature.”

Cordovano, a resident of 25 Camp Ridge Road since 1999, praised Camilla Bradley and her father John as having been great neighbors over the years.

“I really have no problem with what’s happening up there,” he said. “They’re really not interfering with my life whatsoever. They’re keeping the property in a family and not a corporation and that means something, certainly to me.”

Just before the meeting adjourned, Camilla Bradley said she wanted the community to know that reports that the Awosting Club has not complied with town requests for information are untrue.

“We have done all we can do to be compliant,” Bradley said. “We are now looking to the town to do what it needs to do. We don’t ignore the requests that were given. We take it very seriously.”