1937 railroad deed sheds light on Webb’s rights and responsibilities, says attorney

Three owners of adjacent Properties on Route 28 between Old Forge and Eagle Bay are continuing their quest to be granted a Town of Webb easement across Snowmobile Trail 5 to legally access their properties from the road.

The three—Donald Gooley, David Gribneau and John Johnson—are being represented by attorney Mark Levitt, who made a presentation to the town board on their behalf at the board’s monthly meeting on Tuesday, November 13. Levitt said that in the past there had been some confusion as to the ownership of the land occupied by Trail 5 along Route 28.

Levitt said the Raquette Lake Railroad had acquired the land from respective land owners more than a century ago.

Then, in 1937, the railroad deeded the land to the Town of Webb.

This transfer was clearly a transference of ownership, without question, according to Levitt.

“Years ago, at the end of the 19th century and through part of the 20th century, the scriveners would refer to areas of land used by railroads as a ‘Railroad Right of Way,’ when in fact the RR actually owned it,” Levitt said. Continue reading →

Andreé Newton of Old Forge asked the town board to consider amending the Town of Webb Dog Ordinance to reflect changes that have occurred over the years to the local animal population.

“All the Town of Webb is growing and along with it the dog population,” she said.

Newton said she has noticed an increase in dog ownership in her neighborhood, which seems to be indicative of a town-wide trend.

And dog license statistics confirm that, she said. Indeed Town Clerk records shows 317 dogs to be licensed in 2012, which is up from 220 in the year 2000.

And it’s not that Newton is opposed to dog ownership, she said. “I myself have two dogs,” said Newton.

Rather, the responsibilities of dog owners should be codified in greater detail in the local ordinance, Newton said.

To offer direction, Newton made several suggestions which she said she gleaned through examination of dog laws in other municipalities. The deal with controlling barking and other dog noises, including whining and howling; also with keeping dogs from wandering loose. Continue reading →

Town of Webb Supervisor Ted Riehle announced a tentative schedule Tuesday for upcoming items related to the TOBIE Phase 2 trail project. Riehle said he expects bid advertising to be the week of December 3rd, and the opening of bids to be the week of January 7 of 2013.

He said he will offer a formal resolution at the Town of Webb Board’s meeting on November 19, when the exact dates and times will be given.

As for the Lock and Dam rebuilding project in Thendara, the town board resolved to advertise for contract bids starting November 20. A pre-bid meeting will be held on December 18 at 1p.m. Continue reading →