Bethel, NY – Satmar (UTA) has reached a settlement with the Town of Bethel in an ongoing dispute over a shul, whereby it will pay the town $20,000 for road improvements, submit new plans and consent to further inspections.

Bethel has agreed to grant the United Talmudical Academy a six-month temporary certificate of occupancy for the shul and community building on Schultz Road, and allow the group to proceed with the final phase of construction.

UTA sued the town this summer after the town attempted to prevent the group from using the shul and to stop work on it.

While UTA obtained a court order that temporarily allowed it to use the building, the lawsuit has lingered.

Attorneys will go before a judge later this month to put the settlement on the record.

“The case is over,” said the UTA’s lawyer, Henri Shawn. “In reality, the lawyers stepped out of the picture and allowed the parties to meet. Apparently they have met and they have reached an agreement, which has resulted in the town giving the UTA a new temporary certificate of occupancy, which have conditions agreed to it.”

The temporary certificate spells out nine conditions the UTA must meet before the town will grant a final certificate.

Within four months, UTA will have to pay Bethel $20,000, which will be put into escrow until the final certificate is granted and then used to improve Schultz Road. UTA will also have to make payments for an additional three years to maintain the road. The amount of these payments will be worked out later, but must be a minimum of $1,000 each year.

UTA will also have to submit a modified building plan with electrical, plumbing and mechanical plans, obtain an operating permit and consent to a final inspection. UTA must also do landscaping and street lighting and improve the parking lot.

Supervisor Dan Sturm said he is optimistic the case will soon be over.

“It is close,” he said.

(Source: Times Herald Record)