In what appeared to be a repeat performance of this August's decision to approve Rally New York Ltd.'s request to use town roads for racing competitions over the protests of some local residents, the Wawarsing Town Council voted 3-1 to enter into a contract with the racing organization. This time however, instead of a one time agreement the town council voted to allow Rally New York the use of town roads for the next three years.

The vote, which followed comments from Rally New York's Rich Otis and local residents, was met with disgust by several in the audience - one of which had claimed to have collected over 200 signatures in a petition to block the races' return.

After the vote was passed, the audience members who were against the rally's return were clearly angry and left the room. Shouts could be heard from the building's hallway as the more vocal critics of the decision called the board “pathetic” while others implied that the board members who voted in favor of the contract, outgoing Supervisor James Dolaway, outgoing Councilwoman Ruth Ann Gunter and Councilman John Gavaris, were receiving money from the organization in exchange for their votes.

The sole dissenter on the board was recently reelected Councilman Terry Houck. Houck argued that the race organization's claims of economic benefits to the area were dubious and also questioned the fairness of allowing a board with two outgoing officials to make a decision on a contentious issue and then leaving to let the council's new members deal with the repercussions.

Audience members that were opposed to the race were in agreement with Houck and their concerns were heard at length prior to the board's final approval of the three-year contract.

Councilman Tom Geelan was not present at the December 20 council meeting.

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