CATSKILL - Greene County lawmakers are considering selling several county-owned properties, including one that some legislators say should not be sold.

Legislator Karen Deyo, R-Catskill, told her colleagues during a meeting this week of the Legislature's Buildings and Grounds Committee that a task force had reviewed the ownership, value and liability associated with all the county-owned properties. She said the task force reviewed 55 county-owned sites and concluded 42 of them were being used to their "highest and best use."

The task force is recommending eight of the remaining properties be sold at public auction in June or July, Deyo said.

Deyo, who chaired the task force, said the group looked at the county's needs and spoke to department heads before making its recommendations.

"We didn't take anything lightly," Deyo said.

The task force is recommending the county sell: a portion of property in the town of Athens commonly referred to as Green Lake Park on Valley Road; three vacant lots at 100, 102 and 104 Bridge St. in the village of Catskill as one parcel; three vacant lots on Main Street in the village of Catskill, commonly referred to as Waterfalls Laundry, as one parcel; and vacant land at 150 Railroad Ave. in Tannersville.

The task force said the Waterfalls Laundry property has approximately 160 feet of frontage on the Catskill Creek and was appraised recently for $280,000.

Legislators Forest Cotten, D-Catskill, and Dorothy Prest, R-Catskill, said the county should not sell the Waterfalls Laundry property. Prest said the property is used for the local farmers' market, which is growing, and there is a need for additional parking in the area.

Legislator Charles Martinez, R-Coxsackie, said many people are encroaching on the property and the county is liable. He also said the county has been unable to control the property for years.

Legislature Chairman Wayne Speenburgh, R-Coxsackie, said lawmakers would vote next month on the proposed sales of the properties.