Resourcefulness Pays Off
by Kieron Kramer
Before the meltdown towards the end of the Berlin regular Town Board meeting on October 14 when the offer to purchase the Berlin Lumber property was raised [reported in last week’s issue of the Eastwick Press] the meeting was a recital of good news for the Town.
First, Highway Superintendent Jim Winn reported that the project to replace the Southeast Hollow Road bridge was virtually completed. “The overflow pipe is in, and there is only a little concrete work to do,” he said. Two blocks remained to be placed by the time of the October 14 meeting, the trim needed to be set and the grading and blacktop finished before the weather turns bad, he added. Town Supervisor Rob Jaeger said, “Thank you and the crew for everything you’ve done on the bridge. We’ve saved close to $450,000 with the help of the County Engineer and Jim’s efforts – it’s phenomenal.” According to Jaeger the project was first expected to cost around $500,000, but with Winn’s resourcefulness it will cost closer to $50,000.
Later in the meeting, the Board voted unanimously to authorize the purchase of an emergency radio to be installed in the Highway Supervisor’s truck. It will cost $2,300. The idea is to keep the lines of communication open between the highway supervisors in the area as well as with the County emergency services and the electric power companies during an emergency like the ice storm last year. One of the benefits would be that NYSEG could use the information to prioritize their repairs. The Board also voted to advertise the sale of the screener in both the Want Ad Digest and the Eastwick Press. The Town is asking $28,000 for the screener.
Board Member Richard von Schilgen reported that the replacement windows have all been installed in the Town Hall. He thanked all the volunteers who helped. “They did a great job but don’t want to be named,” he said. Von Schilgen supervised the project which was paid for by a Justice Court Assistance Program (JCAP) grant obtained by Town Justice Joe Rechen.
More Improvements Planned
At this meeting, the Board voted unanimously to approve another JCAP grant which is being applied for by Rechen and Justice Sweet. This grant application is for $8,344.50 with the funds being released in 2011. Construction projects in the grant application include drainage correction and repair for the west and north walls of the Town Hall building, installation of central air conditioning and reconditioning of the radiators, replacement of the current window mounted air conditioners with thermal pane windows and repair and repainting of the west interior office, closet and ceiling. The basement of the Town Hall has been plagued for years with water infiltration causing extreme dampness, and the drainage correction would address that issue. The Justices work in the back room which is not air conditioned so the central air conditioning will address that issue.
New Hauling Contract Signed
Jaeger reported that Transfer Station Head Attendant Ivan Wager had completed his negotiations and signed a contract for hauling waste with Waste Management. The rates will be lower in 2011 than they were in 2010, and we will be getting paid for newspaper and cardboard next year, he said. It has saved us $5,000, he added. Wager has obtained bid requests for lighting at the transfer station which “is desperately needed.” Since Wager has the money in his budget, the Board voted unanimously to authorize the purchase of the lighting. These will be energy efficient lights and will cost $2,285. Wager also has enough money in his budget to repair the containers at the Transfer Station.
Assessor Allen Yerton said the Assessors have had a busy month mostly answering questions about why the school taxes have gone up when the rate went down. He said the answer is that the STAR exemption went down. Yerton also asked the Board if they had passed the resolution regarding tax breaks for the cost of home improvements that provide accommodations for in-laws and for aged and infirmed relatives. The Board vote would have ratified the State exemption. Town Clerk Anne Maxon will look it up in the minutes of past meetings. Yerton said that he would bring a copy of the State resolution in case the research shows that it needs to be voted on at the next meeting.
Don Calman reported that all the spent gladioli bulbs were removed from the gladioli beds along Route 22 and put out for people to take. He said the offer of free bulbs was very well received because all the bulbs were taken. It is hoped that there will be many more gladioli blooming in Berlin next year.
Halloween Party
Tammy Osterhout reported that the Youth Commission Halloween party will be held on October 31 with the judging of costumes at 6:30 pm. The coloring of pumpkins will begin before 6:30. Osterhout also said she had all the Youth Commission bills for the summer programs “sorted out.” She said that the delay in doing this is the same every year because the Hoosick Town Pool bills Berlin for the Swim Program charges at the end of September even though the program finishes at the end of August. “We’re only getting about $1,000 back from the County this year,” Osterhout added.
There was a brief discussion of the big, dead maple tree “up from Hewitt’s Market.” The fear is that it will come down and pull the power lines with it. It was reported that the power company tagged the tree and was supposed to cut it down but never did. Jim Winn said he would call NYSEG to see what he can find out. Von Schilgen said, “That’s a nasty tree.”
Dog Licensing Law
There was a lengthy discussion about the proposed Dog Licensing Law which will need to be passed before the Town takes over the dog licensing authority on January 1, 2011. The draft of the law was prepared by Town Attorney Donald Tate and copies were distributed to the Board Members and to Dog Control Officer Doug Goodermote for review before the meeting. Several changes were made to the proposed text of the law which is essentially boiler plate. The boiler plate refers to the animal control officer in several places, but as every Berliner knows Goodermote controls dogs, just dogs, so the term was changed to dog control officer. The sentence which says interference with “any officer or agent of a duly incorporated society for the prevention of cruelty to animals” was stricken because Goodermote doesn’t want outside animal control officers interfering with Berlin’s dog issues. This stems from incidents in March and April last year when an animal control officer from a neighboring town came into Berlin and took an animal to a veterinarian which billed Berlin for the service. This kind of thing makes Goodermote foam at the mouth. Basically, Berlin, in the person of Goodermote, will have to enforce the NYS Agriculture and Markets laws regulating dogs. Berlin will issue the identification tag. All of the paperwork is to be done by the Town Clerk so Anne Maxon will be responsible for issuing renewal reminders and late fee invoices. The new system will mean some additional labor for the Town Clerk and therefore additional costs to the Town which should be offset by the license fees that the Town will charge – $10 for a spayed or neutered dog which includes a $1 State surcharge and $17 for an unspayed or unneutered dog which includes a $3 State surcharge. At present there are 210 registered dogs in Berlin.
Anyone found to be in violation of this local law will be subject to a minimum fine of $50 and a maximum fine of $250 per dog, per violation. A public hearing on the Dog Licensing Law, Local Law # 2 of the Year 2010, will be held on Thursday, November 11, at 7 pm before the regular Town Board meeting.
Budget Workshops And Public Hearing
At this meeting budget workshops were scheduled for October 28, the regular Town Board workshop, and for November 4. Both workshops will take place at 6 pm in the Watipi Building, and both are open to the public. A public hearing on the proposed budget will be held at 7:15 pm on November 11, before the regular Town Board meeting.
Other Business
The Board agreed that the DEC should be lead agency on the application by Billy Hammersmith to expand the Hoffman Mine.
Dog Control Officer Doug Goodermote said that he had picked up a “hound dog on a Town street” and that he had received a few dog barking complaints.
Code Enforcement Officer Allen Yerton said there were a couple of construction projects going on, one on North Main Street and one on Hilltop Road.
Planning Board Chair Pam Gerstel said that she and Don French, ZBA Chairman, and Vic Lewin, ZBA Member, had reviewed the official flood plain maps and determined that Berlin Lumber is not on the flood plain. At the August meeting the fact that there are two different flood plain maps was discussed.
Tara Cinney reported that the Comprehensive Plan Committee would discuss and get advice from County Planner Linda von der Heide about the first draft of the Comprehensive Plan.
Carl Greene reported for the Little Hoosic Watershed Association that this year’s projects have been completed.
Supervisor Jaeger reported that there had been 1,728 visitors to the Town website by the afternoon of October 14.
Jaeger reported that he had received a letter from Charter Communications, which provides cable TV to Berlin, stating that the Charter signal is moving from Digital View to Digital View Plus and a new receiver will be needed to receive the signal.
At its workshop on September 23 the Board decided to postpone recommendations by the Water Advisory Board until next year.
Just 85
And last but not least, Jaeger reminded the audience that Jane Fitzgerald is being recognized by the County. Fitzgerald, who was a welcome sight at this meeting after an unusual three month absence, replied, “All you have to do is be 85 and have done something in your life.”