by Kieron Kramer
Near the end of the Berlin Town Board meeting on Thursday, February 14, Town Justice Joe Rechen announced, on his behalf and on behalf of Town Justice Don Sweet, that Berlin will receive $30,000 from the Office of Court Administration for renovations to the Justice Court area of the new municipal facility in Cherry Plain. The Berlin Justices had just received the notice. “The “check is in the mail,” Rechen said. He went on to say that this amount was the maximum entitlement Berlin could receive and was the full amount for which the Justices had applied.
[private]The Court Administration has strong recommendations for how a Town Court should be configured. This includes a Judges’ bench so that defendants do not have physical access to the Justices and private access to the facility for law enforcement officers and those being arraigned. Even though court sessions are open to the public, the Court Administration deems it unwise for accused people to pass in close proximity to the public. Berlin has had neither of these although past Board Member the late Richard von Schilgen built an attractive but undersized judges’ bench to be used in the Town Hall on Main Street. In November Justice Sweet was required to arraign an individual at the back of the Town Hall while a Town Board meeting was in progress. The Berlin Court will now have it’s own room in the new facility in Cherry Plain.
The renovations for the Court in Cherry Plain will include handicapped access in the form of a ramp, handicapped accessible bathrooms, a separate door with keyless entry for the justices, court employees, law enforcement officers and the accused and proper interior and exterior lighting. Rechen said that Berlin has 180 days from receipt of the check to complete the renovations and that the various projects can be contracted separately according to the Town’s procurement policy. The Board thanked the Justices for their efforts in securing the grant. “It is our pleasure,” Rechen said.
Until these renovations are completed, it seems that the Berlin Court will continue to do its business in the Town Hall on Main Street. Half of the chairs that were in the building have been moved to Cherry Plain leaving about 30 that Rechen wants to use during DA nights. These sturdy, cushioned chairs, joined together in groups of three and four so they can’t be easily thrown by an enraged person, were the result of a Court Administration grant obtained by Rechen a while ago, as were the carpeting and the window replacements. Rechen seems to have the magic touch with grant applications. The other half of these chairs and the folding metal chairs that were once used in the Town Hall will be used in the meeting room in Cherry Plain.
Town Supervisor Rob Jaeger suggested that the March Town Board meeting should be in the new facility. Town Clerk Anne Maxon, the Assessors and the Code Enforcement Officer, Allan Yerton, have already set up their offices in Cherry Plain, he said. The phones numbers are 658-2161 for the Clerk and 658-2060 for the others and are listed on the Town website, http://berlin-ny.us/. For those expecting to attend the March Board meeting, it would be wise to check the website for a definitive announcement.
The facility is being populated with furniture – computer stands, desks and tables – that Jaeger has purchased for a song on Ebay from the NYS Office of Governmental Services and from Burnt Hills. “It will cost more in fuel to pick up the furniture,” he said. Jaeger particularly mentioned some decent conference tables, a solid cherry table and eight mahogany computer stands. “For $102 we have filled the place up,” he said. Jaeger said also that Rechen, Highway Superintendent Jim Winn and he had met with Berlin Central School District Superintendent of Schools Dr. Stephen Young at the Stephentown Elementary School and tagged the furniture they wanted. Young told them that the furniture would have to be declared as surplus equipment by the School Board before it could be sold to the Town. Although the offices still need a few good office chairs, the gathering of furniture is, essentially, complete.
Property Tax Waiver For The Town
Because the Berlin Lumber property changed hands on December 14, long after the tax rolls for 2013 were finalized, there are tax bills on record in the Town’s name. Obviously, the Town will not pay property taxes on any Town property. Supervisor Jaeger said that the Board must waive the tax charge by resolution, which the Board proceeded to do unanimously in a roll call vote. Board Member Tara Cinney said, “We are waiving about $2,300.” Jaeger will send a letter to County Executive Kathy Jimino to ask for a waiver on the County Taxes. He will also notify the Berlin School District that they should not issue a tax bill for the property. As an aside Jaeger said that because of more building last year and an increased tax roll the Town received about $6,000 more in property tax revenues than expected.
Cherry Plain Polling Place To Be Put On Market
Jaeger suggested that the Town divest itself of the Cherry Plain Polling Place. The Board agreed that it should be put on the market for sale. Jaeger said that he thought the property had been appraised at about $30,000 several years ago (it was actually appraised at around $50,000), but he thinks the Town might get $10,000 for it in this economic climate. He said the documents that are stored there, that were moved there after being water damaged in the basement of the Town Hall and that are seven years old or more, should be shredded. He said he would need to check the State regulations for selling municipal property and that he would do that research and present the information at the next workshop meeting at 7 pm on Thursday, February 28, in Cherry Plain.
Board Member John Winn suggested that the abutters be given the right of first refusal. There are four. According to Jaeger, someone has parked a car there, without license plates, for months. Board Member Tara Cinney asked if the building might have some historical value. Doug Goodermote replied that it was built to be a polling place. John Winn said, “Put a moon in the door, and it’s a fancy outhouse.”
Watipi Freezes Again
The Board agreed with Supervisor Jaeger that the Watipi Building should be shut down for the winter and reopened in the spring. What instigated this was the recent freezing of the building because heating oil was not delivered before the tank was empty. The paints that were stored there for use by the Youth Commission’s Art and Recreation summer program froze and are ruined. Jaeger suggested that the Seniors Club relocate its meetings to Cherry Plain and that the Youth Commission activities should also be moved to Cherry Plain. The Board workshops that used to be held in the Watipi Building have already been moved to Cherry Plain. John Winn proposed that the American Legion be asked if they are interested in taking over the Watipi Building, and Jaeger said he would send a letter of inquiry.
After the Town Clerk’s reading of the bills near the end of the meeting, one of which was a bill from Main Care, the company that was expected to deliver heating oil to the Watipi, Town Board Member Dean Maxon asked if auto-delivery had been asked for at the building. According to Jaeger, both Anne Maxon and Jim Winn called to have Main Care go to auto-delivery. “It sounds like they dropped the ball,” Dean Maxon said. Several Board members expressed their hope that Main Care might offer something to make up for the Town’s losses, like a free pre-season inspection or the like. Then Dean Maxon made the motion to pay all bills, including Main Care’s, and this passed unanimously
Sand And Gravel Bid
Only one bid was submitted in response to the Town’s published request for bids for sand, gravel and other road materials. It came from Hammersmith Gravel Mine, a division of Quality Construction, in Cherry Plain. It offered cubic yards of sand for $7.75 at the vendor’s location, $11 delivered, bank run gravel at $5.35 at the vendor’s, $9 delivered and Item 4 at $7.15, $10.40 delivered. Item 4 is a DOT Spec. material that can be used for road bases, driveways or other foundations and will pack very hard. A 50 cent discount is available for material loaded by the Town. Board Member Richard deLeon said, “I guess we should accept the bid.” Jaeger said, “It’s the only one.” John Winn said, facetiously, “It’s a hard decision.” The Board voted unanimously to accept the road materials bid from Hammersmith Gravel Mine.
Forestry Contract
Jaeger said that the Town had received the contract from the forester who will harvest the 90 acre Town forest in Comstock Hollow. The contract is being reviewed by the Town Attorney, Don Tate, who was not at this meeting. The forester can start now if the weather holds and the Town Highway Department helps with access, Jaeger said. The harvesting was originally scheduled for the summer. Payments to the Town for the lumber will be received on a monthly basis for the amount of material harvested.
Use Low Gear
In his report Highway Superintendent Jim Winn said that more signs have been put on the top of the hill on Bly Hollow Road. The “Use Low Gear” signs are there, he said. The new signs are in response to the fatal accident involving a utility truck that occurred in late December. The speed limit on Bly Hollow Road will remain the same; that has to be changed by the NYS DOT. Doug Goodermote said, “They bust down through there.” And added, “There are three crosses where the power guy was killed. One is a big one with the guy’s name on it.”
Otherwise, Jim Winn reported, “We have been rubbing and dubbing. We have had one storm and the rest is chasing flurries.” He added that the Department has been fixing “stuff” and trying to get “nestled in.” “We’ve been busy,” he said.
No Dog Law With Bite Yet
Dog Control Officer Doug Goodermote had suggested the fines for a “dog law with bite” at the January workshop. But Jaeger said that he has been trying to get the annual report done so he has not “looked into the dog law” yet.
Goodermote announced that, “Our judges got things straightened out on the north side,” referring to the barking dog saga on North Main Street. He mentioned “a problem” in Cherry Plain that was “not too serious” and that everything else is quiet.
With the Board’s approval a rabies clinic was tentatively scheduled for April 18 in the new facility in Cherry Plain. Goodermote will check with the veterinarian for availability.
Chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) J. Nicholas Adams announced that the ZBA needs a new member and still needs an alternate member. Interested parties should contact Adams at 658-2060.
Public Comment
During the open discussion Kent Goodermote suggested that the Town consider Eagle Energy as an oil supplier if their price is right. “They are local, pay taxes here and we should support local businesses in Town,” he said. Goodermote also asked what the Town Hall building on Main Street would be used for. Jaeger said it would be a museum and an archive for the Town’s historical artifacts and documents and a place where the historical society can make presentations and hold meetings. The cost to operate it will be “negligible,” he said.
On behalf of the Board, Jaeger offered condolences to the families of Steve Kellar and Cobb Weber. Both men died recently, and both were having funeral services on the Saturday after this meeting. Jaeger said that Kellar would be given full Fire Department honors at his service at the Berlin United Methodist Church.[/private]