To the Editor:
The current Transfer Station contract between Petersburgh and Berlin is not fair to Petersburgh. In addition to paying 50% of the total operational expenses, the current contract also includes a $12,000 annual transfer station access fee to Petersburgh. I believe Petersburgh has been paying this fee for over 20 years. $240,000 should be enough for the infrastructure.
The following facts show why this is unfair to Petersburgh. According to the 2010 US Census Bureau, Berlin has 1,880 citizens, 1,100 housing units, 789 occupied households and Petersburgh has 1,525 citizens and 661 family households. According to County Waste, 324 Petersburgh households have curbside pickup; whereas, Berlin has only 78.
The combined Berlin/Petersburgh household total utilizing the transfer station is 1,048. (1,450 total households minus 402 total curbside pickups). The 661 Petersburgh households minus the 324 curbside pickups equal 337. The 337 divided by 1,048 equates to 32.1% of Petersburgh’s citizens using the Berlin transfer station. Petersburgh only issued 151transfer station permits in 2013 so the 337 number is probably very high. In 2013, Petersburgh paid Berlin $60,925.21 in total fees and only collected $21,791.29 in revenue, leaving a deficit of $39,133.92 for the taxpayers of Petersburgh to unfairly subsidize the Town of Berlin.
THE TOWN OFFICIALS OF PETERSBURGH KNOW THIS! Have they notified the citizens of Petersburgh of this inequality? Bet not! Don’t sit on your couch and accept this! Join me at the next Town Board Meeting on February 24 and express your dissatisfaction of this unfair agreement. If the shoe was on the other foot, do you think Berlin would accept this?
If the Town of Berlin will not enter into a fair agreement, there are many options available. Attend the Town Board meeting to learn/discuss the available options. The Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) states, “The people’s right to know is basic to our society.” It is the responsibility of the Town Board to inform its citizens of all issues the Town is facing as well as its financials. It’s time for the Town of Petersburgh to shine a light on the functions of our Town and its spending. Healthy, well-functioning democracies fully embrace transparency. Let your voice be heard on February 24 at, 7 pm.
Thomas Berry
Canfield Road, Petersburgh