By Doug La Rocque
At July’s Berlin Town Board meeting Youth Commission Director Tammy Osterhout shared her concern about this year’s swim program, noting only a handful had signed up. [private]The decision to share services with Stephentown solved the numbers problem, with some more taking advantage from Berlin as well. The two programs are splitting the cost of one bus, which picks up and returns participants to the Berlin Fire Station. Stephentown is also providing a counselor. Osterhout said Berlin ended up with 11 children taking part in free learn to swim classes. She is not sure how many from Stephentown participated, but she said the bus looked pretty full. She also mentioned she hoped to put together a meeting with the parents in the Town, for more feedback on what kinds of services and programs they would like to see offered by the Youth Commission.
Shared Dump Concerns Remain
The topic of the dump Berlin once shared with Petersburgh, which has now been found to be leaching PFOA into a nearby creek and then into the Little Hoosic River, remains a prime topic of discussion. Supervisor Rob Jaeger said he has been contacted by the Town of Petersburgh about mowing their 9 acres of the site. Because of the topography, it isn’t as simple as taking a lawn tractor in to mow. Maintenance of the land at the now capped dump was one of the topics of discussion when the Board met with its environmental attorney, Kevin Young of Young Sommer LLC, at the past workshop session. At that time Young urged the Town to find as many of its old insurance policies as possible. That, according to Jaeger, is a work in progress. The Board met in executive session after Thursday night’s meeting, to discuss the research with the Town Attorney.
Supervisor Jaeger also announced that a realty company has contracted with 10 to 12 property owners in the Taconic Valley to sell all the properties at a one-day auction, scheduled for September 17 at the site of the old hotel in the center of Berlin. The exact time of the auction is not yet known.
Committees and Reports
Dog Control Officer Doug Goodermote reported that the issue of a nuisance dog on the south side of the Town ended up in court. He said the owner was ordered by the court to keep the dog contained on his property. Goodermote also received permission to hold a rabies clinic in the fall, the date and time to be announced. Both water districts reported everything to be flowing smoothly, and Highway Superintendent Jim Winn said they have been busy with typical summer roadwork. He said he is waiting for a date from the Rensselaer County Highway Department to pave two more roads in the Town.
Building and Codes Officer Walter Yerton said he has two more garage permits out, but that housing starts are a little slower than last year. The Transfer Station is entertaining bids for the repair of two of its containers and re-painting the rest. They are still having some instances of people without permits attempting to use the facility.
The Assessors let it be known the final tax roll for 2017 has been published. New York State has informed the Town its equalization rate for next year is set at 28.2 %. The rate is a measure of how the town’s assessments compare to full market value. Jaeger told the meeting that to date, more than $33,000 has been generated from cuttings off the town-owned wood lot.
The Zoning Board of Appeals is still looking for another member. Town Clerk Anne Maxon reported total state, county and local revenues for July amounted to $5,463.75 and non-local revenues were $711.48. The Board approved all bills as audited and adjourned for the night. [/private]