By Doug La Rocque
Following two public hearings, one on the proposed budget for next year, the second on the local law that allows the Town to exceed the 0.6% tax cap, the Board voted unanimously at its November 10 meeting to approve the spending plan.[private] There were no speakers at either hearing. The new budget calls for a 9.08% tax hike, which equates to $1.19 per thousand of assessed valuation. The Board also approved unanimously Local Law # 1 which allowed them to exceed the NYS tax cap. The new budget totals $1.05 million.
More Concerns About Bly Hollow Road
Doug Goodermote again asked the Board if they have heard anything from the NYS Department of Transportation about its request to lower the speed limit from 40 to 30 MPH. Town Supervisor Rob Jaeger said they have not. Goodermote said the amount of traffic on the road continues to increase and drivers show no signs of slowing down. He asked if some kind of petition drive might help. Jaeger suggested they direct it toward Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin and State Senator Kathy Marchione in hopes they might be able to use their influence to expedite the request and perhaps get more law enforcement for the road as well.
Supervisor Jaeger said they have been approached about renting the former Highway Department garage. The prospective renter is offering to pay the Town $500 a month. The Board decided to stick with their initial price of $700 a month, but the Supervisor will engage in futher negotiations with the potential tenant.
Radon Concerns On The Rise Again
The meeting opened with a presentation from Sera Hovanecz of the Rensselaer County Health Department, who noted Eastern Rensselaer County, and in particular the towns of Berlin and Stephentown, have been identified as having higher than normal levels of the gas. Hovanecz said radon is all around us underground, and can sometimes build up indoors at unhealthy levels, particularly in the winter months. It has been identified as the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, with more than 21,000 deaths attributable to radon each year. Hovanecz said the County has obtained funding to distribute some free test kits. The kit is a small can placed in lower levels of a home to absorb Radon levels in the air for 2 to 3 days. Anyone interest in such a test can call the Health Department at 270-2672.
Department And Committee Reports
Highway Superintendent Jim Winn said his crew has been finishing up some road patching and getting their equipment ready for winter. In the past few weeks, he said, “Mother Nature has given them a couple of drills.” He also told the Board he has completed his inventory of the Town’s road miles. The issue came to light last spring, when the State reported its inventory to be considerably lower than that of the Town. These inventories are used to determine the amount of state aid the Town receives for road improvement programs. Winn said the previous number was 46.64 miles. With the help of an instrument purchased earlier this year, Winn said he was able to accurately measure the mileage at 44.18 miles. The Board then passed a resolution confirming the inventory and sending it to DOT for corrections.
Codes Enforcement Officer Walter Yerton has returned from a yearly conference with NYS officials, where he reports, these officials were grilled about the new legislation that makes banks more responsible for abandoned homes they own, known as “zombie properties.” The CEOs wanted to know about state plans for enforcement of the new laws but Yerton said there was a lack of answers from the State.
Yerton also reported state codes have changed, placing Eastern Rensselaer County in a hurricane wind zone, meaning construction regulations will now have to meet 106 miles per hour wind requirements. This impacts “blower door tests” that measure interior construction, and patterns used to secure roofing materials, among other things.
Water District #1 is closed for the winter, and Water District #2 Commissioner Jim Winn said he was on vacation last week, when engineers from the NYS Department of Health showed up to begin the process of installing a water filtration system to eliminate any presence of PFOA in the water. Winn said he has not yet spoken with them.
Planning Board Chairwoman Pam Gerstel said the November Planning Board meeting is postponed to December 1 because of the Thanksgiving holiday. The Board expects to accept an application for a sub-division at this meeting and schedule a public hearing, along with any other business that may be presented.
Dog Control Officer Goodermote said there were about 50 participants at the October Rabies Clinic, and he hopes for a better participation at the spring clinic.
Youth Commission Chairwoman Tammy Osterhout said they had 9 children at the annual Halloween Party, a number that has been going down each year. She indicated they might try a trunk or treat program next year, noting how successful Grafton’s program was this year. She also mentioned they have distributed survey questionnaires about the youth program, attempting to ascertain what the children and their parents would like to see from the program. (see story below). Town Clerk Maxon reported local, county and state revenues last month of $6,668.50 and non-local revenues of $2,980.55.
The Board will next meet in a workshop session at 6 pm on Wednesday, November 23.
What Would You Like To See From The Town Of Berlin’s Youth Program?
With an eye toward re-defining the program to make it more interesting and viable for today’s youth, Commission Chairwoman Tammy Osterhout is distributing a survey questionnaire in search of these answers. The surveys are available at the Berlin Post Office, Free Town Library and the Town Clerk’s Office. More information can be obtained by calling the Town Clerk, Anne Maxon, at 658-2161, The surveys are due back by November 30.[/private]