by Kieron Kramer
At its regular meeting on Thursday, November 13, the Berlin Town Board adopted the Berlin 2009 budget with $574,783 to be raised by taxes, a figure that includes the Fire District. This represents a 1.297% increase in the tax levy over last year. Without the Berlin Fire District appropriations the amount to be raised by taxes for the Town’s services alone would have represented a .3% decrease in property taxes.
This modest increase in taxes was accomplished by tight control over the General Fund budget, resulting in a 53.1% decrease compared to the amount budgeted in 2008. The Highway budget will increase by 10.4% over the prior year, all of which is accounted for by the plan to purchase a used truck for $38,500 to replace the 1982 Mack and the 1983 Mack. The increase in the Fire District appropriations is 4.4%.
A Public Hearing was held at 7 pm before the regular meeting at which Town Supervisor Robert Jaeger distributed a list of the changes in the proposed budget. The hearing lasted 40 minutes during which time a thoughtful analysis of the proposed budget resulted in one amendment. Originally, Highway Superintendent Jim Winn had a line on a 1998 International Paystar with 52,000 miles on it which he thought he could get for $30,000. The truck is a single axle, four-wheel drive with a combination body. He had also budgeted $5,000 for repairs and upgrades for a total Highway equipment line of $35,000. In the meantime the price of the truck rose to $38,500. According to Winn, the truck has a one-way plow, an eleven foot wing, an Everest body for which the Berlin Highway Department has parts and will come with good tires. The box is a little rusty. Winn said, “It is an awful good deal,” and he doesn’t want to lose it even at the higher price. Ivan Wager voiced what people were thinking, “What we are spending for repairs [on the old trucks] is totally ridiculous.” Not only are the repairs costly, but the parts have to be scrounged for. There was unanimous agreement that the budget line should be increased to purchase this truck. Board Member Sheila Hewitt suggested that the sale of the two old Macks as surplus or for scrap might make up for the increased price.
Winn had other concerns about the highway budget. He said several times during the hearing and the meeting that followed that the projected CHIPS money may be unrealistic. The Board has projected the CHIPS money from the State to be at the same level as this year ($83,579) in spite of the fiscal difficulties in the State budget. General highway repairs had been cut by $6,500 and bridge repair by $2,500 because the Board hoped to use the CHIPS money in excess of the repair to the bridge on Southeast Hollow Road for these contingencies. The new Southeast Hollow Bridge is projected to cost around $65,000. “The pipe alone costs $50,000; it’s a big pipe,” Winn said. He thinks there may not be enough CHIPS money to use for other purposes. The Board, however, did not relent on these budget lines.
Although most Town officials, like the Supervisor, the Board, the Town Clerk, Attorney and Dog Control Officer, will not see any raises some will. The two Justices and the Court Clerk will see an increase of $2,150 to $17,000, a 14% rise. Jaeger said that the Court has been busy and traffic tickets and fines are a significant revenue stream, projected to be $17,714 for 2008. Jaeger said that the Transfer Station and Highway Department staff will get a 4% increase. Highway Superintendent Winn will also get a 4% increase, $1,187, raising his salary to $30,852. The Assessors will receive a 5.4% increase and the Town Historian will receive a $100 increase to $700.
The Library will get no increase in funding, remaining at $7,250. As last year, $10,000 is budgeted for sidewalk repair. There was no money budgeted for Town beautification, like the gladioli project.
In an attempt to make the Transfer Station more economically self-sufficient an increase in fees is planned. Ticket fees for bags will rise 50 cents to $2 per bag and the sticker price will rise to $15 for the first sticker and $7.50 for the second. Ivan Wager said that the price charged for disposal of large tires may have to be looked at as well.
The Board had also planned to raise the charges for Water District #2, but a series of public hearings will have to be held, and, Jaeger said, “We would be out of synch with the Fire Department and School District,” who have adopted their budgets already at the current water rate. The public hearings will start in January and the new rates, if approved, will take effect on October 1, 2009. The raise is necessary because of the increasingly expensive repairs to the water system. The whole system should be upgraded, but the Town hasn’t the money for that. Bruce Hake suggested that the Water District’s fiscal year be changed to coincide with the other entities. Jaeger said he would look into that possibility in January. Town Clerk Anne Maxon had dug out the original document which formed the Water District, signed by Stanton Goodermote in 1964 when he was Town Clerk. The installation of water meters was rejected as too expensive. Currently, owners are charged by the number of fixtures on the property. It was suggested that the biggest water user in Town, the Berlin Central School, should be metered.
Main Street Demolition Tabled
Jaeger read a letter to the Board written by Ronald Snow, owner of the garage on North Main Street that the Town declared unsafe. The letter was a response to a letter and phone call to Snow from Jaeger outlining his alternatives to having the Town demolish his building. Snow’s letter said, “I have secured the garage at 3 North Main Street. No taxes are owed. It is my garage, not the Town of Berlin’s. I don’t destroy the Town’s property. If I decide to restore or tear down the building, I will do it myself. Any action by the Town of Berlin is not my will”
“I realize this letter doesn’t engender a whole lot of optimism,” said Board Member Carl Greene. Greene was actually pretty coherent considering he and his wife had just had a baby girl, their fourth child. “He said he would secure the building and he did, a measure of his good faith effort,” Greene added. Building Inspector Allan Yerton also thought that it may be worth working with Snow, as did Board Member Jim Saunders who said, “Besides, we haven’t got enough money to tear it down anyway.”
Perhaps the most persuasive point was made by Richard Von Schilgen who warned the Board that they would be making precedent. “I can tell you of three buildings about to collapse in residential and child [populated] areas; you will have to go after the others, too,” he said. Board Member Sheila Hewitt added, “He has boarded it up, and the kids can’t get in which is a lot more than can be said for the other buildings.” One is next to Hewitt’s Market. “It is a question of the Town’s liability,” said Bruce Hake from the audience, “and it will affect all taxpayers.”
At this point the Board went into executive session at the suggestion of Town Attorney Don Tate. When they emerged 13 minutes later Greene made a motion to table the demolition of the North Main Street garage and to return the bids unopened. This passed unanimously.
Sand And Gravel Bids
Six bids were received in response to Berlin’s request for quotes for highway materials. Prices for sand, bank run gravel, 6” gravel and screened gravel (aka Item 4 gravel) were requested. Winn said that he didn’t know what 6” gravel was and that the Town uses very little bank run gravel so the Board concentrated on the prices of the sand and screened gravel. The bids were submitted by CWG Excavating and Timbering on Greene’s Brook Road, Berlin, owned by Chad Gerstel – sand @ $8 per cubic yard FOB or $13 delivered; gravel @ $8 per cubic yard, both with a $1.50 per yard discount if loaded by Berlin; O’Donovan on Church Hollow Road – sand @ $8.50, gravel @ $8.50, no delivery, no loading discount; Bly Hollow Farm, owned by Douglas Goodermote – sand @ $6.45 FOB, gravel @ $6.45 FOB, no loading discount; Quality Construction, Watson Road, owned by Bill Hammersmith – sand @ $6.50 FOB, delivered $10.50, gravel @ $6.50 FOB, 50ó discount for loading; Troy Sand & Gravel – sand @ $14 FOB, gravel @ $10 FOB, no loading discount; RJ Valente, Route 22 Petersburgh – no sand bid, gravel @ $5.95 FOB. The Board voted unanimously to buy from four vendors – CWG, Bly Hollow Farm, Quality Construction and RJ Valente, in order to give Winn maximum flexibility.
Winn said he was prohibited from buying from Doug Goodermote in the past because he doesn’t have a DEC mining permit. Goodermote said that as an agricultural business he goes through the Farm Bureau and that the mining regulations say that he is exempt from all DEC mining permits. Sheila Hewitt said that she thought Goodermote was exempt. Tate said he had extensive discussions with the DEC that indicated otherwise. Winn said, “You guys will have to say ok; I don’t want to get into a pickle.” Tate said that he wants the Town to be able to purchase from Goodermote, but he feels that a letter from the DEC like the one submitted by CWG must be presented. He said he would be happy to go back and reaffirm the procedure.
Shared Transportation Centers
The Board passed a resolution unanimously to have Berlin participate in a shared services feasibility study with the County and other municipalities for a cost not to exceed $700. The study will look at establishing possibly two transportation centers in the area. Bodywork, mechanical work and fueling will take place at these centers which will also have a washing station. Jaeger said, “This consolidation would save tax payers in the valley a hell of a lot of taxes.” When it comes to buying fuel the participating municipalities would have significant leverage. BCS uses 80 thousand gallons per year, compared to the Town’s 15 thousand. Add to that the County’s requirements and the fuel needed for Hoosick Falls Central School and other towns in the group and the buying power becomes significant.
Comprehensive Plan Consultant Hired
The Board voted unanimously to enter into a contract with CT Male Associates as consultants for developing the Town’s Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Plan Committee had interviewed several consultants and recommended CT Male because it has more resources to provide presentations to townspeople, to run meetings, to advertise and to gather more feedback. Although the $5,000 of seed money in the 2008 budget will fund some of the expense, most of the money is to come from fund raising. There is $3,300 left from the Hudson River Valley Greenway grant, a $15,000 grant from the County and the possibility of a $25,000 grant that has been applied for. Jaeger said that this is a “pay as you go” contractual agreement and the service can stop when the money runs out.
Garage Doors
The Board voted to purchase four insulated, overhead doors with windows to be installed in the Town Garage. The doors will cost $1,800 each for a total of $6,400. Board Member George Shuhart said that Diamond Overhead Doors will do the work and delivery will be in about three or four weeks.
Cowee Rental
The Board voted to rent the machine shop at W.J. Cowee for $300 per month from December to April, 2009. Since the current Town Garage is too small to park the trucks inside with the plows on, they are removed every night and remounted every day they are needed. The machine shop at Cowee’s is big enough to park the trucks with plows on, and it is heated. Shuhart said that it would save so much time that the $300 per month would be worth it.
Cross Connection Plan Passes
The Board voted unanimously to adopt the Cross Connection and Backflow Prevention Policy for WD #2 that had been submitted by Water Supervisor Jim Winn and reviewed by Attorney Tate. Winn also reported that the faulty hydrants have been replaced. The one on South Main Street had a 2” main running above the 4” main and was a seven foot deep hydrant. The others are 5 or 6 feet. The stem on the North Main Street hydrant has been fixed, and two others that were leaking were able to be shut off. The replacement of the hydrant near the Bank of America went well until the people blacktopping the bank parking lot removed the cones and backed over the turn-off valve.
Other Business
Highway Superintendant Jim Winn reported that the Highway Department has been patching roads, repairing culverts and helping the County finish paving. Winn hopes he has stockpiled all the sand he will need for the winter.
Dog Control Officer Doug Goodermote said that he received a catcall this month. You can tell when you are getting a catcall, he said, because the caller asks for the animal control officer. When it’s a dog call, the caller asks for the dog control officer. He said that half as many animals were treated during the rabies clinic in October as were last spring so he might just do one a year from now on. He thanked Winn for the use of the Town Garage for the clinic. Goodermote also said that NYS had inspected his kennel and his books and he passed.
Pam Gerstel reported that the Planning Board will meet with the ZBA regarding the Town road specifications and amendments to the 1988 regulations. The Planning Board will not meet on the fourth Thursday of November and December because of Thanksgiving and Christmas. The next and last meeting for the year is on December 4.
Jaeger thanked Ivan Wager for getting smoke detectors for the Town Hall and the Watipi Building.
Wager said that they have been cleaning up the tires at the Transfer Station and there is another load to go. There are also 30 to 40 refrigerators to be drained of Freon. Wager hopes the Little Augie will be able to be used until after all the leaves have been picked up, but they will have to put the machine away for the winter when the weather gets cold.
Regarding the Disaster Plan, Wager said that he is looking for a way to do a reverse 911 calling for evacuation purposes. The 911 dispatcher would be able to automatically call all the phones in a particular area to warn them or give instructions.
Jaeger reported that a letter had been received from the First Baptist Church thanking the Town for the use of the Town Hall for their church service. A letter was also received from County Executive Kathy Jimino looking for matching funds to install signs designating historic sites under the Preserve America grant. The Corkscrew Railroad on Route 22 has been identified, with the help of the Town historian, as an historic site.
Board Member Hewitt thanked Kent Goodermote. “The streetlight is working in front of my house,” she said. Some still aren’t right but NYSEG is fixing them today, she said. Goodermote has reported seven more streetlights to be fixed.
Kent Goodermote asked if Rich Furnley will be appointed to the Comprehensive Plan Committee. Furnley lives in Poestenkill near Spring Lake in the summer and has had experience working on the East Greenbush Comprehensive Plan.
The Board agreed that a booklet with the Town fee schedule should be published. It would contain transfer station fees, Planning Board fees, building permit fees and other Town fees.
Public Hearing On Cable TV
The Board set a date for a public hearing on renewing the Charter Cable TV contract. The hearing was set for 7 pm before the regular meeting on Thursday, December 11.