Berliners Approve Referendum; May Be Too Late

by David Flint
The vote was a complete turnaround from the statement made by taxpayers last December. Then voters in the Town of Berlin rejected the proposal to acquire the Berlin Lumber site by a margin of over 60%. This past Monday close to 60% of the voters approved the plan to use up to $499,500 from the Capital Reserve Fund to purchase the property for a municipal center. The tally was 186 votes in favor versus 137 negative votes.
Town Supervisor Rob Jaeger said he was pleased with the vote. He believed the public got enough factual information this time enabling them to make an informed decision. But Jaeger cautioned that it’s “still a hot button issue” and is far from a done deal. As of Tuesday morning the property was still active on the Multiple Listing Service, and there was no indication yet that a sale is pending. However, Jaeger was recently informed by someone from out of town that he had made an offer to buy the Berlin Lumber property. Jaeger believes that with the voters’ mandate it now behooves the Town to quickly make an offer, but, if in fact an offer has already been made, the Town would be second in line.
Jaeger said he has already contacted the Town Attorney, Don Tate, to determine how best to proceed. As a real estate broker himself, Jaeger would not handle acquisition negotiations but would turn everything over to the Town Attorney.
Jaeger said the only renovation work that would need to be done to move the Town Hall to the site would be to provide a ramp and bathroom for the handicapped. Quotes on that from last December ranged between $15,000 and $18,000. An offer had also been made at that time by Morse Heating to provide a heating system at no charge.
Of the large outbuildings, Jaeger sees the one in the middle as being used for the Town Garage and the one at the south end for additional storage of Town equipment. Behind the latter building is a large concrete area that could be used for sand storage. The large building at the north end could possibly be used by the County Highway Department. Jaeger has had discussions with the Highway Department and with County Executive Cathy Jimino about that and they appear to be interested. Alongside that building there is also room for a state of the art salt shed to be constructed with proper drainage that would be shared by the Town, the County and the State. Grant money would be available for this as long as it is presented as a multi-jurisdictional facility.
Jaeger said the Town is at a disadvantage in any real estate transaction because it cannot move quickly and because it must lay its cards on the table. The way the reserve fund was set up, a referendum is required to open it and spend it. This means that the amount of money the Town is willing to spend is out in the open. As a real estate broker Jaeger said this was a new experience for him. But that’s the way it is, Jaeger said, and added, “We don’t do anything behind closed doors.”