Berlin Town Board Action – December – Pt. 2

by Kieron Kramer
Several announcements and reports were omitted from last week’s story on the Berlin Town Board meeting of December 9 due to space considerations.
Dog Control Officer Doug Goodermote reported that in the last month there had been one dog bite and that he had picked up two strays. The State inspector came to look at the Town’s kennel and, Goodermote said, the kennel passed. He also said that he had heard some complaints regarding the dog licensing fee that Berlin will start charging  on January 1 in lieu of the State fee.
Code Enforcement Officer Allan Yerton announced that “there is one less house on Plank Road.” He was referring to the structure on the old Loyal Goodermote property that had fallen into disrepair. Dwayne Goodermote demolished it.
The dangerous structure on North Main Street across from the Baptist Church has been taken over by the County and, Yerton believes, they will take it down at their own expense. He said that Hoosick River Hardwoods has opened up the old railroad bed from Satterlee Hollow Road in order to access their facility because the State has changed the load limit on the Park Avenue bridge along the route they used to use. He urged extra caution when traveling on Satterlee Hollow Road. Yerton still wants people who are interested in a building permit clinic to contact him. His number is 658-0707.
The annual meeting of the Little Hoosic Watershed Association is in March. In the meantime the Association is observing the results of the work done this year.
Town Supervisor Rob Jaeger reported that a representative from LaBerge attended the workshop meeting to answer questions on the scope of work in their bid to perform the environmental study and the property condition assessment on the Berlin Lumber property. He also said that he will link Berlin’s Hazard Mitigation Plan to the Town’s Disaster Plan in order to make applying for FEMA money quicker and easier in case of a hazardous waste spill.
In his position as Assessor Allan Yerton reported that the Senior Star renewal and income verification forms have been sent out.
County Fire Coordinator Ivan Wager reported that he had been appointed to the Public Safety Committee at Berlin Central School and he has observed their disaster preparations. He said, “I am very impressed with what they’ve done.”
Dave Theriault asked if the Board had “any thoughts” on the Watipi Building. He was referring to the statement by Tammy Osterhout in the November meeting that there is a mold problem in that building. Jaeger replied that once the new Board is in place “we will go after it.” He said that people start “coughing and hacking right upon entering the building.”