Berlin Town Board Action – The Rest Of The Story

by Kieron Kramer
Due to space considerations some details were left out of last week’s report on the Berlin Town Board meeting of August 11. Here is the rest of the story.
Code Enforcement Officer Allan Yerton noted that there were two energy related permits filed last month, one for solar heat and one for solar electric power.
Planning Board Chair Pam Gerstel reported that a boundary line adjustment between the properties of Caleb and Simon Carr was approved at the last Planning Board meeting. The Planning Board and the ZBA are almost finished with the Wind Energy Local Law. “Only some changes to the wording are left to do,” Gerstel said. The two boards will work on it at their next meeting. Gerstel hopes to get the final draft to the Town Board for action, perhaps by the September meeting.
Town Supervisor Rob Jaeger reported that at the Workshop meeting he had requested a resolution to apply for a $5,000 Clean Air Grant  to buy  a chipper to handle the brush at the  transfer station. It cannot be burned anymore according to law, he said.
Jaeger also reported that he had received correspondence from Empire Health, the Health Insurance company that insures the Town workers, saying that if a payment due date was missed the insurance would be cancelled immediately. In response to this rather annoying policy, the Board voted at the meeting to pay two months of insurance dues at once so that the Town’s account will always be current. The Town has often paid near the end of the billing cycle because the bills are authorized once a month at the Board meeting.
Jaeger reported that the estimate for the Town’s 2012 contribution to the State Employees Retirement System will be $32, 305.
Jaeger announced that the budget process for the upcoming year was about to begin and that he needs “budget input” from department heads by September 2.
There was a discussion about the Farmers Market on Brimmer Farm Road. Fresh eggs, maple syrup, jam and homemade pies are sold there. Jaeger encouraged local producers to participate in the Farmer’s Market. Allan Yerton said that no license was needed to sell produce through the Farmers Market. Jaeger said, “She will sell on a 5% commission basis [if you don’t want to set up your own table].”
Jaeger announced that a person is needed to clean the Town Hall and the Watipi Building. The job pays $8 per hour, and the buildings are cleaned every two weeks. He said it takes roughly 3 to 4 hours to clean the buildings. “A person is needed right now,” Jaeger said, “Justice Rechen has been gathering the garbage and putting it in plastic bags.”
Someone in the audience said, “For $8 an hour I wouldn’t pick up a broom.” Of course some people pick up a broom at home for free.
There were no Board comments at the end of the meeting. And, in a shocker, there were no public comments at the end of this meeting. That hasn’t happened since Stan Goodermote was Supervisor. A stunned Supervisor Jaeger turned to Board Member Richard deLeon Jr. and said, “Richard, why don’t you make a motion to adjourn.”
“It’s good to have Jimmy back,” Jaeger said at the end of the meeting.  Board Member Jim Saunders had missed the July meeting for medical reasons.”