Berlin Town Board Action, Part Two – Bridges

by Kieron Kramer
At the Berlin Town Board meeting on Thursday, November 8, not all the highway talk was about buying the new truck which was reported last week. Highway Superintendent Jim Winn also informed the meeting that the bridge on Satterlee Hollow Road had been red flagged. By the Thursday of the meeting Winn had already had the bridge repaired, and the red flag was removed. The ibeams under the bridge decking “were getting bad” so metal plates and poured concrete were put under them by Dave Goodermote Construction. Winn added that the Department is getting ready for winter and is finishing patching, having recently just done some patching on Cherry Plain Square.
[private]Part of getting ready for winter is putting the plows on the Town trucks. The Department has “put together the four wheel drive trucks” but is holding off putting the plows on them because they won’t fit in the Town Garage. If the trucks are used to haul sand they would have to be under cover when not used so the sand won’t freeze. Winn asked the Board, “Any idea when we’ll have a home for the trucks?” referring to the garage space down at the  Berlin Lumber property. The closing on the Town’s purchase of that property is still in limbo, presumably tied up in negotiations over a lot line adjustment. “If we do get down to worse case situations, I have spoken to them about putting the trucks in down there,” said Town Supervisor Rob Jaeger “It’s getting pretty close,” Winn said. “You’ve noticed it’s snowing?” asked Board Member Tara Cinney.
Winn said that FEMA will reimburse the Town more money than was originally expected for Tropical Storm Irene damage. The repaving of the road in the  Walnut Street Bridge repair project was not included in the original reimbursement for that project.
Elm Street Bridge Project
Jaeger reported that an informational meeting was held by the County Engineer at the Berlin Fire House on November 1 regarding the County’s replacement of the Elm Street Bridge. The County won’t have the financials, the easements and other paperwork finished until September of 2013 at the earliest. The bridge replacement is expected to take three months. Jaeger recommended to the County that the project be put off until the next summer, in 2014, when the Berlin Elementary School is out of session. He doesn’t think it would be good to have the bridge closed over the winter months. Jaeger also said  that the July 4 Committee is worried about how to route the parade across the river.
Jaeger said that Jim Winn, in his role as Water District #2 Supervisor, feels that a new water line with shut off valves at both ends of the bridge, an upgrade that he has been contemplating for a while, should be done during the bridge replacement. The new line would be a ten inch main, hook up to the 10 inch main on Taylor Avenue on the east side of the river and extend another 100 feet or so to Route 22 on the west side. The new main with the two shut-offs would provide more reliable service to the elementary school because repairs to the system on either side of the Little Hoosic River could be done without shutting off the supply to the school. It would also solve some of the water pressure problems in that area. Jaeger said, “It makes sense to have the contractor for the bridge project do it so we don’t have to mess with it. They will have the responsibility. We will ride on the coat tails of the County”
Fire House Hydrant
Speaking of water pressure, Jaeger said that the Board had discussed the broken fire hydrant near the Fire House at its workshop held on October 25. Winn can’t find the parts for it so it is still out of service. Winn said the hydrant is used a lot and the brass stem broke when “somebody twisted it off.” At this meeting Winn was asked why the hydrant couldn’t be replaced with a new one. He replied that it could but that wouldn’t solve the other problem at that location which is that when the Fire Department uses the hydrant to fill pools or for other non-emergency reasons the water pressure in that part of town drops significantly in all houses that are higher than the Town reservoir. It sucks the water out of the nearby trailer and then, when the hydrant is closed, creates a “water slam” that destoys the pvc service pipe to the trailer. This was discussed at length last month.
At this meeting several solutions to the drop in water pressure at the trailer were suggested. Code Enforcement Officer Allan Yerton suggested that “an expansion tank” would absorb the shock as would an “anti-hammer riser.” This would not solve the problem of the water slam breaking the pvc service pipe, though. That can be solved if the property owner would install a copper service lead from the main to the trailer. Most people, most of the time, would expect the property owner to fix the problem, but Winn feels bad about it.
“She doesn’t create the problem, but she’s got the problem,” he said. Before it broke, Winn had asked the Fire Department not to use the hydrant unecessarily. Jaeger said that any decision should be  tabled until the next Board workshop on November  29 and that he would invite the Fire Department to the workshop.
Jaeger reported that at the October workshop the Board voted to authorize him to contact a forester to look at the Town land in order to maintain it and to start harvesting trees for income. He said he hasn’t made the call yet.
Barking At Baptists
Dog Control Officer Doug Goodermote reported that there has been a problem with a dog on North Main Street that has been ongoing all summer and was finally taken to the Town Court. The dog, which was kept outside, barks at night and also barks during the services at the 7th Day Baptist Church. The dog will now be kept inside at night and during the Church services. Goodermote also said that there are two “ugly” dogs on Southeast Hollow Road. “The owner says his dogs are not ugly, but the guy whose kids they were chasing says they are ugly,” he said. The dogs are tied up now.
The rabies clinic in October was not as well attended as usual – only 18 cats and 42 dogs were vaccinated, according to Goodermote. There is quite a bit of vaccine left so if people have animals they want vaccinated they should contact Goodermote. “If we can  come up with six animals we can vaccinate them at my house,” he said.
Odds And Ends
Jaeger announced that the cell phone service from the Cherry Plain tower was turned on just before storm Sandy. Goodermote, on whose property the cell tower was erected, said, “A little white car went up the hill and when it came down we had service.”
Code Enforcement Officer Yerton said that there has been an increase in applications for photovoltaic systems; three have been applied for. This is probably because NYSERDA has been promoting this form of alternate energy, he said.
Planning Board Chairwoman Pam Gerstel said that the Planning Board was expecting surveyor Fred Haley to appear in front of the Board to propose a lot line adjustment on property on Berlin Mountain. An alternate member of the Planning Board has moved out of Town and is leaving the Board, she said. Two people are interested in the position, Gerstel said, and she will present their letters and a recommendation to the Town Board at the next meeting. There will be no Planning Board meeting in December.
Ivan Wager was not present at the meeting so Jaeger reported that a door had blown off the Transfer Station Building “thanks to Sandy.” Wager got Burdick Construction to repair the door.
Head of Assessors Allan Yerton said that a small claim had been settled before going in front of a hearing officer in Troy.
The Board went into executive session for eight minutes “to discuss legal matters.”
When the bills were read by Town Clerk Ann Maxon, Jim Winn had three corrections. The bill from Pittsfield Lawn and Tractor in the  amount of $1,499 for a generator should go into the Water District #2 account instead of the Highway account, he said. Also, Winn said that the bill from Troy Sand & Gravel for $10,700.75 needs to be adjusted. He wants “the bill right” before payment is authorized. Another bill for car parts from WBP Distributors includes some double billing, he added. With these exceptions the Board voted the bills to be paid.
Newly elected Board Member Rich deLeon said, “Thank you, everyone, for re-electing me, to all those who are here and those who aren’t.” To which Supervisor Jaeger said, “We wish you well in your upcoming marriage on Saturday.” De Leon replied, “It’s been a heck of a week.”
Condolences To The Goodermote Family
Board Member Dean Maxon addressed Kent Goodermote who was attending his first Board meeting in a long while. “Your dad [Doug Goodermote who died on October 30] did a lot for this Town; we give you our condolences.” This sentiment was repeated by the other Board members and several residents in attendance. Jaeger, who attended the ceremony for Goodermote, said, “I got teary when the flag was raised; it was a very touching moment.”
The meeting adjourned at 8:28 pm. The next Town Board workshop will be on November 29 at 7 pm in the Watipi Building, and the next regular Board meeting will be on Thursday, December 13, at 7:30 pm.[/private]