Berlin Town Board Action – The Rest Of The Story

by Kieron Kramer
After dogs, permits and zoning were discussed at the Berlin Town Board meeting on June 13 the rest of the meeting consisted mainly of reports.
Water, Water Everywhere
Len Clapp, Supervisor of Water District #1, the seasonal water system in the Taborton Mountain area of Berlin, reported that a lightning strike had knocked out the system. It destroyed the pump controller which was repaired by Hanson Well Drilling for $1,314. Clapp reported that the system was now “up and running.”
[private]Jim Winn, who supervises Water District #2 which serves the village of Berlin, reported that two leaks, one on South Main Street and one across from the Fire House on Community Avenue had been fixed. In repairing the leak on Community Avenue he did not deal with the hydrant there because one of the shut off valves doesn’t work. The repair was effectuated because the main was able to be shut off at the curb stop. Winn also said that the water report was submitted to the County Health Department and will be posted after it’s approved.
Helping Out
In his role as Highway Superintendent, Winn reported that the extent of the damage from the heavy rains was only that a few trees came down on Mattison Hollow and George Allen Hollow Roads. During the week before this meeting the Highway Department helped the Petersburgh Highway Department in its road repairs. “They got clobbered,” Winn said. He also said that he was glad he got his gravel down early this spring. “I hope it stops raining,” he said, while the rain continued sporadically outside.
Youth Commission
Tammy Osterhout said that Elise Morse had applied for the remaining open counselor position in the summer arts and recreation program. Morse is 15 but knows the program well, having been a participant the last few years. Counselors are paid the NYS minimum wage. The Board voted unanimously to appoint Morse as counselor. Osterhout said she had no one yet to work in the swim program.
Osterhout also wants to buy supplies for the arts and recreation program. Because the  money will come out of the gift left by Margaret Kinn, Osterhout wanted Board approval for the expenditures. She has received a donation of supplies so her purchase will be cut. Osterhout said that the new applications for the summer programs are now on the  Town website (http://berlin-ny.us/).
Workshop
Town Supervisor Rob Jaeger reported that the Board discussed at the Board Workshop on May 23 the transfer of some money in the Capital Fund, which has $30,017 in it, to a new Capital Fund earmarked for major repairs to Town buildings. He said also that Town Historian Sharon Klein confirmed that the Historical Society will begin using the old Town Hall for meetings on the  nights when the Justices are not holding court and will begin moving the Town’s artifacts into the building.
Also at the Workshop the Board authorized Town Clerk Anne Maxon to search for a Deputy Town Clerk. The pay rate would be $10 per hour, Jaeger said. He added, “After 28 years she [Maxon] deserves to be able to have a Saturday off.” Anne Maxon said, “We’re a little over thirty [years in the job] now.”
Flag Pole
The conversation turned to flag poles. The Board would like to have a flag pole at the Municipal Complex and discussed proposals for several different kinds of poles, all of which will be 25 feet high. Atlantis Equipment Corp. of Stephentown told Maxon that it could supply a steel pole for $1,200. Wiley Bros. Inc. of  Schaghticoke has a 28 foot fiberglass pole – three feet would be underground in a 3’x3’x3’ concrete base – for $875. Atlantic Flag of Schuylerville, which manufactures the Titan telescoping flag pole, offered a 25 foot Titan for $389 which includes $30 for the flag that must be used with it. This pole is made of very thin-walled steel pipe, and, although it was the cheapest, no Board member was confident it would last. Jim Winn offered to ask Frank Zwack of Zwack, Inc. in Stephentown for how much he could supply a pole. Allan Yerton suggested that a flag that has flown over the Capitol Building in Washington, DC, can be purchased through either NYS Senator’s office at a reasonable cost. Clapp said that a 25 foot staff can fly a 5 by 8 foot flag. There was no resolution about the flag pole.
The Board accepted a letter of resignation due to health concerns from long serving transfer station attendant Ed Jones. So, at Ivan Wager’s recommendation, the Board appointed Rose Orenstein as the substitute at the transfer station.
Work Continues At The Complex
The Board agreed that Joe Burdick has done a fine job on the handicapped accessible bathroom renovation in the new Town Hall. It is “completely ADA compliant,” said Code Enforcement Officer Allan Yerton. Board Member John Winn thought Burdick should be approached to do the work on the handicap ramp and the three exterior doors. The design for the ramp has already passed the scrutiny of Yerton and been reviewed by the Board. The materials will be purchased by the Town so Burdick will only charge for his labor. The three steel entry doors, with the front door having keyless entry, will cost $5,725 from Melanie’s Doors. The upper part of the doors have reinforced glass. So far, Jaeger said, about $8,000 has been spent on the exit lights and the bathrooms. The $8,000 has come out of the grant obtained by the Town Justices.
Other Business
Chairman of the Assessors Allan Yerton said that the Assessors went through Grievance “unscathed.” There was only one complaint, and that was handled by the Board of Assessment Review. Everyone liked the new hours, he said.
Open House Donations
Jaeger said that the Taconic Valley Soccer Club donated $100 to the Open House at the Complex, that Anne Maxon also donated and that the Hill Hollow Band played for donations. “Everybody seemed to enjoy the music,” Jaeger said. He also thanked Jim Winn, the volunteers from the Seventh Day Baptist Church who spruced up the facility and “everyone else for the Open House; we all had a good time.” Board Member Tara Cinney said she appreciated the desserts by Pan Gerstel and the cooking by Dianne Mosher.
BFD Community Day
It was announced that the Berlin Fire Department will hold its Community Day in August with the carnival on August 23 and 24.
Money From Wood
Jaeger said that the Town had received the first check from the timber harvest of the Town’s land on Cowdry Hollow. The check was for $18,101, he said, which is more than anticipated. Just the spruce has been harvested so far, and there was more spruce than expected. Jaeger said the next check will be received in July. “The harvest should supply income [for the Town] for 50 years,” he said.
The Board went into a short executive session to discuss a “personnel matter.”
Historic Plaques
During the public comment period at the end of the meeting, Pam Gerstel suggested that the Town erect plaques throughout town commemorating the history of the businesses that had been in Berlin, like Cowee’s and Seagroatt’s and the charcoal pits in Cherry Plain. “The Town was flourishing at one time and that should be recognized,” Gerstel said. She said that because Margaret Kinn had been the Town Historian for 40 years it would seem appropriate to use some of the money she gifted the Town for this purpose. In June of 2011 Kinn bequeathed the Town of  Berlin $25,000 and the Berlin Youth Commission $5,000. Jaeger thought that some of the Kinn money could also be appropriated for the museum in the old Town Hall once it is up and running. He hoped the museum would be open on July Fourth. Gerstel thought that there would be volunteers ready  to work on the historic signs.
The meeting adjourned at 8:43 pm.[/private]