by Kieron Kramer
The issue of the renewal of Petersburgh’s contract to use the Berlin transfer station, which has been percolating for weeks, surfaced right at the end of the Berlin Town Board meeting last Thursday, February 13, when mild mannered, man of the people, badge-toting Dog Control Officer Doug Goodermote said to the Board, “I’ve been reading the last two weeks in the Eastwick Press that you people are dishonest and unfair.” [private]And he asked, “Didn’t they build that [transfer station] for the Town of Berlin?” Town Clerk Anne Maxon responded, “Yes, and they [Petersburgh] were offered the option to use it.” Goodermote concluded, “It was built for the Town of Berlin so if they aren’t happy with it they can take their garbage and put it where the sun don’t shine.”
Town Supervisor Rob Jaeger said, “Well, it’s the same contract since its inception and has not changed; people should be aware that there is no provision in it to share the income from recycling, but we do and have been doing so all along.” Jaeger added that “we are going to meet with them” but said he had been reluctant because he wanted specific items to “go against the contract” and was worried that “they are going on a witch hunt.” Goodermote said, “They’re bitching about the $12,000 per year.” This is the monthly payment in the contract which Petersburgh has been paying over many years. The contract also provides for the equal sharing of the operating expenses to run the station. The term of the contract is, and has been, two years with a provision for termination with ninety days notice. Town Board Member Stephen Riccardi asked, “Can we say we’d love to have a meeting?” Jaeger said, “Absolutely.” Board Member Tara Fisher said, “Yep,” and she said to Riccardi, “You are familiar with the contract; you helped craft it.” Riccardi said, “I just wanted to know if it is the same; there’s been a lot of garbage in the dumpster since then.”
Jaeger will bring up several topics at any meeting with Petersburgh. He wants a list of the Petersburgh permit holders, and he wants all users, from Petersburgh and from Berlin, to display their permits in the vehicle’s window. “They [Petersburgh] have about 150 user permits, but I believe they have more users who are using the transfer station without a permit so they are losing money.” And he added, “They can charge whatever they want to for their permits.” The transfer station attendants complain that the recycling material is not prepared properly, and it’s the Petersburghers who are remiss in this respect, they think. The use of the station by non-residents, people from Hoosick were mentioned, is another issue Jaeger wants addressed, implying that these people are getting their permits from Petersburgh. Maxon pointed out that they may physically be located in Hoosick but may have a Petersburgh postal address, which is common. Jaeger said that maybe tax bills should be used to obtain permits. And he referred to the issue that there is a one ticket charge for a 30 gallon garbage bag; “a 60 gallon bag needs two tickets,” he said. Are these just Petersburghers who bring in larger bags for one ticket? Riccardi, perhaps trying to prevent a witch hunt, stated that “We should have a conversation with Petersburgh first.” And he added that he didn’t know why it mattered where the users of the transfer station came from as long as they paid for the permits and for the tickets – revenue is revenue as far as he is concerned and the more recycling the better. Jaeger, Goodermote and others were adamant that the facility should be a service offered to Petersburgh and Berlin residents only.
Both Towns Can Benefit; Both Towns Can Be Hurt
It was not revealed at this meeting if the financial terms of the contract are negotiable. The consensus in the room was that Berlin breaks even in running the station by including the revenues from Petersburgh. The 2014 Berlin budget was formulated with this assumption – an assumption based on a twenty year history. The Berlin Board must determine the budgetary impact of losing all or some of the fees that Petersburgh pays. Jaeger said that if Petersburgh decides not to participate in sharing the transfer station, he would be willing to issue Berlin permits to residents of Petersburgh who have had Petersburgh permits in the past.
But what are Petersburgh’s choices? Jaeger said, “A little bird told me that the Petersburgh Supervisor is considering adding $300 to everyone’s tax bill and having their trash removed by a commercial hauler.” Whether this is accurate or not, Petersburgh has very few options. It can build its own transfer station, hoping that this will be cheaper than using Berlin’s. Or perhaps Petersburgh can make an arrangement with some other facility within a reasonable travel distance.
One thing both towns can agree on – there must be a way to collect trash at a reasonable rate or there will be trash along the side of the road. “I’ll have a problem with that,” Jaeger said. Riccardi said, “We have a lot of rubber trees; I see a lot of tires in the woods.” Jaeger ended the meeting by saying, “They [Petersburgh] are scratching around trying to figure out how to pay their own bills, but that’s not our job.” One hopes that cooler heads will prevail.
Most of Thursday’s Board meeting, which was held on the evening of the snowstorm last week, was tame by comparison. Board Member John Winn was absent. “He is out plowing,” said Jaeger. Winn works for the State Highway Department. In Water District #2 Supervisor Jim Winn’s absence Jaeger said that “every thing is fairly quiet in Water District #2 – they are out plowing.” On behalf of Highway Superintendent Jim Winn, Jaeger said “They are out plowing.”
Doing The Business
Dog Control Officer Doug Goodermote described a confrontation with a dog owner on Plank Road after receiving complaints that the dog owner was walking his dog and it “was doing its business on everybody’s lawn.” There is no dog ordinance the man told Goodermote. Goodermote said, “I had my badge in view,” and said, “Yes, there is.” Not fazed, the man, characterized as “from Long Island” by Goodermote (which means he may have come to Berlin sometime during the last 20 years), then went outside to pace off the County property along the roadway, maintaining that his dog could do his “business” there. “You keep doing this and you’ll see we have a dog ordinance and you’ll see how it works,” Goodermote told him.
Goodermote received approval from the Board to schedule a rabies clinic in the spring.
Safety First
Code Enforcement Officer Allan Yerton said that with the impending snowstorm people with propane furnaces and water heaters should be aware that these vents are located at the base of the foundation and must be kept clear of snow. He also said that with the snowfall there may be some power outages. In order to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning he said people with generators should not put them on their front porches – the carbon monoxide will travel under the porch roof and into the house. Generators should not be put in attached garages for the same reason. When the snow melts and your basement fills up with water, he said, do not place a gas powered pump inside the basement. “CO sneaks up on you,” Yerton said.
Sand And Gravel Bids
Two sand and gravel bids were received and were opened at this meeting. One was from O’Donovan Sand & Gravel of Petersburgh. O’Donovan will sell sand, picked up by the Town at his location for $7.50 per yard, bank run gravel will cost $5.30 per yard and item 4 gravel will cost $7.10.
The other bid was from Quality Construction of Cherry Plain. Billy Hammersmith, the owner, is asking $7.75 for screened sand per yard picked up at his mine on Watson Road, $5.35 for bank run gravel and $7.50 for screened item 4.
The Board reviewed the bids and decided to accept both bids. This will allow Highway Superintendent Jim Winn to use his discretion. If he has a project in the north end of Berlin, he can go to O’Donovan’s, which is closer. If he has a project in Cherry Plain, he can buy from Quality Construction.
Security Cameras
Town Clerk Anne Maxon said that she had received “a rather strong recommendation” from the insurance company to install security cameras at the Municipal Complex. “Do we have an influx of crime?” Board Member Dean Macon asked. “Are they paying for them, or are we putting the expense on the taxpayer.” Anne Maxon said, “If we have cameras the insurance company is more likely to cover whatever is lost.” Billy Hammersmith pointed out that insurance carriers usually give a reduction in premiums if you have cameras. Supervisor Jaeger proposed that the Town use the remaining funds from the Justice Grant to pay for the installation of the cameras. “We have about $3,000 left over [from the grant],” he said. Riccardi was very supportive of the idea. The Board voted 3-1 to install the security cameras with Dean Maxon voting no. “We’re just adding expenses,” he said.
The Freeze At The Old Town Hall
Jaeger announced that he had gotten a quote from Morse Heating to repair the damage to the heating system in the old town hall which occurred when the system froze up. All the radiators were damaged and need to be replaced. The repairs will cost about $4,200, he said, and the estimate has been submitted to the insurance company. Jaeger said that it has been determined that the automatic fuel delivery by Main Care was done late and the oil tank had “run dry.” This issue is now in the hands of the insurance company.
Workshop
Jaeger said that the Town Board would hold its next workshop on February 27.
At the last workshop the Town Board heard from the Berlin Fire Commissioners regarding the charge for the fire hydrants. The Town charges the Fire District $38.29 per hydrant every quarter. There are 25 working hydrants, but the Town was charging for 26 so the Town reduced the charge by one hydrant’s worth after meeting with the Fire Commissioners. The Fire District also uses diesel fuel pumped from the Berlin Highway Department tanks and is charged on a monthly basis now.
The Town timberman, David Keel, met with the Board at the workshop. He is now working for Cersosimo Lumber Company, a large company headquartered in Brattleboro, VT, with offices in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York State. Happy with the quality of his work, the Town signed a new contract with Keel and Cersosimo Lumber to harvest the Town’s forestland.
Odds And Ends
With the Board’s agreement Jaeger said he would send a letter to the County opting out of its Summer Youth program.
Jaeger announced that the Town had received a rebate check from NYMIR for $639. NYMIR, the New York Municipal Insurance Reciprocal, is an organization that 906 towns in the State use because it allows them to be self-insured.
Jaeger reported that beginning March 3 Charter’s customer service hours in Chatham have changed to Monday, 9 am to 1 pm, Thursday 9 am to 1 pm, Friday 1 to 6 pm and Saturday 9 am to 2 pm. Charter provides cable TV service to Berlin among other towns in the valley.
Transfer Station attendant Bud Hall reported that all is quiet at the transfer station.
Jaeger announced that the Town has renewed its domain name for its website. The website was down for a couple of days before the domain name was renewed. The domain name must be renewed every two years, he said.
Jaeger has learned from the County that the work on the Elm Street Bridge replacement will be ongoing through July. He will inform the Parade Committee that the Berlin July Fourth Parade will have to be rerouted. The new route needs to be determined, and the route sent to the State, he said.
The Town received one letter in response to its publishing a request for letters of interest to fill the vacant Assessor’s position. It was from Tom McVeigh, the Sole Assessor in Stephentown. Since Berlin still uses a Board of assessors who are elected and must be Berlin residents, McVeigh, a resident of Stephentown, is not eligible. Jaeger will send him a note saying, “Thanks but no thanks.” Meanwhile Berlin is still looking for someone to fill the vacant Assessor’s seat.
Jaeger announced that he had been asked by the Forest Owners Association to host a Woods Forum on Tuesday, March 18, from 5:30 to 9 pm. The forum is open to the public and will address maintaining forestland. The forum will take place in the Berlin Town Hall at the Complex.
The Board went into executive session for about 15 minutes regarding “union negotiations.”
At the end of the meeting Board Member Tara Fisher reminded everyone who had missed the original broadcast that the Building Wild show on the National Geographic Channel was rebroadcasting the episode in which the Cabin Kings build a cabin for Pat and Ryan Sweeney on their property in Cherry Plain.
With the cost of electricity soaring, Board Member Fisher asked that residents be vigilant in reporting streetlights that are out. “We pay for them,” she said. Supervisor Jaeger suggested that the Board investigate other energy sources to heat the other building at the Municipal Complex that houses Town offices. We could “go after solar power” he said. Dean Maxon said that he would like to see the Town use wind power at the Complex. Everyone agreed that there is plenty of wind there.[/private]