by Kieron Kramer
The regular Berlin Town Board meeting, held on Thursday, July 10, was filled with gratitude – gratitude to Highway Superintendent Jim Winn and his department for installing two flag poles at the Municipal Center in time for the Fourth of July, gratitude to the volunteers who planted, placed and watered the flower barrels along the route of the Berlin July 4 Parade on Main Street and gratitude to the anonymous donor who purchased the pricey, antique Berlin Band drum and donated it to the Berlin Historical Center and to Billy Hammersmith “for bringing it up.” [private]And that is not all. Town Supervisor Rob Jaeger said he had met with Vic Lewin to thank him for his service on the Zoning Board of Appeals; Lewin is retiring from that Board. “He was an original member,” Jaeger said. Planning Board Chair Pam Gertsel added, “He worked on the [first land use] regulations in 1988.”
Jaeger said that he had received a letter from Berlin Central School Superintendent Dr. Stephen Young thanking the Town for permitting parking at the Municipal Center during the graduation on June 27 at the middle school/high school just down the road.
Jaeger also said that he received a letter of thanks from the Berlin July Fourth Parade Committee “to everyone involved in the successful parade, especially to Mrs. Osterhout and to Dave Theriault for his signs.” According to Town Clerk Anne Maxon, the successful parade even had a float from Williamstown. Jaeger said, “We actually had our legal permit this year,” and he added that 55 pictures from the parade, along with the list of the award winners, have been posted on the Town website (http://berlin-ny.us/). He thanked Pam Gerstel and Kathy Jaeger for planting the flowers along the parade route. In her turn Gerstel thanked Jim Winn for placing the flower barrels and the people who lived near the barrels for watering them. At this point Bud Hall said he had watered the plants, with the exception of the barrel near John and JoAnn Kellar’s house. “The [soil in the] barrels at the Post Office and the Town Hall [the Historical Center] were dry as dust,” Hall said.
“Music makes a parade and bands are becoming more expensive,” Jaeger said. As a result the Parade Committee will attempt to develop the theme and begin fundraising earlier next year. Jaeger thinks that this will result in more floats and bands. Speaking of money, the Board voted to pay all bills as read, and one of the vouchers was for $1,600 for the Parade Committee.
Transfer Station
Negotiations
In keeping with the trend that some important issues arise at the Board workshop on the fourth Thursday of the month, Jaeger announced that the Board had developed a counter proposal at the workshop to Petersburgh’s offer regarding the contract between the two towns for Petersburgh’s use of the Berlin transfer station. It was submitted to Petersburgh. Jaeger said he received an email in return saying that the Petersburgh Board would consider the counter offer at its regular meeting on July 21.
Bank Demolition?
In his report Code Enforcement Officer Allan Yerton said that he had been approached by a company on behalf of the anonymous owners of the former Bank of America building inquiring as to the expense of a demolition permit. A demolition permit from the Town only costs $25, but to certify whether the building contains asbestos or not through an EnCon procedure and the disposing of the asbestos, if any, could be expensive.
Reports
Len Clapp reported that some leaks in the system in Water District #1 had been fixed and that he would be attending a Water Supervisor’s course in Ballston Spa. Water District #2 Supervisor Jim Winn reported that all is quiet in the District. The new 10 inch water main across the Little Hoosic River at the Elm Street Bridge is hooked up, and he is just waiting for the bridgework to be completed.
As Highway Superintendent, Winn reported that the Department has been patching, some in Cherry Plain, and grading between rain storms as well as doing “quite a lot of ditching.” “We have everything about mowed,” he added.
Dog Control Officer Doug Goodermote said that this is “the time of year when windows are left open and barking dogs are driving people crazy.” This is also the time of year when dogs belonging to campers at Dyken Pond cause a disturbance “and then they’re gone.” Campers should tie their dogs up, he said. He reported on the ongoing “little problem on Hilltop.” “There is more of a problem up there than just dogs,” Goodermote said. Other than that everything has been quiet, he concluded.
The longest report of the evening was given by Tammy Osterhout. She said that the art and recreation program had started and there are 16 to 18 kids in it. Many of the participants are returnees so, Osterhout said, she has to get more creative. “Their imaginations are running wild, which is what the program is for,” she said. She showed a footstool made out of three number ten cans taped together and covered with “bling.” She said that four trucks and a trailer load of supplies had been donated to the program. She now has 10 years of paint and paper to last 20 years. Some lab coats were donated and colored by the kids. She has two boxes of Christmas decorations in preparation for the Christmas in July party during the week at the end of the program on July 25. Osterhout thanked Audrey Vanderhoef and the Lewins, who turned over a check to the Youth Commission for $150 which they raised selling hot dogs at the July Fourth Parade.
There are four counselors in the program. One of the counselors appointed by the Board pulled out at the last minute, and Osterhout replaced her with Amanda Cinney, who has experience with the program. Osterhout asked to Board to appoint Cinney retroactively, which they did later in the meeting.
There is no swim program in Berlin this summer, but, luckily, the State parks have expanded their free learn to swim programs, and some Berliners have been taking their kids to the one at Grafton Lakes State Park. Those interested in enrolling their kids should call to register by July 18 for Session 2 by calling Melissa Miller or Laura Weir at 518-279-1155. Registration is required; space is limited.
Ivan Wager reported that they have been “fairly busy” at the transfer station. A container needs to be repaired, and the metal and welding will be expensive, but it will still cost only one-tenth of buying a new container, he said.
Planning Board Chair Pam Gerstel said that the Planning Board will hold a public hearing at the end of August on a lot line adjustment.
Garage Rental
There was a lengthy discussion about renting garage space at the Center to the County Highway Department. Although the County trucks had no problems starting this winter, Scott Gallerie, the County Highway Superintendent, wants to plug in engine warmers this coming winter. The problem is that the building was supplied by three phase electrical current. Normal 100 or 200 amp single phase electric power might be more appropriate. In any event, it was stated that NYSEG would not provide three phase power. The discussion ranged about the best way to supply current without removing one of the transformers needed for three phase, which might be wanted in the future, whether the property owner, i.e. Berlin, or NYSEG owned the transformers and how much it would cost to supply power. The Board voted to rent the garage space to the County for $500 per month like last year but wants to find out how much the electrical work will cost before charging the cost back to the County.[/private]