by Kieron Kramer
The September Berlin Town Board meeting on Thursday, September 11, was short and sweet. It lasted one root beer barrel and one hot cinnamon candy. Berlin Town Clerk Anne Maxon provides hard candy for the meetings, and this month she included root beer barrels – the penny candy from yesteryear. They are highly recommended.
[private]It Begins With Water
They say that everything begins with water, and the Berlin regular meeting always does. Reporting on Water District #1 Len Clapp announced, “We are still running.” The seasonal water system on Taborton mountain will close soon, prompting Berlin Town Supervisor Rob Jaeger to say, “It won’t be long ’til it’s finished.”
Water District #2, supervised by Jim Winn, is never finished, even though, at times, it is hard to squeeze a drop of information out of him. The District is “perfect,” he said, and he would have stopped there had there not been news that the owner of a dwelling at 63 South Main Street, near the former Town Hall, wants to hook up to the Water District #2 system. The owner would have to pay the installation expenses from the shut off valve, which the Town must install, to the dwelling. At present the house is connected to a spring and will have to be disconnected from the spring before they can join the municipal system, Winn said. They will also have to install a back flow valve to keep the system from being contaminated. According to Jaeger, the dreadful chickens that we have heard about in previous meetings live and defecate near the spring. Code Enforcement Officer Allan Yerton chimed in. New water installations need back flow valves from water heaters, and all other appliances are supposed to have back flow valves as well, he said. Winn concluded by pointing out that the owner must request authorization from the Town Board in writing and added that he has been in touch with the County Health Department regarding the hook up.
Get Ready
As Highway Superintendent, Jim Winn reported that the paving projects will be done in the week following this meeting and the chip sealing will be done in a couple of weeks. The Department has been grading, ditching and patching and is starting to “get ready” for the winter season.
The screener that the Town has been trying to sell has been put in the hands of an auctioneer, Auctions International. The Town can reject any bids the auctioneer obtains if they are too low. At the end of the meeting Billy Hammersmith, who owns Quality Construction in Cherry Plain, which sells highway materials to the Town, said that he might be interested in the screener and asked the Board to inform him of the purchase price determined by the auction process.
Dog Fight On Bly Hollow
Dog Control Officer Doug Goodermote said that there had been “a couple of incidents” in the last month including a dog fight on Bly Hollow Road. The fight was between two medium size mutts, he said after the meeting. The owner of the aggressor dog agreed to pay the vet bill for the injury to the other dog but has not paid yet. Goodermote was asked by the damaged dog’s owner to intervene to collect the money. “I’m just a dog officer,” he said, not a bill collector, and he told the dog owner to take the other man to small claims court. He was not too happy about that, Goodermote said. “Them city folks just don’t get it,” he said.
Rabies Clinic Scheduled
Goodermote announced that a rabies clinic has been scheduled for October 16 from 6 to 8 pm at the Municipal Complex at 17563 NY Rt. 22. Cats will get shots from 6 to 7 pm, and dogs will get shots from 7 to 8. All vaccines – rabies, FURCP for cats and DHLPP for dogs – cost $10 each – cash only. No appointment is necessary. As mentioned at last month’s meeting, folks should be aware that they must have their pets inoculated at the clinic or arrange for shots on their own. Goodermote will not provide a second bite at the apple. Jaeger asked Goodermote if he would email him the rabies flyer that Goodermote circulates. “I can give you one; it might be quicker,” Goodermote replied. You can call Goodermote at 518-658-3308 with any questions about the rabies clinic.
Code Enforcement Issues
Allan Yerton said that there have been a number of solar electric systems installed in town. There are three companies that do the installations in the area, but one hasn’t provided the paperwork in two years. Only the property owner can apply for a permit, he said, and, contrary to popular belief, the contractor cannot apply. The owner gets a hard copy of the permit that he gives to the contractor, Yerton said. Some small systems have been put in by the homeowners themselves. These need permits, too, Yerton said. “They are more dangerous than regular AC service,” he said. “They need to be inspected.” “Be careful,” Yerton emphasized.
People have been burning construction debris from demolition projects, Yerton said, and the DEC has issued a couple of tickets for improper burning. The rules for outdoor burning in NYS have become restrictive. Only clean wood less than 6 inches in diameter can be burned, and a burn permit is required. Yerton wants the public to know that a permit to demolish a structure is not a permit to burn the debris. The debris must be hauled away.
Yerton has had no definite answer from the County regarding the razing of the building on Elm Street, across from Karen & Charlie’s Gun Shop, that Yerton has declared an unsafe structure. He said that the County had taken possession of the building in lieu of taxes and that he had asked the County Engineer to board up the building or tear it down.
Halloween
Youth Commission Director, Tammy Osterhout, was “fairly ill” Jaeger said as he reported on her behalf. Osterhout wrote that the money raised by 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, would be used for the Halloween party. Osterhout is still looking for help with that party since she may have to have surgery at that time.
Transfer Station Is Busy
Ivan Wager reported that “this has been the busiest weekend of the entire year” at the Transfer Station, but “everything is going good.” He said the machines at the station will receive their winter servicing at the end of the month. At the end of the meeting Wager observed that the brush near the guardrails on Dale Road leading to the station was overgrown and interfering with visibility. Board Member Tara Fisher asked who was responsible for the roadway, and Jaeger said that the State had the right of way there. When asked who to contact at the State Highway Department Board Member John Winn, who works for that agency, gave the phone number but otherwise remained mute. Wager said that he had removed the brush last year himself. “A half hour with a chain saw would take care of it,” he said.
Crisp Reappointed To BAR
Since Anne Crisp’s term on the Board of Assessment Review (BAR) expires at the end of September, Jaeger recommended that she be reappointed at this meeting for a five year term. Fisher seconded the motion, and the Board voted unanimously to reappoint Anne Crisp to the BAR.
Odd And Ends
• Jim Winn said he had talked to NYSEG regarding the power supply to the building that the County rents to garage its equipment. The service panel is rusted so Winn talked to electrician Ben Krahforst about replacing it. “We were told the power is being restored,” Winn said.
• Jaeger announced that a check for $639 from the New York Municipal Insurance Reciprocal had been received.
• Information on the Lifeline Discount Telephone Service Program can be accessed on the web at www.AskPSC.com.
• The Rensselaer Plateau Alliance is offering a Land Use Planning Workshop at the Brunswick Community Center on October 1 from 5:30 to 9:30 pm. Interested parties must register by September 24 by calling Leah Ceperley at 845-758-7053.
• Jaeger announced that the Berlin Historical Society is looking for display cases for use in the Historical Center.
• The bills were read and the Board voted, without question, to pay them.
Speeding
During public comment period, Doug Goodermote complimented Winn and the Highway Department. “You did a fine job fixing the culvert on Bly Hollow Road.” It’s such a fine job, the group agreed, that everyone is now speeding on Bly Hollow.
Never Forget
Board Member Dean Maxon said that since the date of this meeting is September 11 he wanted to give condolences to the families who were affected by the tragic events in 2001. “Never Forget,” he said.
Town Attorney Don Tate arrived at 8:03. He was asked if he had “anything,” and since he didn’t the meeting adjourned at 8:04.[/private]