by David Flint
Besides keeping the snowplow trucks running, this exceptional winter has brought severe cold too that is wreaking havoc on infrastructure. Reporting for Water District 2 at the Berlin Town Board meeting Monday, March 12, Jim Winn said that a couple of 4-inch mains had frozen up and left a number of dwellings on Mill Street without water for a few days.The mains were 4 1/2 feet below ground. Winn said the frost is down to five feet.
[private]Winn and his crews spent most of two days excavating, thawing, repairing and replacing the pipes. He’s not sure if it does any good, but he did put some insulation over the pipes before backfilling. These mains are, he said, the shallowest lines in the Water District. Most of the pipes are 5½ to 6 feet down. Even so, Winn said he has never seen this happen before, nor has anyone else that he knows of.
“But we got it fixed. We didn’t have any catastrophe. Got water back yesterday and everybody’s happy” Winn reported.
Snow Dropping, Roads Rising
Reporting for the Highway Department, Winn said, “We’ve been plowing snow.” He added that it was nice to have a few days off from that recently and some of the snow has melted.
“So the snow is down and the roads are coming up,” interjected Town Supervisor Rob Jaeger. “Oh yes they are and they’re going to continue. Hopefully we won’t get a lot of rain over the weekend,” Winn replied.
Bank Robbery
Jaeger said that the Town’s official depository, Key Bank, has been charging the Town exorbitant fees called analysis fees. These fees amount to almost $9,000 since last July. In that month an analysis fee of $6,000 showed up in the checking account without any notification or any previous mention that there would be anything called an analysis fee. The charge caused the account to be in deficit so that, as Jaeger put it, they then “had the audacity” to also charge an overdraft fee of $35. Jaeger has not been able to get any adequate explanation as to what is being analyzed. The commercial account includes a paper statement each month anyway.
Jaeger has spoken with officers at Pioneer Bank on Hoosick Street in Troy, who say there would be no such fees there. He recommended that the Board pass a resolution designating Pioneer Bank as an alternate Town depository, with the intention that Town funds would be transferred there.
Pioneer Bank is about five miles farther from the Berlin Municipal Center than the Key Bank in Hoosick Falls. Jaeger said that Pioneer Bank would provide postage free envelopes for deposits or the Board might consider paying $50 a month for a machine that would enable them to deposit checks remotely. Cash would still have to be taken to Troy. Jaeger said he would get verification in writing about the fees and get more information about remote deposit of checks. In the meantime, the Board unanimously passed a resolution designating Pioneer Bank as the Town of Berlin’s official alternate depository.
Hollering At The Transfer Station
Jaeger reported that the Town of Petersburgh was expected to vote on Monday, March 16 on whether to accept the new contract with Berlin regarding use of the Transfer Station.
In the meantime there seems to be a continuing problem with people coming to the Transfer Station and not showing or refusing to show their permits. It is unclear whether this has anything to do with recent controversy between the two towns about joint use of the Station.
“They scream and holler at you when you ask them (for their permits),” said Attendant Bud Moon. One person attempting to dump trash, he said, was known not to have had a permit for four years. Others are attempting to dump more trash than they have tickets for. Jaeger said if that occurs the Attendant should get the permit number and the Town will send the person a bill.
Others coming from Petersburgh say they have been advised not to buy the permits. This may have something to do with the fact that Petersburgh has raised the price of permits to $25 whereas in Berlin the price remains at $15.
Jaeger said he is aware of the problems and suggested that Board Members take turns on weekends spending some time at the Station to help the Attendants deal with recalcitrant customers. He also said that customers who don’t want to buy their permits in Petersburgh can purchase them at the Berlin Municipal Complex, but everyone using the Transfer Station needs to have and show a valid permit
Gravel Bid Accepted
Two bids were received to provide road materials to the Town.
Quality Construction of Berlin owned by Billy Hammersmith asked $7.85 per cubic yard for sand at the site or $11 delivered; $5.40 for bank run gravel or $9 delivered; and $7.25 for Item 4 gravel or $10.40 delivered. A discount of 50 cents per cubic yard would apply if loaded by the buyer.
R. M. Bacon LLC of Hoosick wanted $9.75 for sand, $17.75 delivered; $6.75 for bank run gravel, $14.75 delivered; and $8.75 for Item 4 gravel, $16.75 delivered. A discount of $1 per cubic yard would apply if loaded by the buyer.
The Board passed a resolution to accept the bid from Quality Construction.
Rabies Clinic
Dog Control Officer Doug Goodermote announced that a Rabies Clinic will be held at the Municipal Complex on Thursday, April 16. Cats will be seen from 6-7 pm and dogs from 7-8 pm. All vaccines are $10, including distemper shots, FVRCP for cats and DHLPP for dogs. Cash only. No appointment is needed. Call 518-658-3308 with any questions.
Impoundment Fees
Goodermote asked whether anything had been done about a request he had made earlier to have impoundment fees waived. He had been told be a State inspector that he is required by law to charge a fee any time he picks up a dog, something he would prefer not to do in every instance. Town Attorney Don Tate said he had not done any research on this yet but would get to it. He thought it could be done by resolution, leaving fees up to the discretion of the Dog Control Officer. But he wanted to see what is on the Town books now, see if anything needs to be amended or superseded, and look at State law and Home Rule law, determine what needs to be done and incorporate the appropriate language into a resolution.
The issue was put on the agenda for the next meeting. “Because he’s gonna pull his badge on us,” joked Councilman Steve Riccardi.
Youth Swim Director Appointed
Upon the recommendation of Youth Director Tammy Osterhout, the Board appointed Annette Bell as Director of the Swim Program. Osterhout said she was waiting to hear from Grafton Lakes State Park regarding this program. It appears that swimming may have to be held in July, in which case, she said, the Art & Recreation program will be held in August. There was no Swim Program last year but in former years Art & Rec was held in July and Swim in August.
The Easter Egg Hunt, Osterhout announced, will be held at the Municipal Complex on Sunday, March 29 at 1 pm.
Building Appraisals
The Board is looking into selling the Watipi Building and the Cherry Plain Polling Place. Jaeger said that the appraiser he contacted had decided not to pursue it and recommended the Board get an appraisal from a company that specializes in commercial properties. Councilman Riccardi will get some names.[/private]