By Doug La Rocque
Supervisor Jaeger is accepting the budget proposals from his department heads. He said he will include raises requested by department heads in his tentative budget, which will be completed soon, but he was not optimistic that the Town could give raises this year. He said, “I don’t see how we can do it.” Jaeger said the State’s budget cap this year limits the Town to an increase in spending of 0.7%. [private]He considers this an arbitrary and unrealistic figure. He said health insurance will be going up by over 18% this year, and Workmen’s Comp by 4 to 5%, and many other costs will be rising faster than the state mandate allows. Jaeger pointed out that the Town’s biggest expense by far is taking care of the roads, and he doesn’t think people want him to cut back on road maintenance.
Jaeger said he will assemble the budget so everybody can see what it all adds up to, and then the entire Board can discuss what to do about it.
Town Justice Donald Sweet outlined his spending proposals to the Board and updated them on the judicial training needed for the new justice to take office on January 1, 2016. Justice Sweet also talked about the need for more filing space, perhaps having some of the Municipal Building’s basement area outfitted for that purpose.
Supervisor Jaeger said the has not received any proposals for the two Town properties up for sale, the old Town Garage and the Watipi Building. Anyone interested can contact Town Clerk Anne Maxon for more information.
Highway Superintendent Winn said they have purchased the Jamar road measuring equipment and have begun to check the state’s figures on town road mileage. He said some have been “right on” while others have been off by quite a bit. He told the Board that not all roads have been measured yet.
Request To Adopt A Road
Berlin resident Donald French appeared before the Town Board at its monthly workshop meeting to request the Board consider accepting 600 feet of his private road as town road. French said he has been advised by his attorney that the property has to front on a public road to get a deed to the land. A portion of the road is also currently fenced off by a gate erected many years ago by New York State or the Cowee lumber company, both of which own nearby lands. Town Supervisor Rob Jaeger questioned the validity of the attorney’s statement to French, indicating there are examples of deeded land in the town involving a right of way and not a public road. Town Highway Superintendent Jim Winn also questioned the amount of clearing and fill that would be needed to widen the road to acceptable levels. French indicated he would be willing to assume some of that responsibility. Councilman Dean Maxon questioned the wisdom of the Town assuming that length of the roadway, saying “there are probably 15 others who would want the same thing. Councilman Stephen Riccardi thought they should take it on a case by case basis. The matter will require further examination and discussion.
The board is set to meet next in its regular session on October 8 at 7:30 pm. [/private]