Slight Uptick In PFOA Testing
Still A Non-Detect In Drinking Water
By Doug La Rocque
According to Ben Krahforst, the Director of Water District 2 and which serves primarily the village area, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) testing has determined there is now a presence of PFOA at the midpoint in the GAC filter system, albeit minor. Testing of the finished water going into the distributions sytem shows no PFOA levels, indicating the GAC filters at the pump house are doing their job. According to Mr. Krahforst, another compound in the PFAS family, known as PFHPA, has also been found in the raw water. At this point, it is a non-regulated compound. DEC will continue to monitor the levels at all points in the system, to determine if there is any PFOA breakthrough into the final drinking water.
Plow It Down, Not Up
A resident of Judson Road (Reservoir Road) asked Highway Superintendent Jim Winn to stop having his trucks plow both up and down the road, claiming it was creating a pile up of stone at the end of the roadway and damaging his driveway. He wants them to back in or turn around, and only plow out. Mr. Winn indicated that was probably not doable, and also said any damage in his driveway was too far up to have been caused by the town trucks.
He also spoke about the number of fire hydrants in the town that are old and not being replaced, some not working at all, and where there is a new hydrant, no improvement in water flow. Mr. Krahforst indicated in some cases, the new hydrants have six-inch connections, but the water main that feeds them is still only four inches wide, making any increase in the water pressure impossible. As to his other concerns, he hopes some of the money being saved on the water tower project might be used to upgrade more hydrants.
Budget is Approved
Following a public hearing, the Town Board approved a local law that permits them to exceed the state tax cap this year, and after yet another public hearing, all without any significant comment, the board approved the $1.553 million 2020 Town Budget without opposition. The budget total includes the General Fund, Highway Department, Fire District, Street Lighting as well as the two water districts. For all those, except in Water District 1, the amount to be raised by taxes will increase by $55,724, or 6.3%.
Other Action
The Board approved the appointment of Jerome Zink to the Berlin Planning Board. That board is still short one member. Please contact Town Clerk Anne Maxon if you are interested. It also re-appointed Dianne Mosher to the Board of Assessment Review.
Building Inspector/Codes Enforcement Officer Alan Yerton said a recent fire that destroyed a home on CC Dam road was caused by a kerosene heater, and urged all to make sure they properly vent such heaters and keep them clear of any material that might catch fire. If using an electric heater, please ensure any extension cord employed is rated high enough for such use.
Superintendent Winn reported that work on the Satterlee Hollow Bridge is complete, and he is waiting for the Department of Transportation to inspect it and hopefully take it off the red flag list. He also said all of the 2019 CHIPs paperwork has been filed.
The Board set Thursday, December 26, as settlement night for the 2019 fiscal year and Town Clerk Anne Maxon reported Revenues of $5,501 and non-local revenues of $1,943 for October.