Town Board Has Smooth Start To The New Year
By Doug La Rocque
It may not have been a land speed record, but it was certainly one of the shortest Berlin Town Board meetings in recent years, at 18 minutes. Why? There just wasn’t much to talk about. All the year-end business has basically been wrapped up, no major problems in the town and no new or old business to discuss. There is the old cliché that there is no sure thing except death and taxes…well add to that list the fact that future meetings won’t be so easy.
Items discussed included mentioning that the new water bills are ready; the Highway Department is enjoying a break in the weather and using the time to repair a few mechanical issues; AT&T has dropped its request to build a cell tower and will piggyback on Verizon’s tower in the northern part of town. Dog Control Officer (DCO) Doug Goodermote said he had two issues last month that were resolved and the State inspection of his kennel went just fine. The Assessors are sending out the annual exemption renewal notices. Supervisor Rob Jaeger noted that the Department of Environmental Conservation is taking possession of 52 acres of land on Dutch Church Road, currently owned by Claes Sjogreen. The land will stay on the town’s tax roll in a more limited capacity.
The Board held its annual re-organizational meeting prior to the regular session. Supervisor Jaeger appointed senior councilman Dean Maxon as the new Deputy Supervisor, taking over for Tara Fisher, who did not seek re-election last November. That appointment was actually made on January 1. It was also the first meeting for the Board’s newest member, Doug Feathers, who took Ms. Fisher’s place.
Other appointments included Donald Tate as Town Attorney, a post he has held for many years, and Allison (Bud) Hall as head Transfer Station Attendant. Doug Goodermote continues as DCO, Sharon Klein as Historian, Pam Gerstel as Planning Board Chair, Patty Baretsky as Chair of the Board of Assessors, Walter Allan Yerton as Codes Enforcement Officer and Dianne Mosher as Deputy Town Clerk.
The Board meetings will continue to be held on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 pm, with bills audit at 7 pm. Board Workshop meetings will be the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7 pm, if needed.