Town Tax Rate Will Go Up Slightly
by Doug La Rocque
Following a uneventful public hearing, the Berlin Town Board voted Thursday, November 12, to approved the 2021 budget, that raises taxes 1.9%, or in real money terms, 48 cents per thousand of assessed valuation. The budget maintains current services and staffing levels and stays under the state tax cap. To accomplish this, the board move $85,000 into the anticipated revenues from the unexpended fund balance, and benefited from a $450,000 increase in the tax base.
There Is An Ambulance Back In Town
It’s not ready to respond to calls yet, as it needs to be certified, some equipment is yet to be delivered, and a hospital radio must be installed. Once that is completed, it will be ready to respond to calls in Berlin, under the auspices of the Grafton Rescue Squad, which holds the town’s Certificate of Need. According to Town Supervisor Rob Jaeger, there are three people ready to staff it at this time, a paramedic, an EMT and a driver. The goal is to have a Berlin based ambulance respond to calls in the town whenever possible, thus greatly reducing response time and easing the burden on Grafton personnel. The supervisor also reminded the board, there is a fly car also based in Berlin at various times. He also offered the upstairs portion of the municipal building for housing a paid daytime crew if such does come about, noting there are cots, a bathroom and shower.
As to the proposed Tri-Town Ambulance to serve Berlin, Petersburgh and Grafton during the weekday daytime hours, money for such has been approved in all three town’s 2021 budget, but the actual formation and timing of such a venture still remains uncertain.
Same Old Water District Violation
A recent inspection of Water District 2, which serves the village area of the town, again listed one critical violation. That is the potential for contaminated water from the reservoir to back flow into the distribution system. It cites the age of the waterlines between the reservoir and the pump house. According to Water District 2 Superintendent Ben Krahforst, this line cannot be eliminated until the new water tower is on line, hopefully by late spring or early summer. The line is currently used to pump excess water coming from the pumps, up to the reservoir.
Other Meeting Minutes
Highway Superintendent Jim Winn says his crew got “a little snow plowing practice” on election day, when mother nature voted to cover the area with a few inches of snow. He also noted the department’s new loader has been delivered and the department is “making ready for winter.”
Building and Codes Enforcement Officer Allen Yerton said that despite COVID-19, it has been one of the busiest years since he has been in office, with 22 building permits out, including three new housing starts. Dog Control Officer Doug Goodermote was very happy with the results of last month’s rabies clinic, with over 100 vaccines administered.
Transfer Station Head Attendant Allison (Bud) Hall expressed his thanks for the recent help while they were down two employees, Monica Shupe received 14 write in ballots to be elected a member of the Board of Assessors and Leonard Nicpon was appointed to the Planning Board. Supervisor Jaeger announced the new CDPHP Health Insurance contract was only a $35 dollar increase over the current year, which he said “is a miracle.”
Town Clerk Anne Maxon reported $6,222 in local, county and state revenues and $2,648 in non-local monies.