May 9, 2001

Berkshire Town Board meeting summary:

This is a brief synopsis of the May Town Board meeting. Official minutes will be available after approval by the Board at the next scheduled meeting. For a full set of meeting minutes contact Mr. Skip Hartwig, Supervisor, or Ms. Connie Liddington, Clerk.Present were Mr. Skip Hartwig, Supervisor, and Board members Mr. Max Leonard, Mr. William Simmons, Mr. Richard Odom and Mr. James Cuerter, Sr.

Communications:

The minutes of the March Planning Board meeting were distributed to the Board members.

Reports:

County Legislature: Todd Smith, Legislator, absent.

Planning Board: The new Cell Tower Law (draft) was presented to the Board. A mobile home ordinance revision is next on the Planning Board agenda.

Town Clerk: The monthly Clerk's report was delivered.

Code Enforcement: Mr. Joe Cuerter summarized the month's building permit activities and junk car law enforcement. There are very few violations of the

junk car law remaining. Violation notices under the new Junk Law are being issued.

Highway Department: Dirt road annual maintenance work continues. Mr. Karl Spoonhower and the Board Highway Committee will perform a pre-delivery inspection of the new truck. Jewett Hill Road signage will be reviewed and implemented, where practicable.

Supervisor: Supervisor Hartwig reported that Rte. 38 cleanup took place May 5 with 15 participants. The work on the ballfield dugouts is about 50% complete.

Record storage, to be shared by the Town and the Fire Company, will be in a dedicated room in the Town Building. Construction costs were covered by a grant.

The Berkshire website continues to be popular, and was complimented by a note from the Tioga County Manager.

Old Business: Trash clean up for 2001 cost was $1800 plus the cost for trucking and the loader. This is considerably less than the previous year cost. The plan for next year will be similar with drop off at the Town barns.

New Business: The Board passed a resolution allowing NBT to provide image statements instead of cancelled checks. Also, a resolution was passed making the 4th Friday of May grievance day for 2001 and subsequent years.

Demolition of the Town owned buildings south if the Town Office is progressing. A decision on the fate of the two remaining buildings was delayed until next month, allowing any organization wanting to preserve these structures for historical reasons to come forward.

The next meeting of the Berkshire Residents Action Group will be May 17 at 7 PM. interested residents are encouraged to attend.

A public hearing will be held on the Cell Tower Law and on the referendum to appoint the Highway Superintendent at 7 PM prior to the June Board meeting on 6/12/01.

Public Comment: Mr. Jim Lacey requested that the role of the Board regarding the supervision of an appointed Highway Superintendent be specified.