recreation

OCTOBER TOWN BOARD
	Oct. 9, 2001 Berkshire Town Board meeting summary:This is a brief synopsis of the Oct. Town Board meeting. Official minutes willbe 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. William Simmons, Mr. Richard Odom and Mr. James Cuerter, Sr., Ms. Connie Liddington, Town Clerk and Karl Spoonhower, Highway Superintendent. Communications: 1. Northern Tioga Youth League Report: Several Berkshire teams are supported in Northern Tioga and this continues to be an excellent program for our youth. 2. Public hearings - NYSEG/RGE merger: Contact Supervisor Hartwig for a list of the hearing times and dates. 3. United Way: The campaign is under way and anyone wishing to provide support should contact Supervisor Hartwig. 4. Public hearing - Aging Services: Contact Supervisor Hartwig for a list of times and dates. . Reports: County Legislature: Todd Smith, Legislator, reported that the new County Office Building project has been de-railed by self-serving politicians, causing at least one year setback. The Legislature selected the Route 434 site a year ago as the best, most affordable place for a new County Office Building. The cost for court space, $200 per square foot, made it prohibitive to include moving the Court and Clerk offices.Without the court, 130,000 square feet is needed at a cost of $27 Million, representing a $9 million shortfall.Phasing the project would cost $37 million and borrowing would cost $35 million, making these options unattractive. A bonding alternative was being evaluated, when Legislator Caldwell dropped support-citing cost being too high. Legislators Wait and Caloroso subsequently dropped their support. There is no longer any agreement on the 434 site. Things are on hold at least until after the Nov. election. Best Buy has announced plans to construct a 650,000 square foot facility in Loundsbury, creating 400 new well paying jobs. National Paper has bought 1.9 acres at the County farm, and will create 13 new jobs. Planning Board: The proposed changes to the Mobil Home Ordinance is completed and should soon be available for Town Board review. Town Clerk: Monthly report submitted. Code Enforcement: Mr. Joe Cuerter submitted a summary of the month's building permit activities and junk car law enforcement. Highway Department: Routine work reported. Dog Control: No report Committees: Oversight Committee: The audit of the Town Clerk is nearly complete. Supervisor: Town finances are on track through September. There will be a WTC benefit Sunday, 10/14, but details are not known. The Highway/citizens Report 10-year plan for road improvement has been updated as required at 2-year intervals. Work is on track with the Plan and an updated Plan will be available at next months Board meeting. A $7500 grant from NYS Arts Council has been awarded for the purpose of preparing a master plan for the downtown area. This is a follow-on to the Town Comprehensive Plan. The Berkshire Resident Action Group will administer the grant. Oct. 27 is Make A Difference Day. Highway clean up will commence at the post office and highway garage at 9:00 AM. Volunteers are welcome and needed. Old Business: The survey of Town Properties has been completed by Edsall & Williams, and was reviewed by all. There were no big revelations; some minor corrections are needed. Talcott installed a well for the Town Office and will complete the hook-up for approximately $2000. The coal building demolition contract will not be signed (contractor request} and the fate of the building is put on hold until March, allowing time to investigate rehabilitation options. New Business: Supervisor Hartwig will negotiate cemetery mowing in 2002 with BHLD. Rawson Hollow maintenance will not be included. The Board approved an informal agreement with D. Whittaker to take care of this cemetery for $200. BHLD will be asked to include ball field maintenance, and Thunder Mountain will donate equipment for use by the coaches in routine grooming. Brad Burdick has resigned as DCO and Brad Walker, backup DCO, has assumed the responsibility. The Board approved permanent assignment of Walker as DCO. Bids will be solicited for furnace replacement at the Town Office. Bids will be reviewed at the Nov. Board meeting. The Board approved a resolution for funding of Joint Youth Recreation Program. A new Berkshire representative to the REAP Board of Directors is needed. Interested parties see Supervisor Hartwig. There will be a public hearing at 7PM November 12 on the proposed 2002 Town budget (prior to the monthly Board Meeting}.

OCTOBER TOWN BOARD

Oct. 9, 2001

Berkshire Town Board meeting summary:This is a brief synopsis of the Oct. Town Board meeting. Official minutes willbe 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. William Simmons, Mr. Richard Odom and Mr. James Cuerter, Sr., Ms. Connie Liddington, Town Clerk and Karl Spoonhower, Highway Superintendent.

Communications: 1. Northern Tioga Youth League Report: Several Berkshire teams are supported in Northern Tioga and this continues to be an excellent program for our youth. 2. Public hearings - NYSEG/RGE merger: Contact Supervisor Hartwig for a list of the hearing times and dates. 3. United Way: The campaign is under way and anyone wishing to provide support should contact Supervisor Hartwig. 4. Public hearing - Aging Services: Contact Supervisor Hartwig for a list of times and dates. .

Reports:

County Legislature: Todd Smith, Legislator, reported that the new County Office Building project has been de-railed by self-serving politicians, causing at least one year setback. The Legislature selected the Route 434 site a year ago as the best, most affordable place for a new County Office Building. The cost for court space, $200 per square foot, made it prohibitive to include moving the Court and Clerk offices.Without the court, 130,000 square feet is needed at a cost of $27 Million, representing a $9 million shortfall.Phasing the project would cost $37 million and borrowing would cost $35 million, making these options unattractive. A bonding alternative was being evaluated, when Legislator Caldwell dropped support-citing cost being too high. Legislators Wait and Caloroso subsequently dropped their support. There is no longer any agreement on the 434 site. Things are on hold at least until after the Nov. election.

Best Buy has announced plans to construct a 650,000 square foot facility in Loundsbury, creating 400 new well paying jobs.

National Paper has bought 1.9 acres at the County farm, and will create 13 new jobs.

Planning Board: The proposed changes to the Mobil Home Ordinance is completed and should soon be available for Town Board review.

Town Clerk: Monthly report submitted.

Code Enforcement: Mr. Joe Cuerter submitted a summary of the month's building permit activities and junk car law enforcement.

Highway Department: Routine work reported.

Dog Control: No report

Committees: Oversight Committee: The audit of the Town Clerk is nearly complete.

Supervisor: Town finances are on track through September. There will be a WTC benefit Sunday, 10/14, but details are not known. The Highway/citizens Report 10-year plan for road improvement has been updated as required at 2-year intervals. Work is on track with the Plan and an updated Plan will be available at next months Board meeting.

A $7500 grant from NYS Arts Council has been awarded for the purpose of preparing a master plan for the downtown area. This is a follow-on to the Town Comprehensive Plan. The Berkshire Resident Action Group will administer the grant.

Oct. 27 is Make A Difference Day. Highway clean up will commence at the post office and highway garage at 9:00 AM. Volunteers are welcome and needed.

Old Business: The survey of Town Properties has been completed by Edsall & Williams, and was reviewed by all. There were no big revelations; some minor corrections are needed.

Talcott installed a well for the Town Office and will complete the hook-up for approximately $2000.

The coal building demolition contract will not be signed (contractor request} and the fate of the building is put on hold until March, allowing time to investigate rehabilitation options.

New Business: Supervisor Hartwig will negotiate cemetery mowing in 2002 with BHLD. Rawson Hollow maintenance will not be included. The Board approved an informal agreement with D. Whittaker to take care of this cemetery for $200.

BHLD will be asked to include ball field maintenance, and Thunder Mountain will donate equipment for use by the coaches in routine grooming.

Brad Burdick has resigned as DCO and Brad Walker, backup DCO, has assumed the responsibility. The Board approved permanent assignment of Walker as DCO.

Bids will be solicited for furnace replacement at the Town Office. Bids will be reviewed at the Nov. Board meeting.

The Board approved a resolution for funding of Joint Youth Recreation Program.

A new Berkshire representative to the REAP Board of Directors is needed. Interested parties see Supervisor Hartwig.

There will be a public hearing at 7PM November 12 on the proposed 2002 Town budget (prior to the monthly Board Meeting}.