JAN 06 NEWSLETTER
	TOWN BUDGET: The total Town of Berkshire budget for 2006 is $578,675. of which $341,915 is to be raised by taxes. The Town portion of the tax rate for 2006 will be 2.13 percent lower than last year. These figures include the Berkshire Fire District that had only a $400. increase to a total of $56,400. The Town has no debt, a capital reserve fund for renovating the exterior of the Town Hall, and a comfortable fund balance. The Tioga County 2006 budget is $78 million that will result in a 1.66% increase in the County tax levy that means for the Berkshire taxpayer an increase of approximately a $5.00 per $1000.of assessed value. TOWN OFFICIALS & MEETINGS: Town Board Meetings 3^rd Tuesday, 7:00pm Planning Board Meetings 4^th Tuesday, 7:00pm Supervisor: Lillian Hoffmier 657-8678 h 657 2769 Hwy Superintendent: Karl Spoonhower 657 2705 Town Board: Audrey Payne, Dennis Whittaker, Trudy Bentley, Albert Warner: 657- 8678 Planning Board Chair: James Lacey 657-8274 Assessor: Christina Raison, 217 4350 18 Railroad Avenue, Berkshire, NY 13736 hours 1st Tuesday 6-7pm Town Clerk: Connie Liddington 657-8131, 12421 St. Rt 38. hours M-F 6-8pm, Sat 10am – 2pm Justice: Charles Brundza, 657-8678 18 Railroad Ave. Berkshire, NY 13736. Court 1^st & 3^rd Mondays 7:00pm Dog Control Officer: Albert Warner, 657-2620 Code Enforcement: Joseph Ceurter 849-3593 Fire Chief: Mike Simmons 657-2727 Bret Welch, 1st Assistant Delbert Armstrong 2nd Assistant Dean Belden 3rd Assistant A.J. Hanson 4th Assistant Fred Davis President DOG TALES: The NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets has authorized multi-year dog licensing. As of January 15,2006, you can license your dog for one, two, or three years. The license may not be issued for longer than the duration of the rabies vaccination. Contact the Town Clerk 657-8131 for more details. HIGHWAY NEWS: Ballou Hill Road was rebuilt in 2004 and paved this past summer. A much more durable (and expensive) coating was applied so the surface should last much longer than the former oil & stone. When possible the better asphalt will be used where traffic is heaviest and grades steep. Much of the summer was spent repairing ditch and culvert damage caused by Hurricane Ivan and the April 2005 flooding. Berkshire was well reimbursed by FEMA for these damages. We have purchased a new ten wheel dump/plow truck and expect delivery in January. We will not have to borrow money for this purchase. The bridge over Wilson Creek on Letter “S” Road that had been “red flagged” by NYS and the weight limit drastically reduced by the County was replaced recently. The project included new steel beams and a concrete deck to replace the former wooden one. The new bridge is also several feet wider. LIBRARY NEWS Ray Hunt will conduct a Digital Camera Workshop Saturday morning January 21, 2006, 9:30-12 at the Berkshire Free Library. Ray has a photo restoration business in Berkshire and has studied digital photography and restoration at TC3. He recently worked on restoring the oldest photo in the Newark Valley Town Historian Office (c. 1872). Please pre-register by e-mail: bfl@htva.net or call the library during regular hours. Continuing thru April are the popular Adult Computer Classes in Basic Microsoft® Windows & Word, E-mail, Internet, Excel, and using the library’s on-line resources. Instructor Georgianna Horvath, from Literacy Volunteers of Broome/Tioga Counties, gives attention to individual needs. The project is funded by the Tioga County Senior Citizens Foundation and the Mildred Faulkner Truman Foundation of Owego. Seating is limited and pre-registration is required. Call the library 657-4418 during regular hours or 657-2701 and leave a message with your name and phone number. We wish to thank Mrs. Santa (Autumn Lavine) for her story hour with area children on Dec 17th. The library’s current Fundraising Campaign is nearing 50%. Area residents and businesses have given over $2,000 thus far, and an additional $325 from matching grants. Please mail donations, which go toward the library’s basic operating funds, to PO Box 151, Berkshire NY 13736. We are open Tue. 12-5; Wed. 1:30-7; Thurs.1-5; Fri.3-8:30; Sat. 9- 2. MUSEUM Thanks to a grant from the Mildred Faulkner Truman Foundation, the Berkshire Museum has purchased materials to properly house photographs in its collection. Donations of photos showing 19th or 20th century Berkshire residents, buildings, landscapes or other scenes of interest to the Town will be gladly accepted. Please contact Volunteer Curator Nancy Reddy at 657-8648 or drop off your donation at the Library. COMMUNITY HALL RESTORATION UPDATE The Berkshire Community Hall restoration project reached a milestone at year's end. The Berkshire Community Association (BCA) applied for and received a grant from the New York State Council on the Arts to conduct an architectural study of the historic "Berkshire Community Hall". Early in 2006, an architect will prepare the study, bringing us closer to returning the 1932 structure to its original use as a community meeting place. Volunteers are needed for a wide variety of projects. If you would like to get involved in this exciting endeavor please contact BCA President Fraser Williams (657-2742) or Director Paul Kunik (657-8097). Our next meeting should be both interesting and productive. Consider joining us. Wed., Jan 18th, 7:00pm at the Town Hall. The search is on for a Community Hall Restoration Project Manager. A complete job description is included below. PROJECT MANAGER BERKSHIRE COMMUNITY HALL RESTORATION Job Description The Project Manager will be appointed by and have such authority as designated by the Berkshire Community Association (BCA) Board of Directors and will assume responsibility for all facets of the Berkshire Community Hall Restoration Project from inception through completion. Task Managers, Committees or Contractors assigned to specific tasks in the restoration process will report directly to the Project Manager. The Project Manager is responsible for defining the organizational structure of the project and for interfacing with the functional organizations, Task Managers, contractors, code enforcement and the BCA Board of Directors. The Project Manager directs, controls and coordinates all work performed within the project plan and timetables as determined by the Board of Directors. The Project Manager implements task assignment, works within assigned budgets, adheres to master plans and schedules, identifies project problems and obtains solutions. The Project Manager makes final decisions on tradeoff studies and task changes within the project plan and is responsible for monthly communications and project reviews with both the Task Managers and the BCA. Unanticipated events that could jeopardize the project plan or seriously affect established timetables will be brought to the attention of the BCA President who will determine if a special meeting of the BCA Board is warranted. If you might be interested in this rewarding challenge contact BCA President Fraser Williams 657-2742 or e-mail: fraserw@citlink.net. TOWN WIDE EMAIL LIST This list is used to disseminate information of significant happenings in and around Berkshire such as major projects, meetings, fundraisers, public hearings, new or proposed legislation, etc. We have 145 addresses on the list so far and have been using it for three years. It has proven to be an increasingly effective way to get near real time communications to the people in Town who receive email and wish to be on the list. The program also serves as an excellent way to receive feedback. As a protection against personal use and SPAM, messages are sent out as Blind Carbon Copies so the entire list will never be sent to any recipients. Comments on the information provided and the use of the list has been very positive. To be placed on the list or to change an email address, contact Dennis Whittaker at dfw7@citlink.net or 657-8354. GOODBYE After 8 yrs as Supervisor, I depart with mixed emotions. While I look forward to some leisure time, I will miss being a daily part of the pulse of the Town. I believe there have been many improvements and we are fiscally sound and debt free. Many people have been willing to participate in the various governmental processes that so often are time consuming but vital and we owe them our gratitude. A few have done way more than their share: the Planning Board has made much of our progress possible and I must single out Jim Lacey, who for longer than I can remember has been the Kingpin in that group of productive volunteers. Dennis Whittaker and Dick Odom both on and off the Town Board have and continue to make things happen and happen correctly. I certainly cannot overlook my wife Kathy who has not only been tolerant and understanding but often my unseen assistant. My best wishes to the new regime and sincere hopes for your continued support. Skip Hartwig HELLO My name is Lillian Hoffmier and I am your new Supervisor. I appreciate the confidence that you expressed in me at the polls and I will do everything I can to fulfill that trust. Please feel free to express your questions or concerns. You can be assured that if I don’t know the answer, I will do my best to find it. TIOGA COUNTY NEWS Do you know that when you register your vehicle with the DMV in Owego, the County gets to keep 12.7% of the registration fee? Do you know that if you register your vehicle by mail using the included envelope with the Utica address, Tioga County gets 0 (zero)? During the last fiscal year, more than 7600 vehicles from Tioga County were registered by mail. At the County share of let’s say $7, the County lost revenues of over $53,000. If registering your vehicle in Owego is not convenient for whatever reason, the DMV has a drop box outside its door that can be used after hours or even if the lines happen to be too long. Better yet, you can take the envelope sent to you by NYS DMV with your renewal application, cross off the Utica address and write in DMV, 56 Main Street, Owego, NY 13827. Also think about buying your gasoline in Tioga County. 4% of every dollar goes to the County and a portion of that goes directly to Berkshire as Sales tax revenues. Every little bit helps!! BERKSHIRE HISTORY BUFFS The Town’s Historical Society meets every 4^th Monday at the Town Hall, 7:00pm. We welcome new faces and new ideas. Now planning for Heritage Day – 2006. TAX EXEMPTIONS: Remember that all exemptions must be filed with the Assessor by March 1^st. If you have any questions contact her. See her schedule under Town Officials paragraph. NEWSLETTER STAFF: Telessa Bean continues to do the layout for the newsletter, joining Dennis Whittaker, Sponsor manager, and Lillian Hoffmier, 657-2769. We need your input so we can get as much info as possible out to everybody in Berkshire. CALENDAR OF EVENTS Spaghetti Dinner–United Methodist Ch, Fri. Jan 20, 5-7pm Auxiliary Pancake Breakfast–Fire Hall, Sun, Jan 15, 8 – 11am BCA Meeting- Town Hall, Wed Jan 18, 7:00pm History Buffs-Town Hall, Mon. Jan 23, 7:00pm Spaghetti Dinner–United Methodist Ch, Fri. Feb 17, 5-7pm Firemen Pancake Breakfast–Fire Hall, Sun, Feb 19, 8 – 11am History Buffs-Town Hall, Mon. Feb 27, 7:00pm BCA Meeting- Town Hall, Wed Feb 15, 7:00pm BCA Meeting- Town Hall, Wed Mar 15, 7:00pm Spaghetti Dinner–United Methodist Ch, Fri. Mar 17, 5-7pm Auxiliary Pancake Breakfast–Fire Hall, Sun Mar 19, 8 – 11am History Buffs-Town Hall, Mon. Mar 27, 7:00pm

TOWN BUDGET: The total Town of Berkshire budget for 2006 is $578,675. of which $341,915 is to be raised by taxes. The Town portion of the tax rate for 2006 will be 2.13 percent lower than last year. These figures include the Berkshire Fire District that had only a $400. increase to a total of $56,400. The Town has no debt, a capital reserve fund for renovating the exterior of the Town Hall, and a comfortable fund balance.

The Tioga County 2006 budget is $78 million that will result in a 1.66% increase in the County tax levy that means for the Berkshire taxpayer an increase of approximately a $5.00 per $1000.of assessed value.

TOWN OFFICIALS & MEETINGS:

Town Board Meetings 3^rd Tuesday, 7:00pm

Planning Board Meetings 4^th Tuesday, 7:00pm

Supervisor: Lillian Hoffmier 657-8678 h 657 2769

Hwy Superintendent: Karl Spoonhower 657 2705

Town Board: Audrey Payne, Dennis Whittaker,

Trudy Bentley, Albert Warner: 657- 8678

Planning Board Chair: James Lacey 657-8274

Assessor: Christina Raison, 217 4350 18 Railroad

Avenue, Berkshire, NY 13736

hours 1st Tuesday 6-7pm

Town Clerk: Connie Liddington 657-8131, 12421

St. Rt 38. hours M-F 6-8pm, Sat 10am – 2pm

Justice: Charles Brundza, 657-8678 18 Railroad Ave. Berkshire, NY 13736. Court 1^st & 3^rd

Mondays 7:00pm

Dog Control Officer: Albert Warner, 657-2620

Code Enforcement: Joseph Ceurter 849-3593

Fire Chief: Mike Simmons 657-2727

Bret Welch, 1st Assistant

Delbert Armstrong 2nd Assistant

Dean Belden 3rd Assistant

A.J. Hanson 4th Assistant

Fred Davis President

DOG TALES: The NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets has authorized multi-year dog licensing. As of January 15,2006, you can license your dog for one, two, or three years. The license may not be issued for longer than the duration of the rabies vaccination. Contact the Town Clerk 657-8131 for more details.

HIGHWAY NEWS: Ballou Hill Road was rebuilt in 2004 and paved this past summer. A much more durable (and expensive) coating was applied so the surface should last much longer than the former oil & stone. When possible the better asphalt will be used where traffic is heaviest and grades steep. Much of the summer was spent repairing ditch and culvert damage caused by Hurricane Ivan and the April 2005 flooding. Berkshire was well reimbursed by FEMA for these damages. We have purchased a new ten wheel dump/plow truck and expect delivery in January. We will not have to borrow money for this purchase. The bridge over Wilson Creek on Letter “S” Road that had been “red flagged” by NYS and the weight limit drastically reduced by the County was replaced recently. The project included new steel beams and a concrete deck to replace the former wooden one. The new bridge is also several feet wider.

LIBRARY NEWS Ray Hunt will conduct a Digital Camera Workshop Saturday morning January 21, 2006, 9:30-12 at the Berkshire Free Library.

Ray has a photo restoration business in Berkshire and has studied digital photography and restoration at TC3. He recently worked on restoring the oldest photo in the Newark Valley Town Historian Office (c. 1872). Please pre-register by e-mail: bfl@htva.net or call the library during regular hours.

Continuing thru April are the popular Adult Computer Classes in Basic Microsoft® Windows & Word, E-mail, Internet, Excel, and using the library’s on-line resources. Instructor Georgianna Horvath, from Literacy Volunteers of Broome/Tioga Counties, gives attention to individual needs. The project is funded by the Tioga County Senior Citizens Foundation and the Mildred Faulkner Truman Foundation of Owego. Seating is limited and pre-registration is required. Call the library 657-4418 during regular hours or 657-2701 and leave a message with your name and phone number.

We wish to thank Mrs. Santa (Autumn Lavine) for her story hour with area children on Dec 17th.

The library’s current Fundraising Campaign is nearing 50%. Area residents and businesses have given over $2,000 thus far, and an additional $325 from matching grants. Please mail donations, which go toward the library’s basic operating funds, to PO Box 151, Berkshire NY 13736. We are open Tue. 12-5; Wed. 1:30-7; Thurs.1-5; Fri.3-8:30; Sat. 9- 2.

MUSEUM Thanks to a grant from the Mildred Faulkner Truman Foundation, the
Berkshire Museum has purchased materials to properly house photographs in its collection. Donations of photos showing 19th or 20th century
Berkshire residents, buildings, landscapes or other scenes of interest to the Town will be gladly

accepted. Please contact Volunteer Curator Nancy
Reddy at 657-8648 or drop off your donation at the Library.

COMMUNITY HALL RESTORATION UPDATE
The Berkshire Community Hall restoration project reached a milestone at year's end. The Berkshire Community Association (BCA) applied for and
received a grant from the New York State Council on the Arts to conduct an architectural study of the historic "Berkshire Community Hall". Early in 2006, an architect will prepare the study, bringing us closer to returning the 1932 structure to its original use as a community meeting place. Volunteers are needed for a wide variety of projects. If you would like to get involved in this exciting endeavor please contact BCA President Fraser Williams (657-2742) or Director Paul Kunik (657-8097). Our next meeting should be both interesting and productive. Consider joining us. Wed., Jan 18th, 7:00pm at the Town Hall.

The search is on for a Community Hall Restoration Project Manager. A complete job description is included below.

PROJECT MANAGER

BERKSHIRE COMMUNITY HALL RESTORATION

Job Description

The Project Manager will be appointed by and have such authority as designated by the Berkshire Community Association (BCA) Board of Directors and will assume responsibility for all facets of the Berkshire Community Hall Restoration Project from inception through completion. Task Managers, Committees or Contractors assigned to specific tasks in the restoration process will report directly to the Project Manager.

The Project Manager is responsible for defining the organizational structure of the project and for interfacing with the functional organizations, Task Managers, contractors, code enforcement and the BCA Board of Directors. The Project Manager directs, controls and coordinates all work performed within the project plan and timetables as determined by the Board of Directors. The Project Manager implements task assignment, works within assigned budgets, adheres to master plans and schedules, identifies project problems and obtains solutions. The Project Manager makes final decisions on tradeoff studies and task changes within the project plan and is responsible for monthly communications and project reviews with both the Task Managers and the BCA. Unanticipated events that could jeopardize the project plan or seriously affect established timetables will be brought to the attention of the BCA President who will determine if a special meeting of the BCA Board is warranted. If you might be interested in this rewarding challenge contact BCA President Fraser Williams 657-2742 or e-mail: fraserw@citlink.net.

TOWN WIDE EMAIL LIST This list is used to disseminate information of significant happenings in and around Berkshire such as major projects, meetings, fundraisers, public hearings, new or proposed legislation, etc. We have 145 addresses on the list so far and have been using it for three years. It has proven to be an increasingly effective way to get near real time communications to the people in Town who receive email and wish to be on the list. The program also serves as an excellent way to receive feedback. As a protection against personal use and SPAM, messages are sent out as Blind Carbon Copies so the entire list will never be sent to any recipients. Comments on the information provided and the use of the list has been very positive. To be placed on the list or to change an email address, contact Dennis Whittaker at dfw7@citlink.net or 657-8354.

GOODBYE After 8 yrs as Supervisor, I depart with mixed emotions. While I look forward to some leisure time, I will miss being a daily part of the pulse of the Town. I believe there have been many improvements and we are fiscally sound and debt free. Many people have been willing to participate in the various governmental processes that so often are time consuming but vital and we owe them our gratitude. A few have done way more than their share: the Planning Board has made much of our progress possible and I must single out Jim Lacey, who for longer than I can remember has been the Kingpin in that group of productive volunteers. Dennis Whittaker and Dick Odom both on and off the Town Board have and continue to make things happen and happen correctly. I certainly cannot overlook my wife Kathy who has not only been tolerant and understanding but often my unseen assistant. My best wishes to the new regime and sincere hopes for your continued support. Skip Hartwig

HELLO My name is Lillian Hoffmier and I am your new Supervisor. I appreciate the confidence that you expressed in me at the polls and I will do everything I can to fulfill that trust. Please feel free to express your questions or concerns. You can be assured that if I don’t know the answer, I will do my best to find it.

TIOGA COUNTY NEWS Do you know that when you register your vehicle with the DMV in Owego, the County gets to keep 12.7% of the registration fee? Do you know that if you register your vehicle by mail using the included envelope with the Utica address, Tioga County gets 0 (zero)? During the last fiscal year, more than 7600 vehicles from Tioga County were registered by mail. At the County share of let’s say $7, the County lost revenues of over $53,000. If registering your vehicle in Owego is not convenient for whatever reason, the DMV has a drop box outside its door that can be used after hours or even if the lines happen to be too long. Better yet, you can take the envelope sent to you by NYS DMV with your renewal application, cross off the Utica address and write in DMV, 56 Main Street, Owego, NY 13827. Also think about buying your gasoline in Tioga County. 4% of every dollar goes to the County and a portion of that goes directly to Berkshire as Sales tax revenues. Every little bit helps!!

BERKSHIRE HISTORY BUFFS The Town’s Historical Society meets every 4^th Monday at the Town Hall, 7:00pm. We welcome new faces and new ideas. Now planning for Heritage Day – 2006.

TAX EXEMPTIONS: Remember that all exemptions must be filed with the Assessor by March 1^st. If you have any questions contact her. See her schedule under Town Officials paragraph.

NEWSLETTER STAFF: Telessa Bean continues to do the layout for the newsletter, joining Dennis Whittaker, Sponsor manager, and Lillian Hoffmier, 657-2769. We need your input so we can get as much info as possible out to everybody in Berkshire.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Spaghetti Dinner–United Methodist Ch, Fri. Jan 20, 5-7pm

Auxiliary Pancake Breakfast–Fire Hall, Sun, Jan 15, 8 – 11am

BCA Meeting- Town Hall, Wed Jan 18, 7:00pm

History Buffs-Town Hall, Mon. Jan 23, 7:00pm

Spaghetti Dinner–United Methodist Ch, Fri. Feb 17, 5-7pm

Firemen Pancake Breakfast–Fire Hall, Sun, Feb 19, 8 – 11am

History Buffs-Town Hall, Mon. Feb 27, 7:00pm

BCA Meeting- Town Hall, Wed Feb 15, 7:00pm

BCA Meeting- Town Hall, Wed Mar 15, 7:00pm

Spaghetti Dinner–United Methodist Ch, Fri. Mar 17, 5-7pm

Auxiliary Pancake Breakfast–Fire Hall, Sun Mar 19, 8 – 11am

History Buffs-Town Hall, Mon. Mar 27, 7:00pm