Jan 2005 Newsletter
	*TOWN OFFICIALS & MEETINGS* Supervisor: Ronald Hartwig 657-8678 h 657-8418 Hwy Superintendent: Karl Spoonhower 657-2705 Town Board: Trudy Bentley, John Ceurter, Albert Warner, Dennis Whittaker 657-8678 Note change in meeting schedule Meets 3^rd Tuesday, 7pm Town Hall Town Board Workshop held on the Thursday before the Board meeting at 4:30pm Planning Board Chair: TBA after Jan Meeting Meetings 4^th Tuesday 7pm Town Hall Assessor: Stephen Dorsey 656 4215 18 Railroad Avenue, Berkshire, NY 13736 hours 2^nd Monday, 5:30 – 6:30pm Town Clerk: Connie Liddington 657-8131 12421 St. Rt 38. hours M-F 6 to 8pm, Sat 10am – 2pm Justice: Charles Brundza, 657-8601 18 Railroad Ave. Berkshire, NY 13736 Court 1^st & 3^rd Tuesdays 7:00pm Dog Control Officer: Albert Warner 657-2620 Code Enforcement: Joseph Ceurter 849-3593 COUNTY Planning Board Rep: Charles Dowdell REAP LDC Member: Dennis Whittaker BERKSHIRE EMERGENCY SQUAD BOARD PRESIDENT DALE JOHNSON VICE PRESIDENT SCOTT EVANS SECRETARY DARLENE WAIT TREASURER MELINDA CASE MEMBER SCOTT ALBRECHT MEMBER RAY HUNT COMM MEMBER PEGGY ANDERSEN OFFICERS EMS CHIEF DALE JOHNSON 1ST ASST SCOTT ALBRECHT 2ND ASST CHERYL GALLUZZO 1ST CAPT DARLENE WAIT 2ND CAPT MARIBETH EVANS 1ST LT TRACY POST 2ND LT CHERYL GORSLINE 3RD LT SUE SHOWALTER 4TH LT SCOTT GURNEY *BERKSHIRE FIRE DISTRICT* Chairman: Don Liddington Commissioners: David Armstrong, John Ceurter, Raymond Ceurter, Jim Simmons Secretary: Melinda Case The Fire District budget for 2005 is 56,000, unchanged from 2004. Fire District meetings will be held at the fire hall on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 7:00pm. *Berkshire Fire Department* Chief 271 Fred Davis phone (h) 657-8128 (cell) 427-2758 1st Asst. 272 Bret Welch 2nd asst. 273 Dean Belden phone 3rd asst. (Foreman) 274 Steve Post 4th asst. (Asst. Foreman) 275 Ray Ceurter President: Roger Howland Fire Police: Dave Armstrong *Berkshire Fire auxiliary* Meetings: 1^st Wed. of the month, 7pm President: Melinda Case Vice President: Monica Vandenburg Secretary: Darlene Hoffmier Treasurer: Nancy Hunt Highway Department news The new addition to the highway garage continues to progress as the budget permits. Overhead doors have been installed, concrete floor poured on 3 of the 5 bays and the 3 personnel doors will soon be installed. We now can park all of our major pieces of equipment under shelter. The big news is that Karl learned that Berkshire was eligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds because of Hurricane Ivan heavy rains last summer. He spent several days meeting and touring Berkshire’s roads with both FEMA and SEMO (State) agents and it appears that the results were significant. The money is not in the bank yet but we may get as much as $190,000. hopefully, some time this month. These funds, when added to the budget appropriations could be a real boost to road repair and upgrade. *TOWN BUDGET* The 2005 budget for the Town of Berkshire is $521,531.00. Of that amount $294,431.00 will be raised from property taxes. Approximately $410,000 will be used to run the Highway Department. Dramatic increases in petroleum costs, which include tar and asphalt, necessitated a 5 percent increase in order to maintain the long term road improvement plan and equipment upgrade program. This is the first tax increase in the Town share of your tax bill in seven years. For a more detailed look at the Town budget, check the Budget section of our website www.berkshireny.com. or contact the Town Clerk. Direct questions to Skip Hartwig 657- 8418. Think Globally, Act Locally All New York residents have the opportunity to purchase emission-free wind generated electricity. Information from NYSEG about “Wind for Home” is available by calling 1-800-572-1111. The extra charge for wind generated power is used to develop additional wind power generation facilities. The Town also has the opportunity to purchase this non-polluting power. Depending on the percentage of power purchased and the length of the contract, the added cost to the Town would range from $3 per month for 5% for one year to $46 per month for 100% for five years. The annual environmental offsets for 100% wind power use would be 43,600 pounds of CO2, 221# of SO2 and 78# of NOx. Approximately 30 communities in NY, including the Town of Caroline, are participating in this program as of 2004. The added costs are often covered by donations from environmentally conscientious residents. Berkshire would need donations of $554 annually for a 100% five year contract to implement this program without using tax monies. Anyone interested in making a contribution should send a check to the Town, 18 Railroad Ave, specifying use for green energy. No contract will be entered into until sufficient funds to offset the added cost are received. Direct questions to Dennis Whittaker, dfw7@citlink.net or 657-8354. *PARKING & SNOW PLOWING* We ask everyone to please park your vehicles well clear of the roadways whenever any snow removal or sanding operations are likely. Improper parking during snow removal can be a hazard, creates difficulties for equipment operators, and results in inefficient and incomplete plowing. NYS Highway Law gives the Highway Superintendent the authority to take action if the problem persists after notification. The State Police and Sheriff’s Department have promised cooperation. Failure to comply could result in problem vehicles being towed away and be very expensive to the owners. .Berkshire museum Many thanks to Ruth Stoughton who recently donated a glass display case to be used to house a rotating exhibit of artifacts from the Museum in the downstairs Library space. Our first exhibit in 2005 will be on "Berkshire Doctors." For much of its history the Town of Berkshire had a resident physician. Dr. Joseph Waldo, his son Dr. Joseph Talcott Waldo, Dr. Ralph D. Eastman and Dr. A.C. Hartnagel cared for the local population for more than one hundred years. Dr. Hartnagel donated many of his instruments to the Museum and these, of course, will be included in the display. We are seeking additional memorabilia and personal accounts of Berkshire residents. Were you treated by one of Berkshire's doctors? Did one deliver your children or make a house call? Let us know what your experiences were! The Berkshire Museum is located in the second story of the Berkshire Free Library and is open to the public during special events, including Heritage Day in September. We welcome donations of items of special interest to our town but also items that would be typical of those used by Berkshire residents in the past. In addition to information on Berkshire doctors we are seeking pre-1950 items such as an early telephone and radio. If you have items to donate please contact me directly (phone 657-8648, email reddynj@juno.com) or stop by the Library. Thank you! Nancy Reddy, Curator DRAFT rOAD pRESERVATION LAW There have been numerous incidents in recent years where Town roads, drainage ditches and culverts have suffered damage caused by loggers, contractors and landowners themselves. Most often these damages were the result of negligence or carelessness and could have been prevented without seriously affecting the activity itself. Repairs can be expensive and have been paid for with taxpayer money. The Town Board believes that prevention and/or repair should be the responsibility of those who cause the damage rather than the taxpayers. As a result the Planning Board has drafted, and the Town Board is reviewing a draft of a Local Law titled The Road Preservation Local Law. The law will be an agenda item at the January meeting and likely be scheduled for a public hearing in Feb or Mar. Below are a few key excerpts from the draft. The intent of this Local Law is to maintain and promote the health, safety and general welfare of residents by regulating commercial traffic activities on rural town roads that have the potential to adversely affect road right of ways. The town recognizes that commercial endeavors provide economic benefits to the town and the intent is not to regulate the commercial enterprises. Well maintained roads are declared important to the economic well being of the Town of Berkshire. If the contractor does not comply and operates outside the parameters as specified on the worksheet; the Highway Superintendent has the authority to shut down the operation. The landowner will be responsible for the repair of any damages that occur to the Town of Berkshire road right of ways, when a project proceeds without a properly completed worksheet. The Berkshire Town Board Empowers the Town Highway Superintendent in the overseeing powers of regulating commercial activities in the town of Berkshire in so far as they might impact Town road right of ways. *TAX EXEMPTIONS* Remember that all exemptions must be filed with the Assessor by Mar 1^st. If you have any questions contact him. See his schedule and phone number under Town Officials paragraph CALENDAR OF EVENTS Spaghetti Dinner–United Methodist Ch, Fri. Jan 21, 5-7pm History Buffs-Town Hall, Mon. Jan 24, 7:00pm Spaghetti Dinner–United Methodist Ch, Fri. Feb 18, 5-7pm History Buffs-Town Hall, Mon. Feb 28, 7:00pm County Planning Board-Berkshire Town Hall, Wed. Mar 16, 7:30pm Spaghetti Dinner–United Methodist Ch, Fri. Mar 18, 5-7pm Auxiliary Pancake Breakfast–Fire Hall, Sun Mar 20, 8 – 11am History Buffs-Town Hall, Mon. Mar 28, 7:00pm Spaghetti Dinner-United Methodist Ch. Fri. Apr 15, 5-7pm

TOWN OFFICIALS & MEETINGS Supervisor: Ronald Hartwig 657-8678 h 657-8418 Hwy Superintendent: Karl Spoonhower 657-2705

Town Board: Trudy Bentley, John Ceurter, Albert Warner, Dennis Whittaker 657-8678

** Note change in meeting schedule**

Meets 3^rd Tuesday, 7pm Town Hall

Town Board Workshop held on the Thursday before the Board meeting at 4:30pm

Planning Board Chair: TBA after Jan Meeting

Meetings 4^th Tuesday 7pm Town Hall

Assessor: Stephen Dorsey 656 4215

18 Railroad Avenue, Berkshire, NY 13736

hours 2^nd Monday, 5:30 – 6:30pm

Town Clerk: Connie Liddington 657-8131

12421 St. Rt 38. hours M-F 6 to 8pm,

Sat 10am – 2pm

Justice: Charles Brundza, 657-8601

18 Railroad Ave. Berkshire, NY 13736

Court 1^st & 3^rd Tuesdays 7:00pm

Dog Control Officer: Albert Warner 657-2620

Code Enforcement: Joseph Ceurter 849-3593

COUNTY Planning Board Rep: Charles Dowdell

REAP LDC Member: Dennis Whittaker

BERKSHIRE EMERGENCY SQUAD

BOARD PRESIDENT DALE JOHNSON VICE PRESIDENT SCOTT EVANS SECRETARY DARLENE WAIT TREASURER MELINDA CASE MEMBER SCOTT ALBRECHT MEMBER RAY HUNT COMM MEMBER PEGGY ANDERSEN

OFFICERS EMS CHIEF DALE JOHNSON 1ST ASST SCOTT ALBRECHT 2ND ASST CHERYL GALLUZZO 1ST CAPT DARLENE WAIT 2ND CAPT MARIBETH EVANS

1ST LT TRACY POST 2ND LT CHERYL GORSLINE 3RD LT SUE SHOWALTER 4TH LT SCOTT GURNEY

BERKSHIRE FIRE DISTRICT

Chairman: Don Liddington

Commissioners: David Armstrong,

John Ceurter, Raymond Ceurter,

Jim Simmons

Secretary: Melinda Case

The Fire District budget for 2005 is 56,000, unchanged from 2004.

Fire District meetings will be held at the fire hall on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 7:00pm.

Berkshire Fire Department
Chief 271 Fred Davis phone (h) 657-8128
(cell) 427-2758
1st Asst. 272 Bret Welch

2nd asst. 273 Dean Belden phone
3rd asst. (Foreman) 274 Steve Post 4th asst. (Asst. Foreman) 275 Ray Ceurter
President: Roger Howland
Fire Police: Dave Armstrong

Berkshire Fire auxiliary

Meetings: 1^st Wed. of the month, 7pm

President: Melinda Case

Vice President: Monica Vandenburg

Secretary: Darlene Hoffmier

Treasurer: Nancy Hunt

Highway Department news

The new addition to the highway garage continues to progress as the budget permits. Overhead doors have been installed, concrete floor poured on 3 of the 5 bays and the 3 personnel doors will soon be installed. We now can park all of our major pieces of equipment under shelter. The big news is that Karl learned that Berkshire was eligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds because of Hurricane Ivan heavy rains last summer. He spent several days meeting and touring Berkshire’s roads with both FEMA and SEMO (State) agents and it appears that the results were significant. The money is not in the bank yet but we may get as much as $190,000. hopefully, some time this month. These funds, when added to the budget appropriations could be a real boost to road repair and upgrade.

TOWN BUDGET

The 2005 budget for the Town of Berkshire is $521,531.00. Of that amount $294,431.00 will be raised from property taxes. Approximately $410,000 will be used to run the Highway Department. Dramatic increases in petroleum costs, which include tar and asphalt, necessitated a 5 percent increase in order to maintain the long term road improvement plan and equipment upgrade program. This is the first tax increase in the Town share of your tax bill in seven years. For a more detailed look at the Town budget, check the Budget section of our website www.berkshireny.com. or contact the Town Clerk. Direct questions to Skip Hartwig 657- 8418.

Think Globally, Act Locally

All New York residents have the opportunity to purchase emission-free wind generated electricity. Information from NYSEG about “Wind for Home” is available by calling 1-800-572-1111. The extra charge for wind generated power is used to develop additional wind power generation facilities.

The Town also has the opportunity to purchase this non-polluting power. Depending on the percentage of power purchased and the length of the contract, the added cost to the Town would range from $3 per month for 5% for one year to $46 per month for 100% for five years.

The annual environmental offsets for 100% wind power use would be 43,600 pounds of CO2, 221# of SO2 and 78# of NOx. Approximately 30 communities in NY, including the Town of Caroline, are participating in this program as of 2004. The added costs are often covered by donations from environmentally conscientious residents.

Berkshire would need donations of $554 annually for a 100% five year contract to implement this program without using tax monies. Anyone interested in making a contribution should send a check to the Town, 18 Railroad Ave, specifying use for green energy. No contract will be entered into until sufficient funds to offset the added cost are received. Direct questions to Dennis Whittaker, dfw7@citlink.net or 657-8354.

PARKING & SNOW PLOWING

We ask everyone to please park your vehicles well clear of the roadways whenever any snow removal or sanding operations are likely. Improper parking during snow removal can be a hazard, creates difficulties for equipment operators, and results in inefficient and incomplete plowing. NYS Highway Law gives the Highway Superintendent the authority to take action if the problem persists after notification. The State Police and Sheriff’s Department have promised cooperation. Failure to comply could result in problem vehicles being towed away and be very expensive to the owners.

.Berkshire museum
Many thanks to Ruth Stoughton who recently donated a glass display case to be used to house a rotating exhibit of artifacts from the Museum in the downstairs Library space. Our first exhibit in 2005 will be on "Berkshire Doctors."
For much of its history the Town of Berkshire had a resident physician. Dr. Joseph Waldo, his son Dr. Joseph Talcott Waldo, Dr. Ralph D. Eastman and Dr. A.C. Hartnagel cared for the local population for more than one hundred years. Dr. Hartnagel donated many of his instruments to the Museum and these, of course, will be included in the display. We are
seeking additional memorabilia and personal accounts of Berkshire residents. Were you treated by one of Berkshire's doctors? Did one
deliver your children or make a house call? Let us know what your experiences were!
The Berkshire Museum is located in the second story of the Berkshire Free Library and is open to the public during special events, including
Heritage Day in September. We welcome donations of items of special interest to our town but also items that would be typical of those used by Berkshire residents in the past. In addition to information on Berkshire doctors we are seeking pre-1950 items such as an early
telephone and radio. If you have items to donate please contact me directly (phone 657-8648, email reddynj@juno.com) or stop by the Library. Thank you!
Nancy Reddy, Curator

DRAFT rOAD pRESERVATION LAW

There have been numerous incidents in recent years where Town roads, drainage ditches and culverts have suffered damage caused by loggers, contractors and landowners themselves. Most often these damages were the result of negligence or carelessness and could have been prevented without seriously affecting the activity itself. Repairs can be expensive and have been paid for with taxpayer money. The Town Board believes that prevention and/or repair should be the responsibility of those who cause the damage rather than the taxpayers. As a result the Planning Board has drafted, and the Town Board is reviewing a draft of a Local Law titled The Road Preservation Local Law. The law will be an agenda item at the January meeting and likely be scheduled for a public hearing in Feb or Mar. Below are a few key excerpts from the draft.

The intent of this Local Law is to maintain and promote the health, safety and general welfare of residents by regulating commercial traffic activities on rural town roads that have the potential to adversely affect road right of ways. The town recognizes that commercial endeavors provide economic benefits to the town and the intent is not to regulate the commercial enterprises. Well maintained roads are declared important to the economic well being of the Town of Berkshire.

If the contractor does not comply and operates outside the parameters as specified on the worksheet; the Highway Superintendent has the authority to shut down the operation.

The landowner will be responsible for the repair of any damages that occur to the Town of Berkshire road right of ways, when a project proceeds without a properly completed worksheet.

The Berkshire Town Board Empowers the Town Highway Superintendent in the overseeing powers of regulating commercial activities in the town of Berkshire in so far as they might impact Town road right of ways.

TAX EXEMPTIONS

Remember that all exemptions must be filed with the Assessor by Mar 1^st. If you have any questions contact him. See his schedule and phone number under Town Officials paragraph

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Spaghetti Dinner–United Methodist Ch, Fri. Jan 21, 5-7pm

History Buffs-Town Hall, Mon. Jan 24, 7:00pm

Spaghetti Dinner–United Methodist Ch, Fri. Feb 18, 5-7pm

History Buffs-Town Hall, Mon. Feb 28, 7:00pm

County Planning Board-Berkshire Town Hall, Wed. Mar 16, 7:30pm

Spaghetti Dinner–United Methodist Ch, Fri. Mar 18, 5-7pm

Auxiliary Pancake Breakfast–Fire Hall, Sun Mar 20, 8 – 11am

History Buffs-Town Hall, Mon. Mar 28, 7:00pm

Spaghetti Dinner-United Methodist Ch. Fri. Apr 15, 5-7pm