TOWN OF BERKSHIRE

REGULAR MEETING

MARCH 11, 2003

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            THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF BERKSHIRE HELD THEIR REGULAR MEETING IN THE TOWN HALL ON MARCH 11, 2003.

            MEETING CALLED TO ORDER BY SUPERVISOR HARTWIG AT 7:30 WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

            BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT WERE: RICHARD ODOM, WILLIAM SIMMONS,

JOHN CEURTER, AND TRUDY BENTLEY.  ALSO PRESENT WAS KARL SPOONHOWER, SUP’T. OF  HWYS.

            APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR FEB. 11, 2003  MEETING: WARRANT CORRECTIONS DUE TO DUPLICATION OF BILLS. GENERAL  WARRANT TO READ #6-11 $2,298.42, HIGHWAY #12-21, 23, 25-31 $6,236.85.  MOTION  TO APPROVE CORRECTIONS WAS MADE BY RICHARD ODM, SECONDED BY TRUDY BENTLEY.  CARRIED.

 

            CO. LEGISLATOR—ABSENT

 

PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR:  AL WARNER ASKS HOW COME THE BOARD HAS A 4 YEAR TERM AND THE SUPERVISOR, CLERK, & HWY. SUP’T. HAVE A 2 YEAR TERM.  SUPERVISOR EXPLAINED THE ELECTION PROCESS TO HIM.

                       

                        COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS:

 

1.       COUNTY PLANNING BOARD MEETING AT TOWN HALL ON MARCH 19, 2003 AT 7:30 PM.  OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

2.        PLANNING BOARD MINUTES PASSED AND LET FOR FILING.

3.       NYS ELEC. & GAS LETTER:  LIGHTS FOR HOLIDAY LIGHTING HAS BEEN FURNISHED BY NYSEG FOR 2 YEARS.  NOW ITS UP TO THE TOWN OF BERKSHIRE TO PAY.  LIGHTS WILL BE ON THANKSGIVING DAY UNTIL NEW YEARS DAY.

4.       COUNTY WIDE REAP MEETING AT OWEGO MIDDLE SCHOOL ON MARCH 13, 2003 AT 7:00 PM.

 

REPORTS:

 

A.     CO. PLANNING BOAARD-GEO. SWANEY—THE CO. LEG.VOTED 5-4 ON THE PROPOSED SITE OF THE NEW OFFICE BUILDING—231 MAIN ST. COST AND SIZE NOT DEFINITE YET.  DEVELOPMENT IN APALACHIN LARGE GROCERY STORE, DRUG STORE, AND A RESTURANT.  WAVERLY HAS A NEW ZONING MAP.

B.     HIGHWAY DEPT.—KARL—REBUILT #119, GRADER READY TO GO FOR SUMMER, HAULING CINDERS, AND WORKING ON TOWN HALL.

HIGHWAY AGREEMENT: GO OVER IT AND PROBABLY CHANGE AT  

NEXT WORK SESSION.  THEN AT REGULAR MEETING MADE OFFICIAL

CHANGES.  CHECK WITH BUDGET.

C.     CODE ENFORCEMENT—JOE READ REPORT AND LEFT IT TO BE FILED.  DOING JUNK LAW WORK.  SOME VARIANCES ARE BEING ASKED FOR

 

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MARCH 11, 2003

                                                                                                             

       ON TRAILERS.  HOWLAND BROS. VACANT MILL TO BE BOARDED UP.  STORE  ON RTE. 38 TO OPEN ABOUT 5-1-03.

 

D.     PLANNING BOARD—GEO. SWANEY-  WORK ON BUILDING PERMIT

UNDER  WAY.  SITE PLAN REVIEW UPDATE COMING SOON.

E.  CLERK PASSED REPORT AND FEBRUARY TAX PENALTY.

F.      DOG CONTROL—ABSENT

G.     JUSTICE REPORT—WAS PRESENTED..

H.     COMMITTEE REPORTS: HIGHWAY—INVENTORY OF EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS COMPLETE.  COPIES ARE  AVAILABLE.   AUDIT COMMITTEE IS WORKING ON JUSTICE BOOKS.

I.        SUPERVISOR—CASH FLOW REPORT PASSED ALONG WITH A UPDATED CD LISTING.

NEW VOTING MACHINES IN THE MAKING—PRICE SAVINGS BY DOING NOW, NOT SURE WHO WILL PICK UP THE EXPENSES, WILL WE GET OUR MACHINE AGAIN THE NEXT TIME WE VOTE?  A  LOT OF UNANSWERED QUESTIONS.  SUGGESTING THAT THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS FUND THIS.

THE  BOARD APPROVAL ON COUNTY GETTING MACHINES AND OWNING IT.  WE RENT.

BCK ENGINEERING FIRM IS READY TO SHOW US SKETCHES ON TOWN HALL REMODELING (EXTIERIOR). ON FRIDAY AT 1:00 PM.

 

 

            OLD BUSINESS:

1.    TRASH PICK-UP WEEK OF 5-5-03, MONDAY AND TUESDAY WILL BE FOR 65 AND OLDER FOR TRASH PICK-UP CALL SHEDS FOR THIS.  REST  OF WEEK A DUMPSTER WILL BE AT SHEDS FOR YOU TO DEPOSIT ITEMS.  TIRES WILL BE PUT INTO A DUMSTER $75./TON KARL WASN’T SURE ABOUT ON OR OFF RIM WILL CHECK ON THIS.  15” OR LESS 1.00 OVER 15” COST $2.00. LIMIT OF 8 TIRES.  WATCH FOR AD.

2.        MOWING CONTRACT—KURT BRENNAN NOT GOING TO RENEW THIS YEAR.  MIKE ALBRECHT SUBMITTED A BID.  WILL BILL EACH MONTH.

DUE TO AGE SCOTT ALBRECHT WILL TAKE RESPONSIBLILTY.  MORE CONTROL.

 

                                    NEW BUSINESS

 

1.       BIDS FOR HIGHWAY EQUIPMENT RENTAL—APRIL 8, 2003.  AD TO PAPER.

2.       VARIANCE REQUEST:  PRECISION WOODCRAFTERS.  (COUNTY TO TAKE OVER 3 OF THE BUILDINGS ) APPLYING FOR FOOTAGE ON LINE (ROAD RIGHT OF WAY FROM STATE ROUTE 38. MAKING IT LESS THAN HE 25 FOOT SET BACK.  JOHN CEURTER WANTED TO TABLE UNTIL APRIL MEETING. MOTION TO APPROVE VARIANCE IF ADEQUATE SPACE DOESN’T BECOME AVAILABLE. MOTION  WAS MADE BY SUPERVISOR HARTWIG,  SECONDED BY WILLIAM SIMMONS TO GRANT VARIANCE:  ROLL CALL VOTE: ODOM-AYE, HARTWIG-AYE, SIMMONS-AYE,CEURTER-AYE, BENTLEY-AYE. 5 AYES, 0 NOES.  CARRIED.

 

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MARCH 11, 2003

 

3.       GRAVEL PURCHASE—SPENT $35,000. LAST YEAR FOR GRAVEL. GRAVEL AND SAND SITE ON 79 CAN BE PURCHASED WITH SCREEN FOR $90,000.

15 YEAR MINE PERMIT.  PROCEED ON THIS,  OFFER TO OWNER HASN’T SAID NO.  GOOD SOURCE OF GRAVEL, TALKED TO ATTORNEY.  PURSUE THIS.   BUY ON 3 YEAR CONTRACT!  PROCEED ON INVESTIGATION OF THIS FOR APRIL MEETING. MOTION MADE BY JOHN CEURTER, SECONDED BY RICHARD ODOM.  5 AYES 0 NOES.  CARRIED.

4.       LETTER TO LEGISLATOR:  CONCERNING A LACK OF MOVEMENT ON HOWLAND BROS  IF LETTER GOES, MAYBE NOT SEND IT . HOLD FOR NOW.

5.       RESOLUTION ON CEDAR PROGRAM:  (CODE ENFORCEMENT DISASTER ASSISTANCE RESPONSE) TEAM.  JOE IS BOTH QUALIFIED AND A VOLUNTEER FOR THIS.

“RESOLVED, THE TOWN OF BERKSHIRE HEREBY APPROVES JOE CEURTER’S  PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM AND THROUGH “NYMIR” WILL PROVIDE INDEMNIFICIATION AND INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR HIM WHEN HE IS INVOLVED IN ”CEDAR” ACTIVITIES .  MOTION TO        ACCEPT THE RESOLUTION AS WRITTEN WAS MADE BY WILLIAM SIMMONS, SECONDED BY TRUDY BENTLEY.  CARRIED.

 

            APPROVAL OF WARRANTS:

 

HIGHWAY WARRANT #32-63 (VOID 64 AND 51)  $$44,442.06

GENERAL FUND WARRANT #12-14 $1697.45

BOOKKEEEPER $3207.62

MOTION TO PAY AS AUDITED WAS MAADE BY RICHAARD ODOM, SECONDED BY TRUDY BENTLEY.  CARRIED.

 

MOTION TO ADJOURN WAS MADE AT 850 PM. BY JOHN CEURTER, SECONDED BY TRUDY BENTLEY.   CARRIED.

RESPECTIVELY SUBMITTED:

 

 

CONSTANCE M. LIDDINGTON

TOWN CLERK