TOWN OF BERKSHIRE

PUBLIC HEARING—PRELIMINARY BUDGET-2002

NOVEMBER 13, 2001

THE TOWN OF BERKSHIRE TOWN BOARD HELD THEIR PUBLIC HEARING ON NOVEMBER 13, 2001, IN THE TOWN HALL.

SUPERVISOR HARTWIG OPENED THE MEETING AT 7:00 PM.

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT WERE: RICHARD ODOM, WILLIAM SIMMONS, JAMES CEURTER, SR. AND MAX LEONARD. ALSO PRESENT WAS KARL SPOONHOWER, HWY. SUP’T.

JOHN CEURTER PRESENTED THE SUPERVISOR WITH THE FIRE DISTRICT BUDGET. THEY REQUEST AND ADDITION $10,000. OVER THE BUDGET OF 2001. T HE REASON – NEEDED EQUIPMENT WILL BE BOUGHT OVER A TWO YEAR PERIOD. A DEFIBULAR IS GOING TO BE NEED IN ORDER FOR THE EMERGENCY SQUAD T O BE COME AN ADVANCE LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM

ALONG WITH NEEDED TRAINING.

CAROL KANIA PRESENTED THE FREE LIBRARY BUDGET IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,500. ALSO THANKS THE BOARD FOR THE MONEY FROM LAST YEARS BUDGET.

THE FUND BALANCE IS BASED ON MONEY WE HAVE, MONEY THAT WE THINK WE’LL TAKE IN AND THAT WE WILL SPEND.

PUT IN AN ADDITION $30,000. IN CAPITAL RESERVE FOR HWY. EQUIPMENT.

MEETING CLOSED AT 7:30 PM.

CONSTANCE M. LIDDINGTON

TOWN CLERK

TOWN OF BERKSHIRE

REGULAR MEETING

NOVEMBER 13, 2001

THE REGULAR MEETING FOLLOWED THE PRELIMINARY BUDGET HEARING IN THE TOWN HALL ON NOVEMER 13, 2001.

SUPERVISOR HARTWIG OPENED THE MEETING AT 7:30 P.M.

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT WERE: RICHARD ODOM. WILLIAM SIMMONS, JAMES CEURTER, SR. AND MAX LEONARD. ALSO IN ATTENDANCE WAS KARL SPOONHOWER HWY. SUP’T.

THE MEETING WAS OPENED WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLIGENCE.

CORRECTION TO THE OCOTBER 9, 2001 MINUTES ARE AS FOLLOWS:

HIGHWAY WARRANT TOTAL CHANGED TO READ $23,682.95.

THE MINUTES SHOULD REFLECT THESE CHANGES—UNDER "COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS" THE LINE ITEM SHOULD READ A9710.6, AND UNDER "NEW BUSINESS" #4 THE TOWN OF BERKSHIRE DOES AUTHORIZE THE VILLAGE OF NEWARK VALLEY TO REQUEST FUNDS FROM THE STATE OF NEW YORK ON BEHALF OF THE TOWN OF BERKSHIRE FOR THE PURPOSE OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE JOINT YOUTH RECREATION PROGRAM.

MOTION MADE BY WILLIAM SIMMONS, SECONDED BY RICHARD ODOM TO ACCEPT THE CORRECTIONS. 5 AYES 0 NOES, CARRIED.

COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS:

1. THE PLANNING BOARD MINUTES FOR JUNE AND SEPT. WERE LEFT FOR FILING.
2. ELDER CAREGIVER SUPPORT PROGRAM WILL HOLD GRAND OPENING IN OWEGO. INFORMATION MAY BE GOTTEN FROM SUPERVISOR HARTWIG IF INTERESTED.
3. REGULATING ADULT ENTERTAINMENT SEMINAR—INFORMATION CAN BE GOTTEN FROM SUPERVISOR IF INTERESTED.
4. CORNELL COOPERATIVE EXTENSION AGENCY—VACANCIES—SEE SUPERVISOR HARTWIG FOR INFORMATION ON THIS.

1. CO. LEGISLATOR—TODD SMITH—PRESENTED SUPERVISOR HARTWIG WITH A LETTER OF INTENT FROM THE COUNTY. THIS IS TO CONFIRM THAT THEY WILL OIL AND STONE THE REJMER ROAD IN THE SPRING. IT MAY NEED MORE GRAVEL BEFORE THIS CAN BE DONE.

• HAVE FOUR NEW LEGISLATORS ON BOARD, WON’T KNOW UNTIL JANUARY MEETING WHO WILL BE CHAIRMAN. NOR WHO WILL BE ON WHICH COMMITTEE.

• THE COUNTY BUDGET WAS WORKED AND CAME IN HIGH, BUT WAS GONE OVER AGAIN AND THERE WAS NO INCREASE. THE TENTATIVE SHOWS A 0 % INCREASE. 16 MILES OF ROAD WORK WILL BE DONE NEXT YEAR. WORKING TO LOWER IT SOME MORE.

• THE CO. BUILDING IS ON HOLD UNTIL THE NEW BOARD

REORGANIZES.

• STOP D W I BUDGET PASSED $5,000. TO TOWN OF BERKSHIRE TO

WORK ON ROOMS FOR USE BY LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT

OFFICALS.

• REAP BOARD REPRESENTATIVE—JAMES CEURTER IS INTERESTED IN THIS POSITION. NEXT MEETING WILL BE 2^ND. WEDNESDAY OF MONTH AT NOON.

1. COUNTY PLANNING BOARD—GEORGE SWANEY- NO MTG. LAST MONTH.
2. HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT: KARL AND MEN ARE WORKING ON CEURTER RD. HOME GOING UP IN SPRING, ROAD NEEDS TO BE WIDENED. SANDERS CLEANED AND REPAIRED ETC. READY FOR WINTER.
3. CODE ENFORCEMENT-JOE CEURTER READ REPORT AND LEFT IT FOR FILING. HUNTING CAMP GOING IN ON SHAFF RD. NEEDS TO BE WORKED TO ACCOMMODATE A HANDICAPP OPERATED VAN.

BEEN WORKING ON THE VEHICLE JUNK LAW

4. PLANNING BOARD—ABSENT.
5. TOWN CLERK—REPORT PASSED TO BOARD.
6. DOG CONTROL—BRAD WALKER OUT OF AREA, WALT KLOSSNER HANDLING CASES AS NEEDED.

 

7. COMMITTEE REPORTS: CLERK AND COLLECTOR AUDIT FINISHED BY JAMES CEURTER. SUGGETED THAT COLLECTOR MAKE WEEKLY CHECKS TO SUPERVISOR INSTEAD OF MONTHLY. MAINTAINS NO PETTY CASH. WRITTEN REPORT TO FOLLOW, MAY BE ABLE TO GET THE 2001 AUDIT DONE BY END OF YEAR..
8. SUPERVISOR HARTWIG: CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL NEWLY ELECTED AND RE-ELECTED OFFICALS .

• OPEN MEETING LAW—THE BOARD GETS TOGETHER ON THE THURSDAY BEFORE REGULAR MEETING TO DISCUSS THE AGENDA. NOT CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC—NO ACTION IS TAKEN. NEXT GATHERING IS 12-6 AT NOON.

• VARIANCES—"NO TOWN BOARD MEMBER CAN BE ON THE BOARD OF APPEALS"—IF THE BOARD STATES THAT THEY ARE THE BOARD OF APPEALS, THEN LEGAL IN HANDLING OF THIS, THEN THAT’S THE WAY IT IS.

• COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS—WEBSITE FOR COUNTY—BERKSHIRE IS BEING USED AS AN EXAMPLE. DENNIS WHITTAKER WILL CONNECT BERKSHIRE WITH THE COUNTY.

• CASH FLOW REPORT PASSED.

• CD UPDATE PASSED.

• $12,000 CARRY OVER FROM LAST YEAR.

• $15,000 REPAVING OF ROAD

OLD BUSINESS:

1. BID OPENING TOWN HALL FURNACE

TABLED UNTIL NEXT MEETING AND REBID FOR PROPANE FIRED FURNACE.

B . R E A P- LDC VACANCY—TODD SMITH RESIGNES AS BERKSHIRE’S REPRESENTATIVE. NEED TO APPOINT ANOTHER REPRESENTATIVE SO BERSKHIRE CAN BE HEARD FROM. MEETING ON 11-14-01, JAMES CEURTER WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND THIS MEETING BEFORE HE DECIDES TO BE A REPRESENTATIVE ON THIS COMMITTEE. TABLE UNTIL DEC. MEETING.

> 2002 BUDGET AND EST FUND BALANCE.

3. THURSDAY RECEIVED NOTICE OF BC/BS INCREASE OF 27%-- BUDGETED FOR 20%

RON MCEWEN STATES THAT THE COUNTY WENT WITH 20.6 %

INCREASE

4. RETIREMENT SYSTEM—COULD GO AS HIGH AS $8,000. LATE INTO 2002 BEFORE WE RECEIVE THE BILL ON THIS.

1. COUNTY PLANNING BOARD VACANCY—GEORGE SWANEY HOLDS

THAT POSITION --A 2 YEAR TERM. REAPPOINT GEORGE SWANEY TO

ANOTHER TWO YEAR TERM. MOTION MADE BY WILLIAM SIMMONS,

SECONDED BY JAMES CEURTER TO MAKE THIS REAPPOINT. 5 AYES, 0

NOES. CARRIED.

2. HIGHWAY CITIZEN COMMITTEE ROAD IMPROVEMENT PLAN HAS BEEN TYPED UP AND SIGNED BY ALL MEMBERS AND LEFT FOR FILING.
3. MOBILE HOME INSTALLATION LOCAL LAW DRAFT REVISION WAS PRESENTED TO THE BOARD BY PENNY MAGNUS OF THE PLANNING BOARD. SOME ITEMS WERE GONE OVER AND SOME CHANGES WERE SUGGESTED. WILL BE READY FOR DECEMBER 11, 2002 MEETING, WILL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING AT 7:15 PM .
4. WILL ALSO ADVERTISE THE "END OF YEAR MEETING ON 12-1-01 AT 11:00 AM.

INVITATION TO THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK: JOHN CEURTER ASKS ABOUT THE EYESORE ON RTE. 38 THE WASHBURNS PLACE, THE MCEWENS REQUETED A COPY OF THE MOBILE HOME DRAFT. AND CAROL KANIA ASKS ABOUT THE OCCPANCY IN THE MOBILE HOME ORDINANCE LOCAL LAW (DEFINE IT CLEARER).

APPROVAL OF WARRANTS: GENERAL FUND #32-46 $26,49.91, HIGHWAY FUND #169-187 $14,828.02, BOOKPEERER $6656.34. MOTION TO PAY AS AUDITED WAS MADE BY JAMES CEURTER, SECONDED BY RICHARD ODOM. 5 AYES 0 NOES. CARRIED.

MOTION MADE TO ADJOURN AT 9:50 P.M. BY MAX LEONARD, SECONDED BY RICHARD ODOM. 5 AYES 0 NOES. CARRIED.

RESPECTIVELY SUBMITTED:

CONSTANCE M. LIDDINGTON

TOWN CLERK