Town of Berkshire

Regular Meeting

Octover 12, 2004

Page 1

 

The Town Board of the Town of Berkshire held their regular meeting on October 12, 2004, in the boardroom.  Supervisor Hartwig called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.

 

Board Members present were: Dennis Whittaker, Albert Warner, Jr., John Ceurter and Trudy Bentley.

Also present was Karl Spoonhower, Sup’t of Hwys.

 

The meeting was opened with the pledge of allegiance

 

Approval of the Sept. Minutes was made by Trudy Bentley, Seconded by John Ceurter.  Carried.

 

Co. Legislator—Dick Harrington—Howland Bros. Project—The County and HJ Ousby are in neogations.

                            No news this week.  Mental Health Dept. has over spent and are in need of cutting back,

                            Thus some programs and personnal will be cut to cover this.

             Building projects are pretty much on schedule, Court House annex is slower moving but

             gaining.

 

Privilege of the floor: Mark Tompkins of Depot St. comes to the board and has ongoing complaints—1.

               Snow covered siewalks with cars parked on them making it impossible to walk on the sidewalks.

2.        Loud noise from dogs constantly barking and loud music being played.  Doesn’t he Town have an noice ordinance?  We don’t have one.  Need more complaints to warrant looking into this.  Planning Board is over loaded with work on other drafts at this time.  Complaints to the Police units and the Dog Warden but feels as though he’s being round robined again and again.  Mr. Davis was made aware of the snow on the streets and the parking of vehicles their and will speak to his family about this.  Gave him the Town Lawyer phone number also.

 

Communications and Petitions;

 

1.        Planning Board minutes for June are passed and left for Clerk to file.

2.        Rabies Clinics are being held in the County.

3.        Public Hearing-Senior Issues at Co. Side Community Bldg. In Owego. By Office of the Aging on Tues. 9:30 AM on October 19, 2004.

4.        Community College Support—County pays the Collage a portion of the tuition for County residents.

 

Reports:

 

A.      County Planning Board—George Swaney—  434 property sold to IDA for $1.00.

B.       Highway—Karl Spoonhower—Ballou Hill about done.  Brush to cut and bring chips to the lot next to the Town Hall for town people to use.  Ditches to clean.

C.       Code Enforcement—Joe Ceurter left report to be filed with Clerk.

D.      Planning Board—George Swaney—Preservation on Road update—draft at end of next month for board to look at.

E.       Clerk—passed report.

F.       F.  Justice—no report, but has contacted the Supervisor about a Part-time Court Clerk.

G.       Dog control—no report

H.      Committee reports  nothing at this time.

I.         Supervisor Repot—Cash Flow report passed, Home Schooling group doing well.  Swept up the Town

Hall and things are going well there.

Richford and Berkshire were in a study on sewage and water out of a number 45 we placesd 33.

There is a long report to be read,  if interested contact the Supervisor and make arrangements.

Thursday evening at Town Hall “Meet your candidate” night at 7:00 local cnadidates for the district will speak.

Town of Berkshire

Regular Meeting

October 12, 2004

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                                Old Business:

 

1. Bid Opening on sale of Town pickup—none received.
2. ATV road usage law—Presented to Board at Sept. 14, 2004 meeting, will have Planning Board check this over.  Soft copy will be gotten from Trudy and she will pass it to George Swaney,

Next meeting give details, Board then votes, public hearing will be held.

 

                                                New Business:

 

A.      Budget Adjustment: Need to transfer money from the Capital Reserve Fund to put into DA5130.2

       Supervisor Hartwig makes the motion to transfer $46,400 and make the total to read  $51,400. in this      

       account .  Seconded by Trudy Bentley.  Carried

B.   Replacement of town pickup—no bids.

C.    Adopt –A Highway Cleanup—Oct. 23--need volunteers.

D.       Fee schedule update—never included the fees for a Cell Tower Placement

The application fee (New construction)              $5,000.

The application fee (Existing Structure)              $2,000.

Inspection Fee Escrow                                         $5,000.

Supervisor Hartwig makes the motion to pass the new fees on the cell tower, seconded by Trudy Bentley.  Carried.

E.        Tentative Budget 2005 was presented and gone over.  (Public Hearing will be held on November 9, 2004 at 6:30 PM.)

 

Approval of Warants:

General #49-51 $181.41

Highway #135-143  $12068.97

Bookkeeper  $3141.59

 

Motion to pay as audited was made by Trudy Bentley, Seconded by Dennis Whittaker. Carried.

 

The NYS Auditor Tom Johnson tells that the Clerk is supposed to be doing all the Warrants

They are to be brought to the Clerk at the close of business on Friday, mail on Monday to come Monday night, mail on Tuesday bring to meeting.

 

Motion to adjourn at 8:28 PM by John Ceurter, seconded by Trudy Bentley.  Carried.

 

 

Respectively submitted;

 

Constance M. Liddington

Town Clerk