New requirements for Berne planners and zoners

BERNE — Members of planning and zoning boards are required by state law to take four hours of class each year.  Last week, the Berne Town Board, in a unanimous decision, passed a resolution requiring new members to take courses across their fields. 

Within a year of being appointed, members of Berne’s planning and zoning boards will be required to attend both planning and zoning board overview courses offered by the state’s Department of State or take courses that cover the same content. 

 “The intent is that people should learn the legal basis…before they get into considering the esoterics of easements and stuff like that,” said Councilman Peter Vance, a former chairman of the town’s zoning board of appeals.  The idea, he said, is also that, by taking the courses, they will have an appreciation of the other board and the other board’s position, which, over the years, may have been lacking. 

Vance said the course would meet planning and zoning board members’ four-hour training requirement.

Planning board overview courses cover the powers and duties of planning boards and the administrative and regulatory roles of the board, including comprehensive planning, site-plan review, special-use permits, and subdivision review. 

Zoning-board overview classes address the powers and duties of members and the board’s interrelationship with enforcement officials, the planning board, and county planning agencies.  Instructors discuss requirements on issuing use and area variances and how to interpret zoning. 

Vance said these are the first courses that new members should take. 

“I think this is a good requirement,” said Councilman Joseph Golden, adding that, by taking the courses, people will have a clearer idea of not only of their responsibilities but of their limits.

Other business

In other business, the Berne Town Board:

— Discussed placing two surveillance cameras at Berne Town Park, one at the pavilion and another at the snack bar.  “I think it would certainly deter vandalism at the park,” said Supervisor Kevin Crosier.   Board members discussed past acts of vandalism at the park. 

The town received an estimate from a company in Latham, which Crosier said is owned by a Berne resident, of $3,500 for two motion-activated cameras.  By running a wire and forgoing a wireless camera, the town could save $1,200.  Anyone with a password would be able to view the town park from his computer.  Councilman Vance told The Enterprise only officials would have a password because the cameras would be for security purposes.

The board also continued discussions on additions to the pavilion at the park.  Joel Willsey, who designed the town’s transfer station and also drew up plans for a new Berne library, has drawn up plans.  The board discussed building costs, cosmetics, and specifications and agreed to continue the discussion at its meeting next month;

— Will hold a meeting on the town’s sewer project today (Thursday) at 9 a.m. at Town Hall;

— Voted unanimously to send Joe Welsh, a Berne highway worker, to an annual training session for highway superintendents sponsored by the state and the state’s Association of Towns, from June 2 to 4 at Ithaca College; 

— Voted unanimously, after the town’s attorney, William Conboy, said vehicles carrying under 10 passengers are not bondable, to use $17,000 from the town’s fund balance to pay for the town’s new senior van. 

Earlier this year, the town board voted unanimously to purchase a 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan for $21,757.80.  The town has partnered with Community Caregivers, a not-for-profit group of volunteers based in Altamont, who help seniors, people with chronic illnesses, and single and teen parents.  Volunteers with Community Caregivers and volunteers in Berne will transport Berne residents who are 55 and older to doctors’ appointments, to pick up prescriptions, and to shop for groceries. 

Town board members said last week they are working on a policy for the van’s uses.  “It can be used for other things as the policy develops,” said Golden. 

To pay for the van, the town requested member-item grants from Assemblyman John McEneny and Senator Neil Breslin.  McEneny has secured $5,000 for the van, his office confirmed yesterday.  Crosier said it will cost $800 to insure the van for one year and the town will be reimbursed for trips. 

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held on June 14 at 11 a.m. at the senior center on Route 443;

— Discussed contacting members of the community to serve on a committee that will work to update the town’s comprehensive land-use plan.  Planning-board member Timothy Lippert and Conservation-board member Al Raymond have volunteered for the committee.  A member from the zoning board of appeals had not yet volunteered as of last week.  The board met last night. 

Crosier said last week that he submitted a grant application for $25,000 to the American Farmland Trust.  The grant is used to develop farmland protection plans, and towns are required to pay $8,333, of which $1,667 has to be cash and $6,666 can be in kind services.  Crosier said Berne missed the deadline for the first round of $5,000 grants offered through the Greenway Conservancy for the Hudson River Valley.  The next round, Crosier said, is in September; and

— Voted unanimously to close Route 443 from Taber Road to Berne-Knox-Westerlo on Memorial Day from 10 a.m. to noon for the annual Memorial Day parade.