Unopposed in Berne

Motschmann for assessor

 BERNE — Robert Motschmann, a Democrat, is unopposed for assessor.

Berne has three part-time assessors, and Motschmann has held the job for 12 years, three four-year terms.

A Berne resident since 1970, Motschmann has worked as a salesman for Hannay Reels in Westerlo. He has one year of college and a high-school education.

He could not be reached for comment this week, but told The Enterprise during his last run, “I enjoy doing this job. I feel we’ve done a good job so far and we can continue on.”

Motschmann said, to help with his post, he tries to keep up on building projects in the area and the costs involved.

One of the hardest parts of his job, he said in 2005, is explaining the technicalities of assessment to residents. The three assessors try to help people find exemptions, he said.

“We kind of pride ourselves in helping the seniors in the town,” he said.

— Melissa Hale-Spencer

More Hilltowns News

  • As farmland is decreasing dramatically across the United States, Knox has a proposal to preserve its own. As the United States faces a significant housing shortage — particularly of affordable housing — the town of Westerlo made strides this year, streamlining the permitting process for accessory-dwelling units to make it easier for elderly residents who’d otherwise be looking for dedicated senior housing in the suburbs to stay close by. Municipal water problems are frequent in the United States with rural systems prone to the most problems; Rensselaerville has been working to transition its water district away from a surface-water system into a public well system under the guidance of its Water and Sewer Advisory Committee.

  • Supervisor Joseph Geibelhaus said of the many resolutions, “There’s been a request for transparency. With transparency comes accountability.”

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