BERNE — Berne now has a minivan for transporting the town’s elderly and disabled residents. 

Last week, the Berne Town Board gave the go-ahead to buy a 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan for $21,757.80.  Berne’s supervisor, Kevin Crosier, said Monday he hopes the van will arrive within the next four weeks. 

The town has partnered with Community Caregivers, a local group of volunteers based in Altamont, who help seniors, people with chronic illnesses, and single and teen parents.  The not-for-profit group also helps people to remain in their homes.  Volunteers with Community Caregivers and volunteers in Berne will transport people to doctors’ appointments, to pick up prescriptions, and to shop for groceries. 

In the program, those who have a request for transportation are to contact Community Caregivers, which will coordinate a driver.  Community Caregivers will then contact the town to reserve the van. Volunteers must take a training course.

“We’re already getting people calling and asking about the van so I think it’s going to be very popular and it’ll get a lot of use,” said Crosier.

Crosier called the program “a start and a template that we all can use,” and said he hopes it will get bigger once it gets started and that other towns will want to get involved.

“I’m really excited about it because this is something that we’ve desperately needed in the Hilltowns — transportation for people who can’t get around — and they need the services that aren’t here,” Crosier said. 

Most trips will be within Albany County, but, if someone’s doctor is in Greenville, a town just south of the county, the town would take them, Crosier said.  He doesn’t foresee anyone having doctor appointments on a Saturday, but, he said, if a group of seniors want to do their grocery shopping on a Saturday afternoon, the town would accommodate them. 

Berne will be reimbursed by Albany County for the gas it uses. 

Jeff Thomas, a local developer, is planning to build a senior-housing complex in Berne. 

“This is a great step because I think it’s just another piece that we’re putting together that will go a long way when we’re looking at our senior housing project,” said Crosier.  “So these pieces are starting to fall into place now.” 

To pay for the van, the town set aside money from its surplus and has asked for state member-item grants from Assemblyman John McEneny and Senator Neil Breslin and worked with County Executive Michael Breslin and the county, he said. 

Last year, the nearby town of Rensselaerville bought a 14-passenger bus that can carry two wheelchairs for the town’s seniors and youth.  While the town approved and paid for the bus, the money is being repaid through private donations.  The bus cost about $57,000, and about $5,000 needs to be raised. 

Crosier said, “I think it’s going to be great.  The seniors are excited about it.  We’ve got people stepping up to the plate to volunteer.  I think it will be a lot of fun, too.”

Other business

In other business, the Berne Town Board:

— Heard from the town’s clerk, Patricia Favreau, that the town has had “as many 18 calls” and eight applications to clean Town Hall and the library.  “Myself, I would feel more comfortable with an independent contractor,” said Councilman Joseph Golden.  The board will meet with applicants for 15-minute interviews on Saturday, March 29, starting at 9 a.m. at Town Hall;

— Heard from Crosier that he will submit an application for a Municipal Waste Reduction and Recycling Capital Project grant with the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation for work completed on the town’s transfer station.  Berne had pre-applied for $76,280 in 2003 and, Crosier said, the town is only eligible for $61,280.  The DEC, he said, didn’t consider using recycled oil for its waste-oil furnace to heat the town’s highway garage as recycling. 

“What’s the turn-around on that?” Golden asked.

“Pretty quick,” said Crosier.  “I have to have the application in by April 28”;

— Voted unanimously to buy a 2007 Sterling truck with a wing and plow for the highway department at a cost not to exceed $171,365.66.  Last month, one of the town’s highway trucks, a 2004 International, was totaled;

— Awarded a bid to Cornerstone, a telecommunications company, for phone services.  By changing to Cornerstone, a Verizon provider, the town will save approximately $700 a year, Crosier said;

— Heard from Councilman James Hamilton that the Berne Conservation Board and the town’s planning board have drafted a potential wind-turbine law and will be submitting a draft to the town board for its review;

— Will meet with Nan Stolzenburg of Community Planning & Environmental Associates on March 26 to update the town’s comprehensive plan; and

— Discussed adding bathrooms to the pavilion at the town park.  Joel Willsey, who designed the town’s transfer station, has drawn up plans.  The board discussed making the bathrooms accessible to those with handicaps and volunteers doing some of the work.