Montgomery County Department of Weights and Measures Receives Recognition

Director Raymond J. Borst Receives Proclamation for Efforts to Promote Equity and Fairness

FONDA - Montgomery County's Director of Weights and Measures Raymond J. Borst was recognized Tuesday for his dedication to promoting equity and fairness in the community.

The County Legislature issued Borst a proclamation describing his job duties, flexibility and effort to maintain excellent relationships with the businesses he works with.

As Director of Weights and Measures, Borst is responsible for promoting equity in all commercial transactions based on weight or measure throughout Montgomery County. Borst checks and maintains all legal measuring systems. He is the only employee within the department. Borst checks gasoline pumps, scales and milk measuring systems on local farms. He is also responsible for checking the weight of packaged commodities in businesses throughout Montgomery County.

Borst was recently elected third vice president for the New York State Weights and Measures Association Executive Committee. He also serves on the auditing committee for NYSWMA.

"[My job] is to keep everyone on an equal playing field," Borst said. "It's not only to protect the consumer, but to protect the seller."

Borst said the Weights and Measures department ensures confidence and fairness in the marketplace. The buyer is assured that they get what they pay for and the business owner is assured of a marketplace based on fair competition.

Borst said that Weights & Measures annually inspects and tests all commercially used weighing and measuring devices for both accuracy and proper operation. New York State certified weights and measuring devices are used during these testing procedures.

Some examples of inspections and tested commercial devices Borst is responsible for include:

• Computing and pre-pack scales at supermarkets, bakeries, delis and fish/butcher shops
• Livestock and pharmaceutical scales
• Petroleum pumps at gas stations, convenience stores, truck stops and marinas
• Heavy-duty vehicle scales at sand/gravel yards, recycling centers, salt plants and salvage yards
• Fuel oil, gas, diesel and kerosene meters
• Propane delivery vehicle tank meters which are tested by NYS Weights and Measures
• Platform/hopper scales at wineries, coal yards, salt plants, propane sales and farm/produce locations
• Scales used for buying gold, silver, precious metals, coins and jewelry
• Farm bulk milk tanks
• Devices used to measure the length of hardware goods, rope chain and wire
• Timing devices
• "Courtesy inspections"; non-commercial devices for institutions such as schools
• Inspections for accuracy in pricing
• Inspections and testing packaged commodities
• Inspecting ATM machines and gas pumps with credit card readers for credit card skimming devices

Borst said that Weights & Measures also participates in the New York State Petroleum Quality Program. This involves collecting gasoline and diesel fuel samples yearly, on a random basis throughout Montgomery County. The samples are sent to an independent contract laboratory for chemical testing and analysis and the tests assure that the fuel purchased by the consumer meets all appropriate quality/octane standards and that fuel dispensers are properly labeled.

Borst said every device in the county gets checked annually and livestock scales twice per year.

He keeps an ongoing track of all inspections that gets forwarded to the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.

"I'm there to make sure everyone is protected at every angle," Borst said.

Despite the numerous tasks he is already responsible for, Borst volunteered to take on another. Weights and Measures employees were informed during a conference last year that skimming devices were identified across the state. Skimming devices are electronic credit card readers used to capture personal identification numbers from consumers.

Borst volunteered to implement routine checks of fuel dispensers and ATMs. Several skimming devices were located in Montgomery County last year. Now, Borst checks pumps throughout the county monthly.

When asked about a job duty the public may not be aware of, Borst said checking the registers at Walmart and Price Chopper. Every register in these stores contains a scale which needs to be inspected.

Borst said the previous Director of Weights and Measures set a very high standard and businesses respected him.

"I'm always trying to do the same," he said. "I take all aspects of my job very serious because they are all very important."

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