To the Editor:

Regarding Switzkill Farm, here’s a simple question: How many area residents have wonderful memories of weddings and receptions held at the lodge at Switzkill Farm? How many families lovingly display photos of those events on mantels over their fireplaces? We don’t know the precise numbers, but what we do know is that participation in such joyous celebrations is no longer available to anyone.

All public officials, no matter how uncommunicative they may eventually become, inevitably leave a record of their positions on important public issues. Printed positions on such issues are significant.

Silent or hidden changes in those printed public positions are dangerous as the unknown reasons behind those changes deprive the public of the opportunity to petition their government to protest such changes. We often describe this as a lack of transparency — a frequent campaign slogan and criticism.

Let’s explore Republican Town Supervisor Sean Lyons’s exuberant and effusive printed position on the unique value of Switzkill Farm:

Town of Berne Courier, Vol. 45, Spring/Summer, 2018:

“First and foremost, I invite everyone to go up to Switzkill Farm, explore it and discover the awesome potential it holds for all of Berne. We can no longer look back, we must move forward together as a community to best utilize this amazing resource. It is my opinion that this is an excellent opportunity for our town, and the Farm has potential to bring great prosperity and growth to Berne. I also invite every resident to attend the Switzkill Farm Board (SFB) meetings. The SFB meets the first Tuesday of the month at the Lodge, 7 pm. Only by participation can you get the real facts, provide real input and make the property benefit us all …. Thank You and God Bless America, Sean S. Lyons, Supervisor.”

Gosh!

That’s Supervisor Lyons’s printed position. Why then has the present town board left Switzkill Farm to decay and rot? Why is the public no longer encouraged to participate in its development and enjoyment? Why isn’t its development an essential part of the town’s economic development plan, (and that’s assuming there even is one)?

Silence!

Here’s a few facts. At its organizational meeting in January 2020, the now Republican-backed majority on the town board insultingly eliminated the Switzkill Farm Board without explanation. One can only wonder if they were even aware that the farm board was in the process of finalizing a master plan for the development of the Farm.

In 2019, the town board, with the approval of town Supervisor Lyons, established a reserve of $150,000 from surplus funds for the development of Switzkill Farm. That fund has never been used. Grants have never been explored or applied for to aid in the development of the farm.

Interestingly, the town’s newsletter quoted above has ceased being published.

Silent changes of policy and hidden agendas do not allow for a robust debate. That’s dangerous. We call such messy and rough-hewn debates democracy. Our embrace of such debates allows us to claim to be exceptional.

To adapt Supervisor Lyons’s phrase: God bless transparency! (If you can find it in Berne)

Lawrence Zimmerman

Berne

Editor’s note: Lawrence Zimmerman is a member of the Berne Planning Board.