To the Editor:
In my first six months as a member of the Berne Planning Board, I wanted to recap my experiences and let the people of the town know my thoughts.

The town of Berne has a planning board made up of brilliant people from different backgrounds that come together monthly and collaborate productively on many topics and issues. I’ve found it to be a perfect blend of residents that respectfully work together to better our town. It goes without saying we don’t always agree but we respect the process of the board as we should, and work together for the people.

Working with the town board has been just as great. I haven’t come upon one closed door. Acting as the liaison between the planning board and town board, I’ve always been able to approach the town board without hesitation. The members have listened to all of my concerns and have repeatedly been supportive. The town board is made up of a wonderful group of smart, motivated people putting in a lot of work for the residents.

I found that the code enforcement officer is always available and extremely knowledgeable with the town code. I’ve collaborated with him many times to clarify or dig into a zoning question or other code questions. He has been extremely helpful and always willing to help. In my opinion, this has made the whole process for the applicants much easier, especially when you have a code enforcement officer who understands the process completely.

The conservation board has been outstanding to work with. They know exactly what they are doing. They have the knowledge to make the correct assessments pertaining to the environment. This is very important for our town. I’ve had a good experience with them.

Working with the zoning board of appeals has been for me another “door always open” feeling. I attend the ZBA meetings when needed and feel there is a mutual respect between both boards, which is the process working as it should.

The town clerk and planning board assistant never miss a beat. I might even say they do the most work. To say they are impressive is an understatement. The amount of work they are managing is extraordinary. Always on top of everything and ready to get the job done.

That’s my recap on the last six months. I just wanted to relay my thoughts to the people of the town so they know who represents them. It’s my thought you can be confident in these people. I’ve had great experiences so far and can attest to their hard work and dedication.

Joe Martin

Berne

Editor’s note: Joe Martin is chairman of the Berne Planning Board.