To the Editor,

I was pleased and relieved yesterday to hear the festival in Berne had been moved from Switzkill Farm back to its original location at the Berne Town Park.

Supervisor Kevin Crosier’s decision to host this event at the Switzkill Farm was a poor one. It would have put his ego above the health and safety of our residents. The driveway to the site is constricted, down to 14 feet at points, and the grade is impassable in inclement weather. This would have put our volunteer first responders at risk, while trying to perform their duties for our residents.

Inviting  200 to 300 residents to view fireworks in the dark on an unfamiliar, remote site would certainly spell disaster for many. Fireworks launched above a recently hayed dry field would have perils of its own.

Parking continues to be non-existent. Potable water and sewer are limited.

I applaud the efforts of the Switzkill Farm Board to persevere in their endeavors to program successful events and activities at this wonderful treasure of a property we all now own. They have marched forward in the absence of any tangible budget for repairs or capital improvements, like a legitimate road.

We can welcome our library back to the event and work on budgeting to bring this property up to code. I look forward  to enjoying the event in the safety of the Berne Town Park.

Tim Lippert

Berne Code Enforcement