To the Editor:

I’m saddened that Bill Bichteman has resigned as Westerlo town supervisor. I know for a fact I am joined in that regret by others, some who have lived here all their lives [“Bichteman resigns as Westerlo supervisor,” The Altamont Enterprise, June 18, 2021].

Bill has done an outstanding job under extremely challenging circumstances. I don’t know anyone who could have done what he did for the town in the relatively short time he was acting and then elected supervisor. He brought integrity and accountability to bear on the decades-old neglect, dysfunction and cronyism of the previous administration.

As the town’s chief financial officer, he delivered financial transparency and clarity to a budget process that had been vague and inscrutable. Bill actually cared about best practices. He built meaningful forecasting into the budget and knew the reasoning and source behind every line item. He took the time to explain what the (now) correctly coded categories were and could justify how each amount was derived. He also streamlined the format to be clear, concise, and easy to read.

He initiated a flexible plan to maximize interest on funds that could accrue interest. The 2021 adopted budget is a testament to accountability to the taxpayers of Westerlo. Even his constant critics had little to ask or say.

Bill always looked for excellence and improvement. There are those who resented this and wanted things the old “do whatever you want” way, which suited them more than they served the town.

Among other things, he addressed dysfunctional processes; modernized outdated systems (for example, phone and internet); vigilantly monitored spending, accounts, and accounting practices; streamlined bill paying and invoices; actively sought grants to benefit the town; and dealt with day-to-day business and the issues brought to his office by townspeople, employees, contractors, vendors, and other layers of government. All this was accomplished under almost constant duress.

Bill was proactive in the face of the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic, with all its life-and-death threats, as well as the difficult decisions posed by its potential and actual impacts to the town, including finding ways to hold public meetings even when face-to-face meetings were restricted.

He also faced what seemed to me to be an orchestrated campaign, led by some members of the Republican Party, to drive him out of office, not for the sake of the town, but for their own personal or ideological agenda. At times they were joined by others who were offended by scrutiny of the status quo and threw a hissy fit whenever they were challenged or didn’t get their own way.

I don’t know anything about what happened behind closed doors, but I know what happened in public. The unrelenting harassment and stubborn resistance seemed to me to be vindictive and was certainly counterproductive.

I had my differences with Bill before he became supervisor, but even then, he gave me fair hearing. We both supported our own point-of-view but neither he, nor I, bore grudges.

While he was supervisor, I saw none of the “my way or the highway” attitude some people recently identified. To the contrary: He always presented detailed assessments of agenda items, including well-researched pros and cons, for the town board’s consideration and open discussion, and he listened to what the public had to say.

Bill worked endless hours for nominal pay and put up with nonsense, all right, all for the benefit of the town. I’m sure it has taken its toll.

We are losing a uniquely dedicated and effective supervisor. The townspeople owe him an enormous debt of gratitude, one he may never see. I hope he takes his leave knowing he did everything he could. I thank him, and wish him the best.

Dianne Sefcik

Westerlo

Editor’s note: Dianne Sefcik’s husband, John Sefcik, formerly chaired the Westerlo Zoning Board of Appeals.