To the Editor:

When the composition of the Berne Town Board shifted, I knew change was coming but didn’t expect voluntary Youth Council appointments to be affected.

I was appointed to the Youth Council in 2019. At the same time the town board fired Cheryl Baitsholts as the dog-control officer and removed Emily Vincent so that it could put convicted felon Tom Spargo on as the planning board chair, I received an email message advising me that I would not be reappointed to the Youth Council.

No explanation was provided so I had to ask why since I had been an active participant, completed projects, and provided youth-services information collected from 40 years’ experience working with youth, families, and other special-needs populations. I am not going to clutter this letter with specific tasks completed while on the Youth Council but would be more than willing to share those with anyone interested.

I made three inquiries to understand the decision. When I finally received a response, I was advised by the town supervisor that the town board oversees the performance of members of councils, boards, or committees through each year.

“Prior to the appointments every year Town Board members review/discuss the positions up for appointment and the decision was made not to reappoint”: That explained a process but not the rationale, and when I relayed that to the town supervisor he did not respond despite my repeated attempts.

The claim of a review was not true and that was quickly confirmed by current and former town board members in email messages. Why the town supervisor told me a review was held when it wasn’t I cannot say with certainty, but I believe it was my party affiliation and my support of the sole Democrat on the board.

No one on the town board ever spoke with me or the town board Youth Council liaison about my participation. No town board member who was involved attended a single meeting during my time with the council.

At the end of January, an ad was placed in The Altamont Enterprise, seeking Youth Council members.  Having the experience, I immediately applied for this volunteer position, was granted an interview, and that meeting was in February. 

Although I was told I would be advised of the outcome, I was never notified of the decision. My understanding is that I was the only candidate so there certainly wasn’t a surplus of volunteers and the position remains vacant.

I was silent about my treatment by the town board but have chosen to speak up now because the board’s incompetence and mean-spirited manner has reached new heights. They are celebrating their power, and using it in a haphazard manner.

There are many things currently wrong with town governance and my situation pales in comparison to the mismanagement that is now the norm. I’ve loved living in Berne for over 30 years and wanted to use my experience in a way that would be useful to my community.

Small towns have limited resources so I wanted to find a way to become involved, share my experience, and make a contribution.  I will find another way.

I suppose if I were a convicted felon and spent two years in prison rather than a human-service worker who spent over 40 years in service to the public that the town board might have given me more consideration.  

Tim Doherty

East Berne