To the Editor:

My letter printed in last week’s Enterprise, referring to The Albany County-Wide Shared Services Property Tax Savings Plan, was written the morning after the Aug. 7 shared-services public hearing held in Colonie. Unfortunately, no town representatives were available at this meeting and we were led to believe by the Rockefeller Institute representative that only the supervisor’s input and vote was needed to move forward with this draft proposal.

Many town residents in attendance left thinking this meant they would not have any say in the matter and were stuck with the supervisor’s choice.

On Aug. 9 at the Berne Town Board meeting, Supervisor Kevin Crosier and the rest of the town board made it very clear that this was indeed just a plan, and that implementation will require a vote by the people.

I applaud and thank the supervisor and board for this clarification.

We were not misinformed by the Rockefeller Institute but the process was not fully explained either. The institute was correct: To finalize the proposal, it requires only the supervisor’s input and vote. Implementation, however, would involve months of studies; public input; input from the highway crew and the superintendent; and, finally, a vote.

Also, regarding the Albany County Department of Public Work’s involvement in the Bradt Hollow road cleanup, I was never aware of whom Mr. Bashwinger asked for help; I commented only on what departments we saw or did not see working on our road.

I want to also say the Albany County highway workers in Berne and around the Hill do a great service to the community. The issue is their leadership is guided by politics and sometimes that is seen as not in the best interest of the residents.

God bless America.

Sean S. Lyons

Berne

Editor’s note: Sean S. Lyons is running for Berne supervisor on the Republican line against incumbent Democrat Kevin Crosier.