To the Editor:
I am compelled to correct some misinformation published last week. The deliberate misinformation was provided to The Enterprise by Randy Bashwinger, the Berne Highway Superintendent [“Mr. Bashwinger is just not doing his job,” The Altamont Enterprise, Letters to the Editor, Aug. 5, 2021].

In matters involving the spending of hundreds of thousands in tax dollars, I believe elected officials have a responsibility to tell the truth. It appears that Mr. Bashwinger does not burden himself with that responsibility. I will attempt to better inform Berne residents with the following:

Berne is contemplating the replacement of the transfer-station truck for transporting solid waste and recyclable collection boxes and the discussion of this purchase was on the July agenda. It was reported last week that Mr. Bashwinger claimed he provided a packet of information to the board ahead of the July meeting and he implied that, if I had read the documents in that packet, it contained the information I was seeking. Neither of his assertions are true as is often the case with Mr. Bashwinger.

First, a “packet” of information clearly implies more than one document is provided. Mr. Bashwinger provided only one document, a dealer-generated quotation, consisting of the truck specifications and features with a cost summary sheet as a cover. He told me the year and mileage of the existing truck in an email. But that information was not provided in any packet.

Onondaga County Bid Contract #8996 is cited in that quotation. This is presented as a “piggyback” contract, meaning the purchase is to comply with the terms and conditions outlined in the contract information contained in that document.

Does anyone disagree that, in contemplating the approval of this huge purchase, the board needs to have the actual Onondaga County Bid Contract Document #8996 to compare the terms and conditions therein with the quotation provided by Mr. Bashwinger’s friend the truck salesman?

Well before the July meeting, I repeatedly asked by email about the actual piggyback bid document that includes contract requirements for the sale. I finally obtained this document, but independently.

It is very clearly necessary to compare the quotation with the terms of the contract document. So, I provided this document to the board the day of the meeting. Mr. Bashwinger did not provide the very contract we were contemplating; I did.

My issues with the costs summary on the first sheet of the quotation were quite clearly articulated at the meeting and I dare say I probably knew that document better than anyone in that discussion, including Mr. Bashwinger. He was unable to explain the simple summary of costs at all and offered to call his friend the truck salesman to explain the summary for him during the meeting. I urge anyone to listen to the meeting recording. It’s almost silly.

Think about that for a minute. The document we needed to check the quote generated by Randy’s friend, the truck salesman, was not provided. Does that throw up a red flag? In lieu of providing the terms and conditions of the sale to be contemplated by the board, he offers to have his buddy, the truck salesman, answer questions instead?

With the Onondaga County contract document terms and conditions in hand because I got them myself, it appears Mr. Bashwinger is paying about $32,000 more for the truck than the contract stipulates (by my interpretation). There is no explanation in the summary and Mr. Bashwinger could not explain.

This could be a legitimate adjustment that is consistent with the terms of the contract. But it is not explained in the document.

So, Mr. Bashwinger offered to “call a friend.” Does it sound like I neglected to read the only document he provided? How did I ask such specific questions during the meeting without reading that document? Where is the information that answers this question in his “packet?”

At the meeting, he needed to call his buddy the truck salesman to answer this question? I think he needs to prove this answer was provided in his “packet” and explain why he wanted to call the salesman for that answer.

I don’t have the information and this information is critical to the purchase decision in my opinion.

I asked a number of very specific questions at the meeting based on the only document Mr. Bashwinger provided. He implies I didn’t read or understand the document.

I explained my concerns and answered a number of polite questions posed by Councilmember [Leo] Vane during the discussion. I appreciate that the discussion was tabled because the information Mr Bashwinger provided was insufficient and questionable. Tabling this discussion was the right decision.

Joel Willsey


Berne Town Board

Editor’s note: A bid document shows that a 2023 Western Star 4700SF, including a five-year, 100,000-mile warranty, is being offered to the town of Berne for $122,657. The document states that “these prices are based off of the Onondaga Co. Bid #8996.” That bid, however, shows the cost of the truck at $90,810.00 — a 45.11-percent discount from the manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $165,440. Salesman Matthew Brayman, of Tracey Road, the vendor handling the transaction, could not be reached by The Enterprise for more information.