To the Editor:

Scott Green, a caring, skillful and conscientious man, well-regarded by the people he worked hard for, was fired by the Berne town supervisor, Kevin Crosier. Why?

Scott is a beloved friend. I know his character from personal experience, but I wanted to find out how people he worked with and for perceived him.

I called the Berne Highway Superintendent, Randy Bashwinger, who had only good things to say. Mr. Bashwinger acknowledged Scott's excellent work ethic and how he saved the town money by doing jobs that would be far more costly if done by contractors who, by law, get paid (far higher) prevailing wages. He also said that Scott has a lot of community support.

I then called a resident of Berne, who likewise had only good things to say. In the coming weeks, I hope to hear more firsthand accounts of people who know him.

Mr. Crosier has prior history of regrettable actions with town employees. He has the authority to hire and fire, but he is still accountable to make decisions that are lawful and fair. This decision seems to have been made in haste without benefit of discussion with members of the town board or the town attorney.

When government officials assume an authoritarian stance, the red flags fly. In this country, government is supposed to serve the people, not the other way around. Those who abuse power justify that abuse in all kinds of ways and do not give up their presumptuous advantage, even for basic principles such as “All men are created equal.” Somehow, they are above others, not equal.

The 14th Amendment of the Constitution guarantees equal protection under the law. Scott Green's family health-care plan, covered by the town's insurance for which he paid premiums, was apparently going to be revoked.

We all know jobs are hard to come by in the Hilltowns. In my opinion, Berne exploited this by keeping Scott just under the 40-hour cutoff for two years, and so avoided providing health care until this summer, when he became a full-time employee.

Fear keeps many people in line. Some who work for Berne may be struggling with their own consciences, but are afraid of losing their jobs, too. This kind of intimidation is all too common. Could it be that Mr. Crosier's “witnesses at Town Hall” who would “back up his account” are in this category?

I try to learn from history and to understand individual and collective responsibility for current local, national, and world events. Speaking truth to power is “a powerful nonviolent challenge to injustice and unbridled totalitarian forces,” says Judith Sherwin, adjunct professor at Loyola School of Law. It is not without risk, as many know. Tyrants like to “make examples” of people who oppose them.

Pastor Martin Niemoller, known for his vocal resistance to Nazi dictatorship and Hitler's genocidal persecution of Jews, wrote this:

“First they came for the socialists and I didn't speak out — because I wasn't a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak out — because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak out — because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me — and there was no one left to speak for me."

This dilemma is every bit as real today as it was then.

If we are ever to salvage our country and restore government of, by, and for the people, we must find the courage to exercise the hard-won right to freedom of speech, protected by the First Amendment.

That amendment also protects freedom of the press. We are fortunate to have a local paper of the quality of The Altamont Enterprise. However, I do not understand the relevance of the editor's note that says “Green is the partner of Timothy Lippert, Berne's zoning and building administrator.” Scott doesn't mention it, nor does Mr. Crosier. This seems to me to be a puzzling intrusion of privacy.

Employees, including government employees, have basic rights in the workplace — including the right to privacy, fair compensation, and freedom from discrimination. The United States Supreme Court has noted that the Fourth Amendment “guarantees the privacy, dignity, and security of persons against certain arbitrary and invasive acts by officers of the Government….” Have these rights been respected in Scott Green's case?

When laws are broken and rights violated, the lawbreakers often say, “So sue me,” and rely on their unfair advantage and on our reluctance or inability to enforce those laws through the courts. Justice goes out the window and abuse of power gets another shot in the arm. I think Mr. Crosier should reflect on his behavior and fitness to perform his duties on behalf of the people of Berne.

Dianne Sefcik

Westerlo

Editor’s note: The Enterprise’s longstanding policy with letters to the editor is to note if the writers have a close personal relationship with anyone involved in the subject — in this case, Berne town government — they are writing about. See related story.