To the Editor:

As you are making your decisions on what candidate to choose, it is important to also take a look at who the driving forces are behind the scenes.

First, let’s start with Joe Martin, Al Theim, and Leo Vane. Yes it’s old news that they walked out on their oaths and were cheered as heroes!

An obtainable four-year plan was in place when Supervisor [Dennis] Palow was elected. Everyone was in agreement on moving these items forward.

The  last year of my term [as a town board member], Supervisor Palow and myself worked closely with Mr. Martin on all the  plans that were set in motion. However, the residents lost out on some major benefits because town business could not be conducted and progress was halted in the town. I would like to list a few of them now.

The zoning in the town is in desperate need of being fixed and updated as zones were created to benefit some residents. Did you know that the TNMU/1 & 2 districts do not legally exist as they were not properly voted on in the Crosier administration? More to follow on that!

I had wanted to establish a zoning committee to address this and Mr. Martin was in favor, but that fell away as soon as he was on the board. Mr. Martin was very much in favor of requiring a 20-acre minimum lot to build. That would destroy this town.

As soon as Martin was elected to the board, he immediately tried to get Supervisor Palow out and exhibited very untrustful behavior. The goal was to make many changes when Supervisor Palow was in Germany training soldiers. With the support of the other stooges, he would’ve had a majority.

The plan was to first get rid of the supervisor; second move, record and threaten elected officials and employees of the town; third, bring in all the vendors who work with Martin at his business in Albany; fourth, change the health insurance company and policies for the employees.

Our vendors have worked for the town for over 25 years and have treated us very fairly. Maybe favors were owed?

Playground equipment was desperately needed and requested by the Parks & Rec chair but needless money was spent on lights and any hope of grants were put aside.

The pavilion could not be enclosed, and a filtration system for potable water was put on hold, which would have given the town the opportunity to extend the rental date of the park.

The dumping (yes that is the only way to put it as this was such a mishandled purchase of property by the Crosier administration) of Switzkill Farm was almost lost over the phrasing of a sentence by Martin. Maybe another reason?

Securing a site for a new town hall and municipal building. Plans were already drawn up for a new town hall by Lamont engineers but, when Supervisor Palow was out of the country, they authorized an expenditure for new plans for the Community Center, a waste of yet another $2,500.

The planning of a new highway garage and possible consolidation with the county was halted. The conditions that the highway employees work in are deplorable.

Supervisor Palow was closely working with the county for a sidewalk and was finally making  progress; this too was halted.

Please pay attention to what these men have done and do not trust what they say because they do not know how to manage a municipality and the candidates they have chosen for the town board have no idea what it means to be in the position of managing a municipality and its employees.

This is not a business to be run; it’s the position of doing what is best for your neighbor and community.

Stay tuned; more to follow.  

Anita C. Clayton

Berne

Editor’s note, Joseph Martin, who chairs the Berne Republican Committee, responded, “My focus is on helping move the Town forward in a productive manner, and ridding myself of these toxic people. They don’t add any benefit or positivity and never have.”