To the Editor:

It seems impossible to make anyone completely happy when you are working as a town official in the town of Berne. You have to balance the wants of individuals and the costs to the taxpayers with what is best for the community.

And you have to do this in a fair manner. It is certainly not a job that I want and I appreciate the people who choose to run for office.

Scott Green was doing great part-time work for the town in a congenial way. Officials responded by offering him a full-time job with individual health benefits. He wanted more. The town highway employees were offered a raise but they wanted to be able to keep their four-day, 10-hour work week.

As the manager of the library, I ask for more hours and higher salaries. I would love to have health benefits as an option for the library staff. We all want more.

We try to be reasonable in our requests, but the town board cannot grant all our wishes without throwing the balance off-kilter. What is best for the present and the future of the community? How can taxes be kept reasonable or even reduced? What is fair to the individual?

When you go to vote on Nov. 7, vote for those whose vision for the town matches yours. Vote for people that can keep this necessary balance that is incredibly difficult to maintain, especially when being verbally attacked. Understand that this means that everyone should be a little unhappy.

Judy Petrosillo

Berne