Mr. Bashwinger does an exemplary job

To the Editor:

I am not sure of what Mr. [Joel] Willsey’s intent is, but under no circumstances do I agree with or support anything Mr. Willsey states in his first 10 paragraphs. I simply do not agree with Mr. Willsey’s description of our highway superintendent or our roadways being in a state of emergency.

The course of action he describes was supported by the board majority, which for now does not include Mr Palow or me.

I am not turning a blind eye to the safety of our workers and traveling public; I have confidence in the leadership of Berne’s highway department and faith in the workers that they are doing their best in regard to everyone’s safety.

I do believe strongly that Mr. [Randy] Bashwinger, Berne’s highway superintendent, does an exemplary job providing safe roadways in our town and he would never let politics jeopardize his crew or the public; he has proven this and himself to the public and his staff over and over again.

In the 11th paragraph, Mr. Willsey writes of a “proposal under consideration is the establishment of a dedicated reserve restricted to the purposes of the consultation of professional engineers for the highway department.”

I have never heard of any such proposal.

I did agree with the creation of a capital reserve for the Switzkill Game Farm.

In his final paragraph, he accurately reiterates many of my ideas regarding fund balance usage from this year’s (and last year’s) budget meetings and discussions with the town board, all that were ultimately rejected by the board majority.

To conclude, I wanted to be clear I do not approve or endorse this letter by Mr. Willsey.

Sean S. Lyons

Supervisor

Town of Berne

Editor’s note: Currently, the Berne Town Board has three Democrats, including Joel Willsely, and two Republicans: Supervisor Sean Lyons and Councilman Dennis Palow. Next year, Willsey will be the board’s sole Democrat.

See related letter from Joel Willsey.

More Letters to the Editor

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