The town's boards met with their attorney to review the document outlining their standards of conduct as public servants.

Knox Supervisor Michael Hammond defended his practice of compiling his own schedule of business during meetings, saying he makes it available to the town clerk the day before and often gets requests and correspondence in a narrow space of time.

Appearing in Berne Town Court on Jan. 14, Mary Miesowicz and Harold Albright III faced much-reduced charges from their arrests for felony and misdemeanor offenses last March.

Now staying with family, Lisa Kominos suspects a cinder from the chimney set her family's woodpile alight despite the rain and cold. A fund-raiser at The Hofbrau restaurant is being held on Jan. 23.

Berne-Knox-Westerlo School Board President Joan Adriance thanked speakers at the Jan. 13 board meeting who requested documents related to the dismissal of basketball coach Andrew Wright this fall.

Kristen Reynders, owner of the towing business, said she was issued an appearance ticket for operating a business in a residential property.

Berne-Knox-Westerlo is scheduled to benefit from tripled funding from the county for its programs for children facing economic, social, academic, or emotional issues.

Among the appointments at the town's re-organizational meeting was the filling of Douglas Story's term on the water and sewer committee, which he gave up citing a conflict of interest with his position as the water and sewer treatment officer.

Dawn Jordan, who led the study of hydrofracking for the town, took her seat at the board table this month — a position she lost in the 2011 election. 

The year started with a financial audit that gave a poor picture of the town's records, but its summer was spent with a cordial picnic and stream-bank repair that brought volunteers together.