Commercial trash companies are bringing out-of-town trash to Westerlo’s transfer station, forcing the town board to figure out its options for a response. 

County spokeswoman Mary Rozak told The Enterprise that information for how the money will be spent would have to come from the sheriff’s office, which did not respond to Enterprise inquiry. 

Barbara Kennedy, who was accused of animal abuse on social media on false evidence, was not charged with any crimes after an investigation by the Albany County Sheriff found the allegations to be “unfounded.”

Rick Rapp, of Bush Drive, in Berne, gave a presentation to the town board about how poorly recent renovations to his road were despite his warning both the board and the highway superintendent, Randy Bashwinger, about their process. Rapp has a background in construction. 

By unanimous vote, the Westerlo Town Board adopted the comprehensive plan the town had been working on for two years, laying the groundwork for all future zoning and planning decisions, as well as opening the door to grant money the town would otherwise be far from likely to get. 

Berne Town Board member Bonnie Conklin, a conservative backed by the GOP, stepped down from her position this week, citing political tensions in a letter to the Enterprise editor.

An audit report published by the Office of the State Comptroller asserts that the Berne Town Board “exceeded its authority” when it allowed the supervisor to pay bills without prior town board review, and that this resulted in sorely inaccurate financial records. Critically, though, it found no evidence of misappropriation.

Barbara Kennedy, a Democrat who’s running for highway superintendent in Berne, has been accused of animal abuse on social media, but those claims, which stem from a series of photos anonymously posted online, appear to be unfounded.

Photos posted on Facebook last week of documents that show charges brought against Berne Democratic candidate for town clerk Jean Guarino in 1995 leave the public to draw their own conclusions from limited information. 

The Helderberg Lake Community Association’s current petition to the town requests that the town front the cost of dam repairs — up to $500,000 — which would then be paid back by lake residents and those with lake access through the creation of a special tax district.