The preliminary budget, crafted by Berne’s Republican supervisor, Sean Lyons, promises an 88-percent property tax decrease while increasing spending as Lyons spends down the town’s reserve funds and uses pandemic relief money — which Democrats say is a dangerous move, if not illegal. 

Rensselaerville resident Sarah Solomon’s Delaware Turnpike general store was approved last month for a special-use permit, and now Solomon says she will spend the next six months or so “securing licenses, acquiring equipment and appliances, building out the space, and ordering inventory.”

Deputy Supervisor Jason Rauf, who The Enterprise covered in a separate profile, is running for highway superintendent, uncontested.

The Westerlo Democratic and Republican parties each put up nearly  identical slates of candidates this year, with the only contest existing between Town Justice Ken Mackey, a Democrat seeking re-election, and Stuart Elderd, a Republican and former corrections officer who said he wants to get more involved in the town. 

Knox Clerk Traci Schanz is seeking re-election on the Republican line, with opposition from former clerk Deborah Liddle, on the Democratic line.

Rensselaerville Deputy Supervisor Jason Rauf, a Republican, is running for highway superintendent in an uncontested race. He will replace superintendent Randy Bates, who is not seeking re-election.

Republican endorsee Kregg Grippo is running for Knox supervisor against former assessor Russ Pokorny, a Democrat who has run for supervisor before but lost. Resident Brigitte McAuliffe is shooting for a spot on the town board on her own Accountability line, running against Republican-backed incumbents Karl Pritchard and Ken Saddlemire.

Westerlo Deputy Supervisor Kryzak had ordered the town’s attorney to send out a notice to Viking Solar owner Jamison Corallo to let him know that, after an extended period of noncompliance, his relationship with the town as a commercial trash hauler was to be terminated. Corallo told The Enterprise this week that he’s working on compliance and will make an appeal to the town board.

The project will modernize Albany County’s Department of Public Works facility in Knox, enhancing aesthetics, safety, and energy efficiency, says Albany County Legislator Jeff Perlee. It’s expected to be completed in the spring of 2023. 

Democrat Jean Guarino is facing off against Republican Kristin Francis for Berne town clerk. The winner will replace Democrat Anita Clayton, who is currently running for a town board seat on the Republican line.