Berne Town Board members Joel Willsey and Bonnie Conklin solicited advice last week from the New York State Department of Transportation on steps to take to address dangerous guardrails, narrow shoulders, and fast drivers along state routes 85 and 443.

Timothy Lippert, who was endorsed by the Berne Democratic Committee, got 66 percent of the votes over Anita Clayton, a Democrat endorsed by the Conservative Party, in the Democratic primary race for a vacant town council seat, according to unofficial election results. 

The laws are “based on the themes” of Westerlo’s new but not-yet-adopted comprehensive plan, said Westerlo Town Board member Matthew Kryzak at a public hearing this week.

In a resignation letter dated June 15, former Westerlo Supervisor Bill Bichteman wrote, “For as much as I care about Westerlo, it’s too large a sacrifice for anyone to endure.” His last day was June 18. 

Richard Tollner, of Rensselaerville, who says he was sexually abused by a Catholic priest in the 1970s, filed a pre-action discovery petition against the Diocese of Albany, which would allow his attorneys to acquire information that is “material and necessary to [an] actionable wrong,” according to court documents.

Cheryl Baitsholts, who had been Berne’s dog-control officer until the GOP-backed board replaced her in 2020 without clear reason, has again been passed over for the position. It’s been open since the board’s 2020 appointee, Jodi Jansen, resigned suddenly in April.

Congressman Paul Tonko is requesting funding from the federal government for 10 projects in New York’s 20th District, including one from Westerlo that would expand broadband access in the poorly served town.

Berne Town Clerk Anita Clayton is seeking the Democratic nomination for a vacant town board seat, challenging Tim Lippert, who was endorsed by the Berne Democratic Committee.

The victims were Victor and Lois Porlier, a couple. Victor Porlier, 83, frequently wrote letters to The Enterprise editor.  

The 178-page document is a major upgrade from the comprehensive plan that the town created in 2015 but never codified.