A dispute between former Berne employee Scott Green and Supervisor Kevin Crosier was noted a year later in an election letter to The Enterprise, raising the question of whether Green’s long-time partner, Timothy Lippert, could have received benefits as a dependent despite being unmarried.

WESTERLO — Kenneth Mackey Sr., who has been a town judge for eight years, says, “It’s the most exciting job I’ve ever had.”

Mackey, who is 62, has worked for three decades as a welder at Hannay Reels and has an equally long commitment to the ambulance squad, which he captains.

WESTERLO — William Bichteman says the small things — not just “the big-ticket items” — are important to a town.

WESTERLO — Richard Filkins, a Republican, is making his first run for office, seeking a seat on the Westerlo Town Board.

“I’m trying to get more people aware of what’s going on in town,” he said of his reason for running. “I want to get more people to meetings, so they know how their money is being spent.”

WESTERLO — “If I do get the honor of being re-elected — and I consider it an honor and a privilege — I’d like to continue the good work the town board is doing,” said Democrat Joseph Boone. “We have to remain vigilant in keeping spending where it needs to be.”

WESTERLO — “I’m looking for a little bit of change in the town,” said Republican Kevin Flensted of his reason for running for a seat on the Westerlo Town Board.

He first ran two years ago, motivated, as he is now, by making the government more transparent. He was narrowly defeated in a four-way race for two seats.

After winning a town board seat in 2015, Westerlo Republicans are stressing transparency as the two Democratic incumbents on the town board run on their records. Both of the challengers favor moving to full-value assessment.

The Berne-Knox-Westerlo Board of Education is putting up for a Nov. 2 vote two propositions for capital projects — for $15 million and $5 million. After a lengthy debate over whether the capital project was a “blank check” or a means of improving student education, three board members voted yes, one voted no, and one abstained.