To the Editor:

As a Hilltowner, I was upset to find that Cheryl Baitsholts, dog control officer of Berne, was unceremoniously replaced via email on Jan. 2. The Hilltowns are a collective community made of small towns that rely on each other, especially when the going gets rough, and right now everything is not so good.

Looking back on my social-media feed, I have shared dozens of posts of missing pets, all networked through Cheryl. I honestly have never seen a social-media post from my own town’s DCO, and I’m not even sure who it is without looking it up.

I believe the Berne board forgets the importance of networking, undoubtedly a large part of the success in reuniting pets with owners. A network Cheryl built over her 13 years of service.

Pets don’t understand town lines or who’s who, and they don’t give a hoot about politics either.  Undoubtedly politics have affected all of us in the Hilltowns, as there has been zero transparency or communication about why this happened.

Fifteen days later, my social media is still filled with new missing pet posts from Chery from all over the hills: Berne, Westerlo, Medusa, Altamont, Middleburg — the list goes on. She continues to serve us all without payment or official recognition from the town of Berne. Also, 15 days later the Berne board has not shared its reasoning with its constituents.

I live in Westerlo but right on the town line with Berne; I can throw a ball off my deck and it’s in Berne.  I’m not a voter in Berne, but I’m there nearly every day so, like all Hilltowners, I am invested in its success.

I urge the people who do live in Berne to take a hard look at the claims of transparency that the new members of the board promised during their campaigns and to challenge them on those promises. The entire Hilltown community is being affected by the actions of very few and I think those few can do better. Ask the hard questions and to deliver on their promise to serve all.

Perhaps lessons learned that grown adults need to communicate in respectful ways, as this seems a large challenge in our community that new blood has not solved.

Melissa Henaghan 

Westerlo