To the Editor:
This is what we have written to the Berne supervisor and town board to be read at the Feb. 8 public hearing.

After searching all over the USA, looking for a place to settle down, my husband purchased a property on Sickle Hill Road almost 30 years ago because of its location as a tranquil oasis surrounded by pristine nature, a Wildlife Management Area where we can hike, kayak, cross-country ski, ice skate, bike, watch wildlife, and forage for mushrooms, berries, medicinal plants, and wild apples.

Our family tries to live in harmony with nature. We have a garden, fruit trees, berries, chickens, and rabbits; we want to be as self-sufficient as possible. We try to be ecologically conscious, make the least negative impact on our environment, and to teach these skills to our kids.

We engage in self-propelled fitness-enhancing activities such as swimming, kayaking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, and mountain biking as opposed to gas-engine-propelled air-and-noise-polluting power boating, snowmobiling or riding ATVs.

We never met anyone who, while snowshoeing, claimed that they enjoyed smelling gas fumes in the air for the next five minutes after a gas-powered snowmobile passed by. If these recreational vehicles were powered by electricity, it would eliminate one of the negative effects but not the others.

Our concerns are that, if approved, Local Law #1 will negatively impact the quality of the natural environment we are all surrounded by, the tranquility, wildlife, and air quality while increasing dust and noise, the amount of garbage, and potential accidents, thus stressing more emergency responders.

Considering the roads in question are rather separate areas with only limited parking, and connected only by county and town highways, one could assume that some ATV users might opt for riding from one area to another by either means of using private lands or county highways, both of which are not legal.

The big concern is how is it going to be enforced? Also, wishful thinking aside, has any study been done on economic and other benefits vs. costs?

We feel that, in all fairness, the Local Law #1 should be put to vote by town residents. 

Zuzana and Alan Cerny

Berne