Editor, The Spotlight;
Thank you to Mr. Jeffrey Kuhn for providing a clear, concise and factual explanation of the current situation in the town of Bethlehem in regards to the BPD (The Spotlight, April 16).
It was interesting to learn that a consultant was hired last fall by the town to assist with collective bargaining, and that his report found several obvious policy issues driving the consistently high levels of BPD overtime. And as a result of that report, there have already been significant reductions of overtime. Kudos to John Clarkson and the town board for their good work in carefully managing the finances of our town, including the BPD.
I was dismayed to read the letter in The Spotlight of April 23 written by Officer (Michael) Berben and Sgt. (Stephen) Kraz, which stooped to name calling (referring to Bethlehem Town Supervisor John Clarkson as “paranoid” and as exhibiting “bizarre behavior”); describing the diligent work of Mr. Clarkson and the Town Board as “bullying;” and referring to them as “Clarkson and his cronies.”
In this letter by officers Berben and Kraz, they describe the “Support the Police” lawn signs as “a simple declaration of support.” I view these signs as divisive and as an attack on our town government. These officers as much as admit this when they state in their letter that the BPD is fundraising to support community charities “and ultimately bring to light the mistreatment, micromanagement, and bullying faced by the police at the hands of John Clarkson.”
It seems to me that the police are bullying John Clarkson and not vice versa.
Bonnie P. Goldsmith
Delmar
