The ongoing situation regarding the status of Mare Lane Extension and other ambiguous roadways in the town of Berne highlights a critical failure in local governance [“Will Mare Lane Extension be maintained by the town?,” The Altamont Enterprise, May 14, 2026].
More importantly, it obscures the facts regarding Highway Superintendent Allen Stempel’s highly responsible, fiscally cautious approach to protecting town taxpayers and residents alike.
Superintendent Stempel has a statutory duty to keep town roads safe and clear for emergency access. When a roadway has been reportedly plowed for decades without formal records, determining whether it has legally become a “highway by use” is an incredibly complex task…