The Altamont Enterprise reports that the Berne Planning Board sent a letter to its own chairperson, asking for the reinstatement of Emily Vincent whose place the new chairperson now occupies. Berne Supervisor Sean Lyons replaced Vincent in January with Thomas Spargo, who, as a judge, was convicted of extortion and bribery and spent more than two years in prison in 2009. In the Feb. 5 letter, planning board members say the decision to remove Vincent was "illegal, arbitrary, and capricious." According to state law, Vincent was due a public hearing before dismissal, but no public hearing was held. A GoFundMe page set up for Vincent last month raised over $13,000 for her medical and legal expenses. Vincent faces upcoming brain surgery, and has filed an Article 78 lawsuit against the town over the dismissal. Read more about this story in the Altamont Enterprise .