Dems not jumping gun on dissolution
In a demonstration of Hegelian dialectic, Greg Fox’s article “Dissolution on the table” (May 12) inspired large and enthusiastic attendance at the Democratic Mixer of the Fredonia-Pomfret Democratic Association that evening. Seventeen members and 13 guests attended. They ranged in age evenly from 20 to 90 years.
Fox reports: “The village of Fredonia may dissolve into the town of Pomfret in the not-so-distant future now that village officials have admitted they are exploring the option …” The present and former public officials attending the Mixer thought otherwise.
Village and town officials have, in fact, met several times to discuss consolidation, but their consensus at the Mixer is that it is a long ways away, if ever. Concern was expressed about mixing the village’s union and the town’s non-union labor as well as the town’s lack of expertise in managing water and sewer plant operations.
In addition to dissolution, maintenance of the status quo and simultaneous consolidation of the town of Pomfret into several abutting towns are in discussion.
A slate of Democratic candidates for Chautauqua County, town of Pomfret, and village of Fredonia offices in the November general election has been in consideration at the Association’s monthly meetings beginning in January. At the Mixer, it was apparent that there are three specific Democratic candidates for each Town Council, Village Board, and County Legislature position open and two for the Pomfret Town Justice position. The Association has appointed a three-member committee to select one candidate for each County and Town legislative seat by the end of May and one for each village seat by early September.
All currently serving village trustees and members of Town Council have been elected with Democratic Party endorsement. As of November 2014, one of two Town and Village Justices had been elected with Democratic Party endorsement.
Michael C. Barris, Ph.D. is a Fredonia resident and has been the corresponding secretary of the Fredonia-Pomfret Democratic Association since January 2007.