WESTFIELD - Throughout the last few years, officials in the town and village of Westfield have discussed possible ways of sharing services and cutting costs.
Both municipalities currently share a zoning and building inspector, as well as an assessor. Crews from the village's Department of Public Works and the Town's Highway Department regularly collaborate on projects, such as a recent water main project on East Main Street.
However, village officials feel they can do more.
In a recent letter to the public in The Westfield Republican, Village of Westfield Mayor Dave Carr and Martha Bills, Town of Westfield Supervisor, stated both officials have discussed possibly merging the town and village into one entity.
"It has to be cost effective," Mrs. Bills said recently. "We're starting to look at it, getting information. What we want to do is to make sure whatever we do brings us forward. We want to cut costs as well as lessen the size of government."
Carr saId he has recently contacted Stan Lundine, adding the former Congressman and Lieutenant Governor is interested in the discussions and will sit down with he and Mrs. Bills. Carr also said there is money available to conduct a study into a possible consolidation.
"It just got a little more involved," Carr said, "so we just thought we would pursue it a little further."
Mrs. Bills said if a study is done, it would have to be something which both municipalities could work with and will benefit the community.
"I just don't want it to be a study that sits on the shelf," she said. "I want it to be workable. It has to be something practical for our community."
The town supervisor said officials need to research a number of items, including a merger's impact on taxes and how services would be provided, before moving forward.
"My point is you need to lay all these things on the table and let the community decide what makes sense for us," Mrs. Bills said. "I think there's a lot of things you can do to economize, and we'll take a look at it. There's just a lot of issues that we really need to get citizens involved with it."
Carr added consolidating isn't something that should be rushed.
"You don't jump into these things," he said. "You really have to have a study by people who have a background in town and village government."
WHAT THE LAW SAYS
Consolidating municipalities has seen a string of successes in Erie County, N.Y., where, led by activist Kevin Gaughan, voters have approved several mergers. The same can be done in Chautauqua County, Gaughan believes.
"A few mayors in response to a question said they would consider merging their village into their surrounding town. I would challenge you to put it to a vote. You can adopt a resolution, it doesn't mean the village is going to dissolve, it means the residents are going to decide," Gaughan said at a community forum in February. "Also under the same law, once the trustees adopt the resolution it compels them to go through section 1900 of the New York village law to do a very thorough and thoughtful process to create a plan to ensure there are savings, to ensure there are benefits. Every disillusion of a village in New York state, although rare, has resulted in savings and increased quality of life."
According to a copy of the New York Government Reorganization and Citizen Empowerment Act provided by Town of Westfield Attorney Joel Seachrist, there are several ways for municipalities to move forward with consolidation, including a joint resolution by the boards of both affected municipalities. Another option, according to the act, includes a petition signed by at least 10 percent of registered voters in each municipality.
"The petition shall contain the signatures of at least 10 percent of the number of electors (registered voters) or five thousand electors, whichever is less, in each local government entity to be consolidated; provided, however, that where the local government entity to be consolidated contains five hundred or fewer electors, the petition shall contain the signatures of at least 20 percent of the number of electors," the information said.
After the petition has been verified as being sufficient, a referendum will be called at which residents will vote on the possible merger. Public hearings must also be scheduled so all citizens may voice their concerns.
"Consolidation shall not take effect unless the majority of electors voting in each local government entity to be consolidated vote in favor of consolidation," the act states. "If in any one of the entities such a majority vote does not result, the referendum shall fail and consolidation shall not take effect."
If the referendum does fail, the act states that another consolidation attempt cannot be made for four years.
"The only thing I can see is it would eliminate one level of government, either the town or village, however that would work out," Carr said.
A LOCAL IMPACT?
Taxes may be the biggest issue involving the consolidation of two municipalities.
Residents would want to know how a consolidation would affect their tax bills.
Town and village officials just don't know what the impact would be, stating a study may help determine the issue.
Carr declined to comment on the tax issue. He said he would want to wait and see what the study revealed.
However, both he and Mrs. Bills agreed that New York state makes things difficult when it comes to reducing the size of government, cutting costs and addressing other issues.
"I believe if there's any way to save taxpayer dollars, we should do it," Carr said. "But I also believe that Albany should set an example. Albany doesn't seem to be interested in saving anybody's money."
Mrs. Bills agreed, adding towns are usually at the end of the line when costs and expenses are sent back down by the state.
"I think part of it is through the state," she said. "The state regulations have to be eased so we can share more things, and we can more easily merge more functions. We're just at the beginning of this whole process."
Part of that process, Mrs. Bills said, is getting people to think differently.
"I think you really need to get a lot of people thinking and talking and seeing what the possibilities are," she said. "It's just small steps right now and breaking down barriers so people aren't afraid of change."
