SILVER CREEK — An ongoing “economic situation” has forced the Silver Creek Village Board to vote to dissolve its village court by the end of the year.

Silver Creek Mayor Jeffrey Hornburg brought to the table at their meeting on Monday via phone and computer the resolution of dissolving the village court by Dec. 31. The decision did not come with any discussion from the board, which unanimously voted it through.

The decision to dissolve the village court is not due to COVID-19, Hornburg announced at the meeting. “It’s an economic situation,” Hornburg said. “The court costs us money to run. … We need to have three people to run the court and furnish security for them. It’s beginning to cost an excess of what we’re getting from it.”

By dissolving the court, the village justice, prosecutor and court clerk positions will be eliminated. Anthony Pearl is the current justice for Silver Creek, standing alongside prosecutor Andrew Kehrer.

“It’s strictly a cost maneuver, it has nothing to do with the people,” Hornburg said. “It has no reflection at all on the judge, prosecutor or the clerk.”

The Silver Creek court typically convenes about one to two times a month, though the court has not met in months due to COVID-19. The court does not handle many cases in the village, so the shift to the Hanover Town Court will ultimately carry a small effect.

Hornburg said he has spoken with the Hanover Town Board, where they all agreed that it would be acceptable if Hanover took over the caseload come next year.

“For reasons of economy, it has been decided that it would be in the best interest of the village to abolish the position of village justice,” Hornburg said. “This will be effective Dec. 31, 2020.”

Any tickets and arrests made after the end of the year will go through the Hanover Town Court.