Village of Fredonia and town of Pomfret officials continue investigating the possible consolidation of services with neighboring communities.

Fredonia Trustee Jon Espersen mentioned grant funding available for studies of dog control and highway department consolidation. He spoke at a Fredonia Board of Trustees workshop this week.

He wasn’t clear if it was one grant for a study of both, or two grants for separate studies, but stated at least $50,000 could be granted and the town of Pomfret would cover $50,000. The village would apparently not have to contribute anything.

Pomfret Town Supervisor Dan Pacos has applied for the grant funding, according to Espersen. The studies would evidently look at consolidating city and town of Dunkirk dog catcher and highway services, in with Fredonia and Pomfret activities.

Espersen promised to get answers on the particulars of the grants before the village votes on them. There are apparently items on next Monday’s meeting agenda related to the grants.

“I think if we did combine services for about 50 years, it might make up the grant cost,” cracked Trustee Ben Brauchler.

“In PJ Wendel, the county executive’s budget, he set aside a lot of … intermunicipal grant money available for consolidations or mergers for the studies,” Espersen said. “Those applications just became available today, I think, which is why Supervisor Pacos jumped on board right away to kind of get the first application in.”

“The question would be, if we dissolved our dog catcher, the town would have to take it over anyway?” inquired Trustee LeeAnn Lazarony.

“We actually haven’t had a dog catcher for a while, but we’re supposed to have one,” Espersen replied.

“So does the town have one?” Lazarony asked. “The town does have one,” Espersen said.

“So doesn’t the town supersede the village if we don’t have one?” Lazarony asked.

“But being good neighbors, I would hate to not at least contribute somewhat to that service that will be provided to the village,” Espersen said.

“Wouldn’t it be better to put a percentage of the budget than to put the town of Pomfret in a $50,000 matching fund hole?” Lazarony wondered.

Treasurer Erlyssa LeBeau said the village had $4,000 budgeted for dog catcher. “We’ve advertised, last time we advertised we had one candidate, who we interviewed … and decided not to accept the position,” Espersen said.

He continued that “it’s a litany of different departments that we’re considering consolidating, merging or whatever. But it has to make financial sense for all the communities involved. I guess the study would show whether that’s possible or not” for dog catcher and highway services.