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Dissolution: More villages need conversation

Former Fredonia Mayors Frank Pagano and Michael Sullivan have both said that the village should at least consider dissolving. Current Mayor Steve Keefe said there have been conversations privately with the town about the subject.

The idea of dissolution has been an issue back to when Sullivan served as mayor. The conversation picked up steam when Carriage House, the largest private employer in the village, announced it was shutting its doors and relocating to Kentucky. Fredonia’s budget has been under financial constraints ever since.

In Forestville, village officials are having dissolution committee meetings. The meetings were required by Chautauqua County, as a condition of a loan, so Forestville’s taxes didn’t go up 445 percent. It should be noted, the taxes did still double and the village didn’t lower them a year later as previously promised. This enormous hike was in part caused by a payment due for an unsafe building that was torn down and requirements to change their water source.

For both Fredonia and Forestville, a crisis created the conversation. But why wait for a crisis?

Cassadaga, Brocton, Silver Creek, Gowanda, Cherry Creek and others should all at least explore the idea of dissolving. Don’t wait for a crisis to force the conversation.

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