The Village of Brockport has decided to pursue the formation of a municipal gas and electric service with the help of Power Alternatives. The formation of the municipal utilities is subject to a public referendum.

Last year, Power Alternatives helped the Village of Hilton form a municipal utility company. The premise is that by buying gas or electricity in bulk from the lowest bidding utility provider, a cost savings is created for all consumers in the consortium. That includes residents, businesses and the municipality itself. Cost savings have been quoted as in the range of eight to 20 percent.

The referendum would give the village permission to form the utility company. Once formed, each individual property owner could decide whether or not to purchase electricity or gas through the municipality.

At its January 2 meeting, the village board approved a contract of $7,500 with Power Alternatives to prepare all the documents necessary to bring the issue to referendum. That includes gathering information from RG&E and Niagara Mohawk, the companies that currently provide gas and electric to village properties, about usage.

Mayor Mary Ann Thorpe said she would also be asking the supervisors of neighboring towns if they would like to join the village in the endeavor.

In other business from the January 2 meeting: Thorpe reported that she is joining with other mayors and town supervisors protesting the newest rate increases from the Monroe County Water Authority. An eight cent per thousand gallons increase to wholesalers went into effect January 1, and another eight cent per thousand gallons increase is slated for January 1, 2002. Thorpe said that towns and villages that purchase water in bulk from the Water Authority and distribute it through their own lines are now being charged more than individual retail customers that buy directly from the Water Authority.

"The Water Authority is trying to squeeze out the villages and towns that are wholesalers," said Village Attorney Roy Heise. Wholesalers expect to be able to purchase water at a reduced rate, particularly since the local municipalities bear the cost of the maintenance and repair of the water lines in their communities.

•Fire Chief Greg Wing reported that fire and ambulance calls were down in 2000. Total ambulance calls were 1,205, down from 1,301 in 1999; there were 864 fire calls in 2000 compared to 909 in 1999.

Wing asked that village residents remember to "adopt" a fire hydrant for the winter months. Keeping fire hydrants shoveled out from under snow is crucial to successful fire fighting operations, he said.