Saying Brockport residents know best their own interests and are capable of acting accordingly without outside help, members of the Brockport Village Board did not bring forward a motion during their February 22 work session to commission a dissolution study.
Deputy Mayor Bill Andrews said he adamantly opposes a “so-called” dissolution study, which he described as, “… a cruel and cynical hoax. Once the village was dissolved, the town board could repeal any and every provision of the plan,” Andrews said.
Mayor Margaret Blackman said a preliminary study would not, “say anything that you and we don’t already know from having been down this road before.”
She said that if dissolution occurs, five to six special taxing districts would likely be created. “These would include lighting, sidewalks, brush pick-up, water and sewer debt to 2031 and village debt, including health insurance payments to retirees.”
Residents of the village alone are responsible for payments to these taxing districts, the mayor said.
She added the biggest loss of service and savings gain would come from the elimination of the police department. “And that is the critical question village residents must ask themselves – do we want to eliminate our local police?”
Trustee Annie Crane said firms like CGR – the Center for Governmental Research – stand to gain financially from completing a study. “If a vote goes in favor of dissolution, these firms hope to be hired to do a much more extensive and expensive study,” she said.
Trustee Kathy Kristansen said many of the concerns presented during the 2010 dissolution vote have been addressed and changed for the better.
“It is our responsibility as trustees of the village to research, listen to, disseminate, collaborate and consequently decide on whatever matter is at hand in the best interests of the whole village,” she said. “I am confident … that the Board’s process will be factual, correct, thorough, collaborative and informative to the village residents.”
Trustee John LaPierre was excused from the work session but submitted a letter read by the mayor, which stated that any reduction in taxes as a result of dissolution would come at the expense of reduced services and new tax districts.
“We don’t need a study to determine that,” Trustee LaPierre wrote. “The residents of the village understand this. My answer to the request for a study is no … hell no.”
Brockport resident Rhett King, representing NY Villagers for Efficient Government, spoke to the Board at the beginning of the work session and petitioned them to commission the study.
“We implore this board to take action by hiring the Center for Governmental Research to provide us with independent, invaluable information, helping village electors make an informed decision. We believe that every elector participating in the (dissolution) referendum should be well informed. All we ask is that our village government be open and invite CGR to conduct the study,” King said.
Despite the Village Board’s refusal to commission a pre-vote dissolution study, King told the Suburban News and Hamlin Clarkson Herald he felt his efforts were successful. “We were allowed to speak,” he said, “and two months down the line, they can’t say, ‘we have no plan.’ ”
We were hoping for a simple study, resident Francisco Borrayo said. “We were seeking information for the tax payers who will ultimately make the decision.”
Former Brockport Mayor Josephine Matela also addressed the Village Board representing ProBrockport and opposing dissolution. She said a study would not be a responsible way to spend taxpayer dollars as the Town of Sweden would not be bound to anything in a study. She called a study, “frivolous and unnecessary,” and expressed support of a village government that would continue to deliver the services residents need and want.
In other business Monday evening, Village Board members heard from treasurer Dan Hendricks who reported that the Office of the State Comptroller has given the village a fiscal stress score indicating that the village is not showing signs of fiscal distress. The score of 12.1 percent is the lowest received since the inception of the Statewide Fiscal Monitoring System, Hendricks reported.
He also provided trustees with details of the proposed 2016/17 village budget which includes a $0.01 decrease in the tax rate. No changes are proposed in water and sewer rates. The tax levy is proposed to rise slightly, 0.27 percent, or $7,139.
