Village of Holley residents vote on two referendums

Voters in the village of Holley will be faced with two referendum votes on January 21, Mayor Dan Schiavone said.

There will be votes for the purchase of a new fire truck and for a resolution to institute a village justice, he said.

The fire department has requested the purchase of a new 100 foot ladder truck that comes with a $575,000 price tag. The vote would be for the approval of the financing of $280,000 of that purchase price.

Schiavone said the fire department recently received a $23,000 FEMA grant to help them with the purchase of new equipment for members of the fire department.

Also on the January 21 referendum will be the option of installing a village justice and a village court system. A village court system resolution was passed by the board but officials received a challenge petition, which now requires them to take the matter to a public vote. "The results of the vote will help us decide whether we go through and have a village justice," Schiavone said.

As it stands, Schiavone said, with the village’s existing system, taxpayers fund the police force but when the force generates revenues through tickets, the village doesn’t see any return on that investment. "We don’t get any of the money back… it goes to the Town of Murray court system and to state surcharges," he explained.

While Schiavone said a village justice system might not be a profit making venture, he is confident it would operate in the black. "A village justice might better represent the village and it would streamline the law enforcement and justice system," he said.

Polls are open at the village offices from noon to 9 p.m.