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Today's Poll: Do you favor or oppose consolidation?

By Howard B. Owens
Peter O'Brien

This should be a two part question. Where you reside in relation to your answer is also important.

If its on the ballot and the town for for it and the city votes against it what happens?

Jun 2, 2009, 9:17am Permalink
Andrew Erbell

Agreed. I would think most city residents are for it and the town residents are not. That's how this measure has played out just about everywhere else it's been tried.

Jun 2, 2009, 9:27am Permalink
C. M. Barons

I don't like the word: consolidation. I like the former buzz-word: shared services agreement. My issue is the same suggested by those against a county-wide school district. It's not what is gained; it's what is lost. The loss is individual identity.

Frankly, I couldn't see the city and town ever hammering out a governing body acceptable to both. I recall being at three Town of Batavia board meetings in the 1980s. I had been asked to demonstrate a public address system for their hall. What a dysfunctional assortment of egos!

There are obvious choices for sharing: meeting space, highway dept., clerks, payroll, communication, supply acquisition, etc. On the other hand, there would seem to be issues pertinent to residents of either town or city that would not benefit from a bilateral approach. Off-hand, I assume that a certain level of competition exists between Town and City merchants. A Lowes on Veterans Drive does not bode well for Genesee Hardware on Ellicott Street. Could a cooperative discussion be had as to disparate economic interests?

Jun 2, 2009, 12:03pm Permalink
Paul McCullough

All I can see is a benefit for the City during the consolidation. Yes there is state $$ available - now- but no guarantees for the future. I would hope that all voters realize that when they go to the polls that the report is a point in time - the state is broke and no one in their right mind would expect $$ to keep coming as is.

Also I would the town residents would understand that if the consolidation is approved that the majority of the voting block is within the boarders of the city and if they vote yes to something and it gets approved the town has to live with it - like "...We need more tax revenue, lets move these "rings" to get more taxable property..." the 1/3 of the voters in the town could say no while the 2/3 of the voters in the city say yes - guess what happens next.

Let's hope all voters go into this wide eyed and not be BS'd by the politicians on this one

Jun 3, 2009, 5:38pm Permalink
Robert Hunt

I could not agree with you more Paul. I've read through the consolidation report and most of the supporting documents and I do not see anything in it for the Town residents. They want you to believe that everything will pretty much stay the same. If this is the case then why even choose to put our future in the hands of 16,500 people.

You hear some of the City politicians saying how great this would be and now is the time to merge. Why would they not be hyping this up. As you said Paul they will control 3/4 of the voting power so they can play it low key for a couple years then change what they want.

The City has aging water lines, sewer lines, streets and sidewalks. Where do you think the money is going to go? Anyone that thinks this will be good for the town is out of their mind.

Jun 4, 2009, 7:44am Permalink

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