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forgiveforgood
Starting Member
1 Posts |
 Posted - 02/26/2008 : 20:44:16
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As a member of the Village of Earlville community for the past 18 years, I am curious to know the reason behind this proposal to dissolve the village of Earlville. I've been observing two very distinct factions battle for power for years. Each faction truly believes that they have the community's best interest at heart. Is it the faction that isn't in power that's behind this? I make no judgements about either faction.
I love this community. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would be living in Earlville, NY! Friends and relatives of mine visit, and they, too, love this little town. What a gem! They are always commenting on how "clean" it looks. It is obvious that people in this town take pride in their homes; in their village.
Would I sign a petition to dissolve Earlville? I don't know, but based on the flyer, I'd have to say no. The flyer I received was very disconcerting. "End the Controversy! "End the Fighting!" "The Petition will Require the current Village Government to offer a Public VOTE!!" "YOU DECIDE HOW YOU WISH TO BE GOVERNED" "DON'T ALLOW THE GOVERNMENT TO DECIDE."
I've always thought that the GOVERNMENT "was the people." "DON'T ALLOW THE GOVERNMENT TO DECIDE" only tells me that the GOVERNMENT not in power is unhappy with the current GOVERNMENT who were elected by the people!
The controversy, the fighting is happening only between the two factions. We, the people, are sick of the fighting, are sick of being dragged into the drama, are sick of having to take sides...or pretending to sides. Usurping power by dissolving the village of Earlville is like cutting off one's nose to spite one's face!
Dissolving the village of Earlville just because Gov. Spitzer has said it would be more cost effective gives me pause. Remember when the State Ed. Dept. dangled all sorts of monetary incentives for small school districts to consolidate? Small towns lost their schools and their central focus. Years later, studies showed that kids learned better in smaller hometown schools; that consolidation had nothing to do with education-only money saved by the State. In our school district, the damage has been done. There's no going back. In dissolving the village of Earlville there are no guarantees, including lowering taxes... and there's no going back.
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dissolveearlville
Forum Admin
USA
22 Posts |
Posted - 02/28/2008 : 21:49:28
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Let me say first that I do not represent the faction that is "out of power" and this is not a personal attempt to spite anyone in the faction that is currently "in power." I and many others in this village are fed up with the infighting and the controversy. Perhaps the wording on the flyer has led you to believe this, and for that I apologize. I do not propose to dissolve the village just because Gov. Spitzer says so. I firmly believe that the tax burden is unecessary. Residents already pay town taxes, and there are no reductions in those taxes just because you live here in the Village. That means that you are paying full price for a town clerk, a town board, a town highway department, a town justice, and much more. None of which you are entitled to use because you live here in the village. Then you pay an additional tax for your own Village board, Village DPW, Village clerk, Village justice, etc. My question is: Why must we pay twice for the same services?
Another point regarding the factions: Both sides are fighting for control of what I feel is an unnecessary bureaucracy. I am as sick and tired of the fighting as you are, and I encourage you to read the information in the "Educational Materials" section of this forum. The petition will not dissolve the village on its own. It will only compel the village board to perform a "Dissolution Study", basically a transition plan and a cost benefit analysis. This plan will address the issues of dissolution, and it will be put before the people in a referendum vote. The vote must pass with a majority to take effect.
If the study determines that dissolution would be a poor and costly investment for the people, I would encourage anyone to vote it down, but if it shows that the taxpayers would benefit from a dissolution, then why not? |
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resident
Starting Member
1 Posts |
Posted - 02/29/2008 : 14:33:18
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Like many others in the village, reading the memo that was attatched to my door was the first I'd heard of your proposal. I, for one, think you have some good points and would be willing to listen to how some of your ideas could work. A lot of people will immediatley hate the idea with or without knowing any of the specifics of the plan, and you'll have nearly as many residents who will be in favor of dissolving while knowing equally few details. One thing that I think would help the cause of open discussion is a disclosure of who you are. Even if you do have seemingly workable and original ideas to what are old problems, it is tough to take an unknown entity seriously. There certainly are strong influences from factions in the village, and to know that you are an independent voice may give clarity to your message. I'll put my name with my thoughts.
Jeff Morse
Earlville
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dissolveearlville
Forum Admin
USA
22 Posts |
Posted - 02/29/2008 : 16:24:24
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| Jeff, you are absolutely correct. An unknown entity is more difficult to listen to and have a discussion with. My name and contact information have been posted on the main page of this forum. I encourage anyone with any questions to contact me, either through this site or by phone. |
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cow2181
Starting Member
1 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2008 : 22:37:04
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I happen to have been nearly a life long resident of Earlville. I was in the school system as it was consolidating. I think it was a bad move. I attended school at nearly every building in the district. Smyrna, Sherburne Elementary, Earlville and the Highschool. My favorite time in school was when i could walk around the block to school. Looking back its easier to formaulate oppinions about it. Im now working for Wissenbach Land Surveying and one of of the things im learning as i work and attend classes for the field is not to come to any conclusions untill all the evidence is collected. I'm the biggest softie in the world and I think it would break my heart to see the word "Village" disapear off the signs on N.,S.,E.,W. Main steets. I also kind of have this feeling that with the dissolution we would be subjecting our selves to the laws of the towns and counties. I know we fall under their jurisdictions, or do we at the township level by your education section? Anyway, it seems that dissolution would bring us to a place where we couldn't make any laws for ourselves that may pertain to certain specific situations in our particular village. I like being just Earlville, swalltown USA. Besides, I like having the services of the village DPW. I could be wrong but i kind of dont think the town ships are going to provide the sidewalk plowing, yard waste pickup, services we are used to. if they did how would it be saving us money? If there aren't any village dpw employees to maintain the water system that means i have to try and get someone from the water district to help me with a meter/shutoff emergency/service concern. It just doesn't seem like its time yet. Some of the examples of tax reductions you were showing wouldn't amount to much more than 150-160$ per year in a tax reduction for myself, if i follow the examples correctly. would peolpe of the town on wells (I would think way more than those in the village) have a say in my water bill when it came to votting for a water system rehab proj. If they did, why would some one with a well vote to have there taxes raised so i could have better water. Is there going to be a public hearing/forum in person on this before the petition flys because I'm sure there are alot of residents who are not computer literate. It is Earlville. If you get the 200 signatures you need, will there be a boatload of propaganda. What kind of cost would be envolved in the dissoultion study? I think I want to sign for the study but Im pretty certain that i would vote no for the dissolution. For me it may not be all business envolved in this decision. I lived from birth-18 went to Delhi for 2yrs but had to come home every weekend. I lived North of Hamilton for 2 years but now have owned my house on Fayette St. for nearly 3 and I think theres only 1 undesirable neighbor, in a trailer, behind me, that i think the whole rest of the neigborhood would like to see change, but that has nothing to do with dissoultion. bessides, I have to wait 1/2 hr before ayone comes if theres a disturbance I might have a complaint about. Im sure this has got too long winded by now but I think you can see my position and that there are alot of issues to be adressed. Phew.
Jesse Magrath |
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dissolveearlville
Forum Admin
USA
22 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2008 : 15:14:33
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It is by no means too long winded. Your concerns are all valid.
As I have stated previously, your taxes will not go away, they will only go down. They would go down because we would no longer be paying the salaries and benefits of 2 full time DPW workers, 1 part time clerk, and annual compensation to the village board. You will still pay slightly more than those that live in other parts of your respective town because of the extra services that would continue to be provided. As I have also stated, I cannot give exact figures on what the actual savings will be, that is what the study is for. The petition, if enough signatures are gathered, will mandate that this study be done. The resulting plan will address the process of transition, what and how much the taxes will be, what and how services will be continued, and any concerns brought up by community members.
Yes, there would be community forums and meetings, not just online, but with the actual study committee. Public input is essential to the dissolution study process, and a critical element of the dissolution plan.
I only ask that you sign the petition to call for the study. The actual decison to dissolve the village will be done by public vote, similar to the one the village held over whether or not to upgrade the water system. If you sign the petition and come to dislike the results of the study, you can vote against the plan in the referendum. If a majority vote against the dissolution plan, then the village will continue, business as usual.
All of the issues you have listed would have to be addressed by the study committee, and plans to mitigate any problems would be included in the study and plan. |
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What has brought this on?
