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Officials look at dissolving Monticello
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By TOM RUE
MONTICELLO - "I've always been an advocate that there's too much government for too few people in this area," Thompson supervisor Anthony Cellini told interested officials representing of the Monticello village board at a special town board meeting held May 15 at town hall.
Monticello mayor Robert Friedland and deputy mayor Michael Levinson met with the town board for preliminary discussion of what would it would take to consolidate existing services provided by the village into the township, and dissolve the smaller government entity.
Cellini compared the concept to ongoing discussions between himself and the supervisors of Mamakating and Fallsburg, to merge certain specific services only. Either consolidation with the village, or dissolution of the village, would be broader in scope than simply pooling some services, which is already done.
For the idea to take off, the village board could take the lead by making a motion to dissolve or appoint a study committee; or the initiative could be citizen-led, said councilman Bill James. If petitions are signed by a third of the village's voters, the question would then have to be voted on as a referendum in a public election, James said.
If the vote were successful, a committee of citizens would be appointed to decide such specifics as how to handle continued trash pickup, police protection and other services.
But the process could be slow, like the late Village of Ticonderoga where merger with a of the same name was studied and discussed for 85 years before finally occurring in December 1993.
James distributed a three-page report which he prepared based on a teleconference he attended at Cornell Cooperative Extension in May 1993. The object of consolidation would be saving tax dollars by cutting top management and bidding for services on a larger scale, James' report said.
"We feel the Town of Thompson could operate both governments at a minimal cost. I don't think we'd have to hire a manager. We have competent staff," Cellini agreed.
If the village were merged with the town, a special tax district would be left in its place. Monticello residents would pay taxes to the district until the present municipal debt is extinguished, placing no additional burden on other town taxpayers, Cellini said.
Councilman William Rieber described the issue as "moot" for the town at the moment, since action must be initiated by the village residents. Other officials agreed.
Friedland discussed appointing a panel of village residents -- which Cellini compared to the county Charter Commission -- to study the issue and prepare a report with recommendations.
"I'm for consolidation if you can show me a cost saving and give the same services you're getting now," Friedland said, but expressed skepticism about whether real savings could be shown.
Friedland voiced plans to bring out a proposal at the next village board meeting on May 22, 7:30 P.M.
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Information and links concerning municipal consolidation
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