Isn't that the real question in the controversy over whether or not Yorkville should dissolve its police department? Police protection is probably the most defining municipal service a village can provide to its residents. After the police are gone, what is left?
At this point, the only option seriously under consideration is merger of police with the County Sheriff. No doubt, on a personal level, Sheriff Maciol would be able to make this work because he came out of village police ranks, was a village mayor, and knows the territory. However, the County Board of Legislators ultimately will control the budget and the contractual terms will the Village ... the overwhelming majority of whom have no direct interest in what goes on in the Village. What may be favorable terms now for the Village may not be so favorable in the future -- especially when the County understands that it is taking on more risks to go into village policing.
Contracting with another entity for this service would seem to always subject village residents to the control of others.
If Yorkville truly cannot afford its own police department, perhaps it is time to talk about merger of village government itself with an adjoining village such as New York Mills, Whitesboro, or both. While Yorkville residents' votes would be diluted with those of its neighbors, would things really change for individual residents? I think not. The villages are so similar to each other that they are practically indistinguishable.
By merging with other like municipalities, village residents will still be in control.
6 comments:
Strike,
The County Sheriff should take control over ALL of the local villages and town police departments. There is too many levels of administration and duplication not to mention the huge dollars paid to pension costs by way of overtime, etc.
I respectfully disagree with you on this one.
I understand your concern Dunkin. Would you favor a two tier County tax to exempt the cities' residents from paying all costs associated with the sheriff's office except for the jail?
Maybe we need just COunty government and services. Everyone pays equally through property tax and sales tax. We would ned to revamp governemnt and services as we now it today.
Oneida County is geographically too large and diverse to assume control of city and village services. The population density of cities and villages makes certain services such as water sewer and garbage pick up, and certain amenities such as sidewalks and streetlights, affordable . These cannot be practicably provided to low density areas. It would be difficult for one level of government to properly manage territory containing different levels of services... That is why I suggested merger of LIKE entities. Needs of residents would be similar making governance by consensus more likely.
I think one county wide government could indeed work, and in the future it will no doubt happen, but it will take a monumental change in government offices and certainly in the fiefdoms. There can be districts where population determines certain aspects of administration. It will be a huge undertaking, but when necessity points to it, as will no doubt be the financial case in the future, it'll get done.
A county-wide government as a sub for city/village governments will not work in Oneiida County because geographically it is primarily rural in nature. It will be unaffordable to provide city-level services to rural populations because their population density is too low. Counties like Onondaga, Schenectady, and Nassau might be appropriate for that
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