Frequently Asked Questions
The study team will add to and/ or update the FAQs, as appropriate, during the course of the study.
View Answers to Public Comment Questions
Q. Why a dissolution study now?
Q. Are there other examples where a village and town in New York have consolidated?
Q. If dissolution is ultimately approved by voters, would the name of Seneca Falls change?
Q. What will happen to my services?
Q. What are the major steps in the dissolution plan process?
Q. Who is on the study team?
Q. How will we know if there is something new the study team can tell the community?
Q. How can I raise a question or make a comment for the study team to consider?
Q. What is the population of the Village and Town?
Q. Who would lead a combined entity? Who decides?
Q. Why a dissolution study now?
A. The Village Trustees voted to formally study dissolving the village in anticipation of putting a proposition for dissolution before Village voters in March, 2010. The decision followed on the heels of a 2008 report conducted by the Center for Governmental Research, Inc. that suggested possible savings for Village residents if the Village were to dissolve. To see a copy of the previous study, click here.
Q. Are there other examples where a village and town in New York have consolidated?
A. Yes, The most recent village dissolution was in 2008 when the Village of Pike dissolved into the Town of Pike. That same year, two other dissolution propositions were voted down by village residents in Speculator and Macedon.
Q. If dissolution is ultimately approved by voters, would the name of Seneca Falls change?
A. Since the Village and Town share the same name, dissolving the Village simply means it will no longer be the "Village" of Seneca Falls. Those outside the community would likely still refer to the community as Seneca Falls.
Q. What will happen to my services?
A. We need to complete the study to answer this question. By October, 2009 the study team will have completed a report outlining the dissolution plan, and will be able to outline the pros and cons of various options for residents of the Village and Town. The Committee will hold public forums during September and November for the community to comment on the plan.
Q. What are the major steps in the dissolution plan process?
A. Article 19 of the NYS Village Law determines the exact requirements of a dissolution process. The Committee will be following the requirements for this process as well as suggestions proposed by NYS as they consider the alternatives. Learn more
Q. Who is on the study team?
A. The study team consists of a cross-section of community leaders and residents, appointed by the Village Board of Trustees. To see the list of members, Click here
Q. How will we know if there is something new the study team can tell the community?
A. Check this website periodically for updates. When there is a major addition to the site, we'll send an email alert. Sign-up for email alerts if you would like to receive them. Sign up for Email Alerts
Q. How can I raise a question or make a comment for the study team to consider?
A. To email the study team, click here. If you have problems using the email form, please send an email directly to Scott Sittig (ssittig@cgr.org).
Q. What is the population of the Village and Town?
A. The Census 2007 estimates show 9,151 residents in the Town with 6,693 of those living in the Village. Thus, the Village represents 73% of the total population of the Town.
Q. Who would lead a combined entity? Who decides?
A. If the Village were to dissolve, the Town would become the responsible government for those living in the former Village. While Village residents are already voting members of the Town, Town government would become responsible for the services, personnel, assets and liabilities of the former Village government. The specifics of what would transfer and what would not will be studied and presented to the community through the dissolution plan. Only voters who were registered in the Village to vote in the last NYS gubernatorial election will decide whether to dissolve the Village.
Answers to Public Comment Questions
Q. Will we lose the Seneca Falls Fire Department?
Q. Will my homeowner's insurance policy be affected by the change in fire protection?
Q. What binds the Town to the dissolution plan?
Q. Will the town hire every police officer? What does civil service say about the transfer?
Q. Does the Town know the cost?
Q. How many jobs will be lost overall?
Q. Can the Town adopt a ward system of government?
Q. Will there be more council people?
Q. Will the Town adopt a couple of districts?
Q. Will we lose the Seneca Falls Fire Department?
A. The dissolution study committee is not proposing to get rid of the fire department. With village dissolution, however, the village fire department will cease to exist. We are proposing to transform the current department into a corporation. That corporation will provide all the services it does now to the same area as it does now. The difference is that they will negotiate a contract with the Town for the monies needed to provide those services. The committee's proposed budget provides all the dollars they currently receive from the village in order to make this happen. Click here to view the fire protection plan.
Q. Will my homeowner's insurance policy be affected by the change in fire protection?
A. The dissolution study committee cannot foresee a reason why homeowner's insurance rates should be affected because of dissolution. The dissolution plan for fire protection calls for the same coverage as is currently provided for all residents in the Town of Seneca Falls. The details of that plan are discussed in other sections of this website. Click here to view the fire protection plan.
Q. What binds the Town to the dissolution plan?
A. There are different ways to answer this question. Provisions within Article 19, particularly section 1914, indicate that the town is bound to either implement the dissolution plan, or fulfill the obligation of continuing to provide the services of the former village after the village is dissolved. However, there are no required timeframes in which the town is bound to continue to provide those services (except with regards to the continuation of local laws which must be enforced for a minimum of two years). One way to give assurance to the village voters that the town will implement the plan is to request memorandums of understanding (MOU) from the town on elements of the plan that are most important to the community. Intermunicipal agreements (IMA) are another avenue that could also ensure that various elements of the plan are carried out as designed by the dissolution study committee. Both options are being explored as part of this process.
Another possible answer to this rests in the demographics of the town. Since the village residents comprise over 70% of the population in the town, current village residents have a majority to attempt to hold the town council accountable to a fair implementation of the plan.
Q. Is AIM guaranteed?
A. Currently the Village and Town receive money from New York State in the form of "State Aid". This is annually provided to your Village and Town through a program that New York State has set up to help fund local municipalities. Presently, the combined amount coming to Seneca Falls is approximately $110,000.
Aid and Incentive to Municipalities (AIM) is designed as an incentive to consolidate local municipalities. The way it works is that based upon a formula, a grant would be provided to your community that would increase the "State Aid" your community receives annually. Based upon the formula that the State uses, if you were to consolidate this year the AIM increase would be approximately $500,000.
In future years, the new combined total would become the basis for the State Aid provided to your community. Thus, your community would receive approximately $610,000 annually going forward, with possible increases based upon NYS guidelines. Thus, additional AIM money will be subject to the same provisions of the current State Aid funding in the future.
Q. What commitment is there from the NYS Police and County Sheriff under a townwide police department operation?
A. The County Sheriff and New York State Police are committed to responding to any "emergency" call on a closest car basis and/or as backup to first responding officers as they presently do. "Non-emergency" calls will be the responsibility of the Town of Seneca Falls police department if the police become a townwide department. No call would go unanswered and the County Sheriff and State Police remain committed to insuring that the safety and well being of the citizens of the Town of Seneca Falls are not compromised.
Q. Will the town hire every police officer? What does civil service say about the transfer?
A. Current Village police officers are in a protected civil service class of employment known as "competitive employees". That classification entitles them to certain rights. If the Village dissolves, all of the police officers will be put on a "preferred list" based upon seniority within the county civil service system for their competitive position. If either the County Sheriff or the Town of Seneca Falls were to hire police officers, the current Village police officers would receive first priority consideration to fill those positions in order of seniority by position. To the extent that the plan calls for the establishment of a townwide police force staffed at the same level as the current village police department, all officers in the current village police department would be eligible to serve in the new townwide police department and would have to opt out of their right in order not to receive first priority consideration of employment.
Q. Does the Town know the cost?
A. The dissolution study committee participated in a joint public meeting to inform the town council of each option related to police services and the cost associated with each. The Town has been made aware of the cost of running a townwide police department. Click here to view the options for police police services..
Q. How many jobs will be lost overall?
A. As of this point in the process, it is anticipated that 2 FT MEO's, 1 PT Custodian, the Mayor (1) and Village Trustee (4) positions will be eliminated. Job titles and classifications for other positions will change, but all other full-time equivalent positions are slated to transfer to the Town. An example of this is the position of Administrator in the Village. While the town anticipates creating administrative positions, the job titles will likely change and the duties may be adjusted such that current village personnel may choose not to apply for the positions as they will be defined by the town.
Q. Can the Town adopt a ward system of government?
A. According to NYS Town Law sections 81 & 85, towns of the first class (generally towns with a population in excess of 10,000) are authorized to establish a ward system of government within their town. Said towns may also increase the size of their representation from 4 — 6 councilmen. The process includes action by the town council and an approved proposition by the voters of the town.
However, towns of the second class may also take action to adopt a ward style of government. They may do this one of two ways: 1. They could vote to become a town of the first class and then in subsequent votes take action to change their representative style of government; 2. Under Municipal Home Rule Law (MHRL) the town council may take action to adopt a local law establishing a ward system of representation and also change the number of councilmen. Such action would be subject to mandatory referendum, but is not inconsistent with any portion of Town Law.
Thus, the Town of Seneca Falls could change its representative form of government either through petition or action by the Town Council to that effect (subject to public referendum).
See http://www.dos.state.ny.us/cnsl/lg01.htm  for more details from the NYS Department of State.
Q. Will there be more council people?
A. See answer to previous question.
Q. Will the Town adopt a couple of districts?
A. See answer to previous question.
