Whitesboro Prepares For Dissolution Vote

Whitesboro, NY (WIBX) - Shall the Village of Whitesboro be dissolved?

Residents in the village will decide on Tuesday during a Special Election. Ballots will be cast at the Village Office, 10 Moseley Street in Whitesboro, from noon to 9 p.m.

It remains unclear what would happend to the village police and fire departments, and other services, says Mayor Brenda Gilberti.

Gilberti says there is currently no plan in place if residents vote 'yes'. The village would have seven months to put a plan together, she said. 

"Statistics show, on average, a 2-to-5% savings," she said, which would amount to about $18 a year. "Consulting fees are about $30,000 - $40,000 and attorney's fees are about $60,000.

But, Ed Misiaszek, one of the village residents who circulated petitions and gathered signatures, says the whole point of the vote is to force an honest study of the issue.  "Wouldn't you as a taxpayer want an independent, honest study rather than believing either me or the mayor, as far as what it's going to cost and how much you're going to save?"

"If people don't like the plan, 25% of electors would have 45 days to get petitions signed again," Gilberti said.

That means it would take about 612 signatures to begin the effort to overturn a 'yes' vote, she said.

Misiaszek added that, "If the numbers didn't make sense, I would be the first person to sign that petition. I just don't understand how having two governments doing the same thing is cost effective to anybody."

The New York State Department of State has touted grant funding that is available for municipalities to study possible dissolution aimed at improving services and reducing taxes.

Gilberti questioned whether such grants still exist due to the c0ntinuing financial crists in the state.

"There's currently no grant money available. And, when you're looking at a state that has a $9-billion budget gap, I don't think Whitesboro's going to be first on the priority list," Gilberti said.