Published: October 12, 2007 02:02 pm         

ALBION: Resident input wanted on consolidation

Residents in the Village of Albion, Town of Albion and the Town of Gaines are invited to a public information meeting to learn more about a study investigating “consolidation” for the three municipalities. The meeting will be at 7 p.m. Oct. 22 in the Albion High School Large Group Instruction room.

Representatives from the Rochester-based Center for Governmental Research — which has been engaged to analyze village and town operations and identify ways to make them more effective and efficient — will describe the purpose and scope of the study and answer questions. Members of the committee overseeing the project for the three municipalities will also attend and answer questions. The 10-member committee includes representatives from both towns and the village.

“There are two very important reasons for having this public meeting,” said Charles Zettek Jr., CGR director of government management services. “We want residents and taxpayers to tell us and the oversight committee which services and functions they need and expect, and give us their ideas about the best ways to provide them.”

Zettek noted that CGR, which expects to complete the study by next fall, has more than 90 years experience conducting management studies for governments of all sizes across New York state. For this study CGR has been asked to review:

• Maintenance of streets, highways and public facilities

• Water and sewer service

• Police and fire protection

• Recreational facilities and services

• General government administration and other services such as justice courts, assessment, etc.

• Land use laws and code enforcement

We are not starting the study with any preconceived ideas,” Zettek said. “We value the public’s input as we work with these municipalities to identify and evaluate cooperation.”

Consolidation study committee members are:

• Village of Albion: Kevin Sheehan, Dean Theodorakos, Fred Miller and Cliff Thom

• Town of Albion: Gene Christopher, Judy Koehler and Roxanne Muoio

• Town of Gaines: Richard DeCarlo, Lorraine Oakley and Royce Klatt