Canton Town Council supports consolidation idea

CANTON — The Town Council agreed Monday that applying to the state for money to study sharing more services was a good idea, but went further than the village wanted.

"I think the goal has got to be consolidation and maybe dissolution," Councilman Daniel G. Fay said. "I'm not sure we're voting for the same thing as the village."

The village Board of Trustees earlier decided to apply for up to $25,000 through the state's Local Government Efficiency Grant program to look into dissolving village court, combining the town and village clerk offices and sharing highway services. The study also would look into how the cost would be divided among town and village residents.

The village needs a contribution of $1,400 from the town and its support if the application is to win favor.

The village board wanted to focus on shared services, not dissolving the village, although that might be considered at some point, Mayor Charlotte C. Ramsay said.

"It's a very divisive issue," she said. "We decided we'd prefer to take it step by step."

However, the town's resolution in support of the village's application includes dissolution as an option.

"We're not sure the village is willing to go to the extent the town is to get this stuff done," Supervisor David T. Button said.

If sharing services is the primary goal, Canton doesn't need grant money to pay for a consultant, Mr. Fay said. The town and village already split the cost of many items, including recreation, the assessor's office and the cost of the municipal building, so town and village officials probably could figure out the rest on their own, he said.

"Justice Court, I think, can be done without giving someone $25,000," he said.

However, Ms. Ramsay said a consultant would be useful.

"The highway department to me looks complicated," she said. "It's the same union, but a different contract."

Having an expert explain the fiscal ramifications also would make sense, she said.

Councilman Paul D. Backus said he favors a move toward consolidation of any kind as a step in the right direction.

Although the board approved the town's participation in the study, it might be too late to find someone to write a grant application. The village had arranged to have the St. Lawrence County Planning Office write the application, but with the delay in gathering town support, the office withdrew because it is too busy with other projects.

Some Town Council members thought Director of Economic Development Linda M. McQuinn should write the application, but the village tentatively has enlisted the help of the county Housing Council. However, given time constraints before the application is due and differing attitudes, the village may opt out.

"As I'm listening to the discussion, I'm not sure it makes sense to apply for the grant given the hesitancies," Ms. Ramsay said. "I think we need to have both boards behind this."