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Pondering life in a united Batavia

By Howard B. Owens

Tonight the City and Town of Batavia Consolidation Committee releases a report to the community summarizing its work so far.

We'll get to find out what the committee thinks of the idea, but given the title, "A Vision for One Batavia," we can deduce the outlook is rosy.

We'll probably be presented with spreadsheets and pie charts and improved work flows that tell us it all makes dollars and sense.  Somehow it's going to save taxpayers money and lead to a more responsive and efficient government.

But when you strip away the columns of numbers and rows categories, I wonder if anybody will have taken the time to ask one basic question: What unintended consequences might we face as a consolidated government?

Bringing the city and town together is a monumental move. It's going to have impacts beyond what any facts and figures can show us. How do we think through how things might change, and are those changes we want? (I'm not, btw, afraid of change nor necessarily consolidation -- just asking the question.)

What are the intangibles that can't be measured and how will they be different?  Will the new government be able to quickly mobilize along the lines of a single vision, and will that vision be good for local business and people who cherish small town values, or will there be an aim to just get bigger?

Which vision of Batavia will be stronger, the one of a locally owned downtown or a chain-driven Veteran's Memorial Drive?

What values do the two governments embody now and how are they different and how are they the same and how will they change?

Will some segments of either the city or town feel like its needs aren't being met?

How will land use change, government services, support of civic life?

There's no doubt that the committee is full of people with the best of intentions, but what about the unintentions? Will these be studied, too?

Nobody thought about the law of unintended consequences when the north side of Main Street was demolished to make way for a mall that people don't use much.  Let's not just consider consolidation as a matter of pure fiscal responsibility -- because it may turn out to be very responsible -- let's consider, too, its social and civic impacts.

The meeting is tonight at 7 p.m. at Batavia Town Hall, 3833 W. Main Street Road.

The study committee presenting the report: Lynn Freeman, Sally Kuzon, Steven Lockwood, Beverly Mancuso, Jason Molino, Steven Mountain and Jeffrey Scott.

Charlie Mallow

If you like how things are, I suggest looking for reasons to keep government as BIG as possible and taxes high. Everyone can keep their little kingdoms and watch as more people move to Texas. I’m starting to believe it’s the way New Yorkers like things. Most people talk a good game but, in the end like living under a repressive government with high taxes. It’s not romantic, it’s self destructive.

Richard, keep the barn warm.

Jun 1, 2009, 9:38am Permalink
bud prevost

I agree. The D&C had a very interesting story on the layers of government that strangle NY.
http://democratandchronicle.com/article/20090531/OPINION04/905310340/10…

I live in the village of Leroy, which has high taxes. As I ponder the "layers", I have NYS taxes, county, town, village, water district, school, fire district, not to mention my income taxes and any sales tax i am inflicted with. Given the state of our government and economy RIGHT NOW, it may be time to take consolidation beyond Batavia. Why not 1 county government, with the Sheriffs the only police agency. And 1 central school district. Think of the savings by consolidated purchasing, and less administration costs. Drastic times call for drastic measures.

Jun 1, 2009, 9:58am Permalink
Charlie Mallow

Bud, now you gone and done it. Speaking about the 500 pound gorilla in the room won’t make you any friends around here. You made some statements there that make too much sense. You’re talking about breaking up all the little kingdoms and treating government like it should be a business that provides a service at a reasonable cost. Next you will be looking to run for office. Take it from me; it’s a waste of time. There is no changing things; they will use you for target practice.

Jun 1, 2009, 10:06am Permalink
bud prevost

Charlie, I know who my friends are...who gives a rat's arse about the rest. Unfortunately, the kingdom now starts with King BHO, who wants to strengthen his hold over the indentured servants he calls taxpayers, and trickles all the way down to the mayors and trustees who feel "entitled to the trickle down $ that we shell out and have no say over.
As far as running for office, thanks but no thanks. I sense your frustration over the last year, and it extinguished any political aspirations I currently harbored. I'm not one to say what people WANT to hear, it's what they HAVE to hear that I focus on. Truth is, NYS is screwed to the point of rape, and I don't see how any of us can endure it any longer.
I'm thinking Wyoming sounds pretty appealing,and I'm not talking Perry!

Jun 1, 2009, 10:16am Permalink
Karen Miconi

How many of the members of the consolidation committee are from this area? Im asking because I doubt the loyalty of those not from the Batavia area. We all want whats best for our city, and lord knows this town needs to consolidate. I also wonder where the consolidations will happen. What is the need based on? I also wonder how much this meeting is costing the taxpayer?? Are they getting payed?? How about travel expences to attend. I'd love to see this bill....Kinda hard to be positive after seeing all the perks some of them have recieved for being outoftowners, with our citys fate in their hands.

Jun 1, 2009, 10:46am Permalink
John Roach

Karen,
The members are listed on the web site, and most are local with an interest in making things better.

The devil is in the details. On Tuesday, the whole report will be on the web and that is what you what. The talk tonight will be good, but it is not a question and answer meeting for the public, that comes later. But the report should have all the current details that are not brought up tonight.

Jun 1, 2009, 10:58am Permalink
Peter O'Brien

Multiple levels of government are how a federal system works. You want local governments so you can make changes locally. The bigger the government the less control you have over it.

Jun 1, 2009, 11:01am Permalink
daniel cherry

Charlie We will miss you.You may be able to do good elsewhere.I do not understand why are they trying to consolidate?Does that mean the tax in the town where Walmart is goes up?And the city goes down?Is it something to do with the new development just outside the city by the fairgrounds?Should we make the whole county one town?Does that mean the city Police will patrol there?Is there an under lying reason for this we don't know as of now?

Jun 1, 2009, 11:42am Permalink
Mark Potwora

Good point Charlie...All the points you make are great..Too many Kingdoms in Genesse Co..For 50,000 people..When you look at the total number of people, and the amount of city town and country workers I'll bet it must be high.I wonder what the ratio is...

Jun 1, 2009, 11:45am Permalink
Bea McManis

Posted by Mark Potwora on June 1, 2009 - 11:45am
Good point Charlie...All the points you make are great..Too many Kingdoms in Genesse Co..For 50,000 people..When you look at the total number of people, and the amount of city town and country workers I'll bet it must be high.I wonder what the ratio is...

Way too many. Any private business would be pared down to the bone in this economy. We, in Genesee Co., should receive the ultimate in services for the number of public service employees for each resident.

Jun 1, 2009, 5:15pm Permalink
John Roach

Hard to change. Just look at the blow up over the Ambulance Service. Everyone wants budget cuts and lower taxes, but never wants any service cut.

Lets wait and see what the Town of Batavia does with the merger plan. Then you will know the odds of getting rid of the "Too Many Kingdoms".

Jun 1, 2009, 6:30pm Permalink
Timothy Paine

I really didn't see a "blow up" over the ambulance service. Only one person got up and spoke in defense of the ambulance at the Council meeting. There were a bunch of signs out. The Firemen got on here and the Daily website and made a lot of noise but hardly a peep from the public in all reality. Right now the public is very receptive to restructuring, cuts and eliminating the departments that are ridiculously expensive. Any major changes should be pursued eagerly now.

Jun 1, 2009, 8:17pm Permalink
Jeffrey Houseknecht

Any town resident that is in favor of this needs their head examined the city council can't even agree on how to clean up their own messes town residents would wind up with no say I knew when they cut the ambulance service their ultimate goal was to do away with the fire dept itself and just a couple months later their latest plan is unveiled the county should have stepped up to the plate and funded the ambulance service after all it is county wide but they have chosen to stick their heads in the sand I hope they are the first to be sitting waiting for an ambulance that never comes

Jun 1, 2009, 8:23pm Permalink
Mark Potwora

Jeff.....Why should someone who lives in the town and is for this, should have their head examined..What kind of statement is that because someone doesn't think like you do..So if The city wants to get rid of their fire dept, that maybe they think that, being like the town and not having one works.Is that a bad thing..Should the people in the city have their heads examined..Should we just keep things the way they are..How do you start to put a lid on spending..Tim Paine got it right ,the public isn't going crazy about this ambulance deal..So why not try to go forward on the consolidation..But i don't think we need to get our heads examined...the ones who don't want to better things and progress maybe they should.....And you hope people call for the ambulance and it never comes.....And you think others need their head examine..whats you problem...

Jun 1, 2009, 11:35pm Permalink

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