Originally Posted by
mark blazejewski
It seems to me that the VOL-expand government bunch may have been embolden by the Village of Depew dismemberment vote. Perhaps the VOL Board feels that village residents, like their brethren in Depew, are strongly committed to retaining the VOL as an independent political sub-divison.
Perhaps growth bunch is correct. However, for them to approach their decision making with the inference that such a resident commitment carries with it, an unchecked mandate to do and spend, what they want, when the want, and how they want, would in my view, be a serious mistake.
In that connection, I believe that the members of the VOL Board would be well served if they would remind themselves that in 1990, the VOL overwhelmingly voted to keep the village police force. Yet, within thirteen years, the 1990 retention mandate gave way to the 2003 VOL-Town Police merger. The moral of that story is, voter, and legislative, attitudes shift to meet the real or perceived need for change.
If the VOL Board wants the village to remain "independent and viable entity," they need to stop the unnecessary and whimsical growth of government, and the attendant spending. IMHO
Shortstuff, I agree with the need for increased citizen scrutiny and public engagement.
But, the fact of the matter is, that, in the recent past, the VOL Board seemingly signaled indifference, or perhaps even open hostility, to the publicly expressed concerns of their constituents. At times, certain members of the VOL Board, and other village agents, reacted with some rather tyrannical tactics, some of which, clearly and blatantly contradicted standards and methods prescribed by NYS law.
Therefore, I can see why many VOL residents accept many VOL Board practices and decisions with a resigned, melancholy indifference.