Even before consultants’ study on shared services was complete, Cobleskill was looking for answers on its own.
And maybe finding them.
The Center for Governmental Research drew a sparse crowd of 25 people to a final review of its year-long study last Tuesday.
Among the possibilities CGR outlined for Cobleskill:
• Sharing services in planning, codes enforcement and zoning, courts, and administrative offices.
• Considering alternatives for providing police and water and sewer services.
• Becoming a city.
Tuesday’s meeting was billed as a chance to answer technical questions and provide data, but CGR’s Charles Zettek and Scott Sittig pointed out again that any real savings will likely come in efficiency—not dollars.
Village Trustee Mark Galasso, said Cobleskill’s best bet, then, may be taking a series of “baby steps.”
“Combining planning and highway and courts is relatively simple,” Mr. Galasso said.
“Yes, it has a limited benefit…there’s not all the glitz and glamour, but whether it’s Sandy‘s [MacKay] small city, or my dissolution, it’s a place to start.”
Since late 2007, Mr. Galasso and fellow trustee Mr. MacKay, along with Councilmen Sherwood Veith and Ken Hotopp, have been working on formally consolidating the town and village highway department.
In July, the Town of Cobleskill gave the effort a “vote of confidence” and if they’re able to pull it off, Mr. Veith said, “There’s no reason why we can’t have similar success with the courts and some of these other things.”
Mr. Galasso told CGR reps that he’s disappointed there’s not much in the study on city status and not much on dissolution—something he’s championed since elected.
That’s because, Mr. Sittig said, “As we got going, the idea of becoming a city kind of rose to the surface. The issue really revolves around the sales tax issue,” the cause Mr. MacKay has championed.
“The issue of the sales tax sits behind this whole discussion,” Mr. MacKay said, arguing that as Schoharie County’s commercial hub, Cobleskill deserves a far bigger piece of the sales tax pie.
Mr. MacKay said he’d see some of those increased revenues used to hire an economic development person for the village; others argued Cobleskill needs to look at the larger picture, involving Richmondville in its plans for growth.
Everyone agreed, however, that the next step needs to be a next step.
“We’re here in part because as much as we all mean well, we haven’t gotten much done,” said John O’Donnell, a member of the CGR shared services committee.
“What we need to do, more than anything else, is take some kind of step forward,” said Ruth Bradt, another member of the committee.
“Don’t say ‘no.’ Don’t say ‘can’t,” said Mr. Veith. “We have to look at the greater community and be welcome to change and not let another 2 ½ years go by without getting anything done.”
Mayor Mike Sellers said he expects some action soon on moving the town offices to the Village Hall on Mineral Springs Road.
Like others, he said the consolation of courts and planning boards would be a logical next step.
“I agree it’s time to do something more,” Mayor Sellers added. “It’s time to figure out that next step.”