Residents support village police

WATKINS GLEN—Residents of Watkins Glen spoke in favor of keeping the police department during a public comment period at the Monday, June 3, village board meeting in response to a cost savings study.
Paul Bishop, representative of the Center for Governmental Research, gave a brief presentation of the options available to the village. This was followed by a public comment period during which every speaker voiced support of the police department and opposed any efforts to abolish it. Other residents wishing to comment were urged to review the study and complete a survey located at www.cgr.org/watkinsglen/.
During the overview Bishop provided, he mentioned, “law enforcement in this community is run pretty efficiently.” He added it is a relatively safe community but the number of calls for service in the village is disproportionately high, relative to all of Schuyler County, considering the population. Bishop also said the police department has already implemented many of the cost saving tools typically recommended by CGR, including creative and effective use of part time staff.
Bishop then explained the six options proposed by CGR from maintaining the status quo to making slight adjustments in the way the department operates to completely abolishing the department. The options become increasingly drastic but result in increased cost savings. Bishop said if no changes are made, the costs to operate a village police department will continue to increase with rising health insurance, retirement and equipment expenses. He said if the department were abolished it would result in a cost savings for the village of $517,482, which equates to approximately $345 in tax savings for a property assessed at $89,000. However, Bishop explained  county taxes would likely rise due to the necessity to hire additional staff to essentially fill the void.
Several residents commented on the report, all of whom expressed a desire to keep a village police department despite the potential cost savings associated with dissolution. “That’s what I pay for,” said resident and Village Justice Nicholas Dugo, “we choose to live in the village for those services.” He added  the village police are accustomed to properly handling the many festivals held in the village each year. Judy Phillips voiced her support for the police department and also expressed concern that by passing costs of police service onto festival planners it may result in the loss of some of those festivals. Terra Ellis informed the board that in her capacity as manager of the Watkins Glen Walmart she had a wonderful working relationship with the police department, and is “scared to death by the thought of losing them.” Mark Stephany spoke of the quick response time associated with having a dedicated village police department, especially in life or death situations.
Mayor Mark Swinnerton said the board had not made any decisions as to what, if anything, would change with the way the village operates the police department. “We are taking this very seriously,” said Swinnerton, “this is public safety we are talking about, these are jobs we are talking about.” He added  the study was ordered because there was grant funding available to pay for it and the board had made a commitment to “leave no stone unturned” as far as considering cost saving measures. If residents are interested in submitting a survey they were asked to please do so within a week so that CGR and the board have adequate time to review the comments and opinions. The report and surveys are available at the CGR website provided above.
In other business:
• Several Clute Park seasonal residents appeared before the board to complain of sub par conditions at the park during the first few weeks of the season. The residents informed the board there were no hot showers for two weeks and  there was a period of time when the toilets would not flush. They were also displeased  seasonal rates continued to climb with no perceived increase in services or amenities.
• The next village board meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 17 at 7 p.m.