To the Editor:

Dissolving the village of Potsdam should be considered permanent; only vote in favor if you are absolutely certain this is what you want. If your reason to dissolve is unhappiness with village leadership, please vote No and help me work to change things.

The many major uncertainties make dissolution too risky. The village needs improvements, but dissolution should be the last resort.

We share services with the town now and certainly need more cooperation, but we should do it while we still have negotiating power.

After voting to dissolve, there will be no negotiation, only transition. This is a most important distinction.

During transition, the village board will be able to advocate for the best interests of the former village, but will have no decision-making power.

Police services are complicated. Note that SUNY Potsdam police are only allowed to patrol the campus and the sides of the streets immediately adjacent.

The village needs police beyond the normal availability of the sheriff and State troopers. On the Dissolution Study Committee (DSC), we quickly learned that forming a police district for only the former village would not be the simple task we thought.

The fact is, it would require special legislation by the State. Too many layers of taxing districts is exactly what the State is seeking to eliminate and makes getting the Governor’s approval for a special Police District inconsistent and very unlikely. In addition, individuals can challenge it.

I can’t see a de facto police district happening, either. All town taxpayers must pay for town-provided police services. Shouldn’t they expect patrolling of all 100 sq. mi. and not just the 4.8 sq. mi. in the former village?

The worst dissolution reason I can think of: “The Village Board is doing a bad job; the Village and Town boards just bicker with each other; nothing will ever change.”

Well folks, that’s up to us. We choose who is on the Village Board, and shouldn’t we be paying attention to what they are doing and telling them what we think?

If new vision is needed, then DO something about it. If you’re frustrated, choose “new blood” for both boards.

Choose people who will make a commitment to work together. Given our history, better town/village relations will not be easy, but will it work better to dissolve and throw us together when the great majority of people outside the village of Potsdam oppose that?

I was on the DSC and am a candidate for Potsdam Village Board. I am committed to doing my best for efficient village government and working with the Town Board. I will do my best no matter the vote outcome, but believe No is in our best interests. Feel free to contact me at hopkeef@twcny.rr.com

Eleanor Hopke, Potsdam