Voting begins on dissolving governments

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. (WIVB) - Dissolving village governments or not, let the voting begin.

The polls in both Williamsville and Sloan are now open, until 9 p.m. Tuesday.

Residents will decide if they want to keep their government or dissolve under a larger municipality.

Firefighters will be out walking to sidewalks throughout the day, encouraging residents of the Village of Williamsville to vote "no."

This is an issue that is dividing the communities of Williamsville and Sloan.

Government Downsizing Activist Kevin Gaughan is imploring voters to vote "yes" Tuesday.

Taxpayers in Williamsville and Sloan will decide whether to dissolve their village governments and let the towns handle their services.

Gaughan said, "The evidence that's presented by each of the 21 villages in New York State, that have dissolved their village government. In each case and in every case the result was there was substantially lower taxes, stronger community and a growing community."

Betty Reczek is jumping on that band wagon. She is a Sloan resident who wants to see less government and lower taxes.

She believes that dissolving Sloan, and letting Cheektowaga handle services is the way to do it.

Reczek said, "We put up signs, our signs got stolen. And we feel we'd be better off if, if it was resolved."

It's an issue that is dividing the community.

Reczek woke up to find her car keyed and her tires slashed.

She thinks it's because the sign on her front porch, but authorities in Cheektowaga believe otherwise.

Cheektowaga Police Captain Jim Speyer said, "There's nothing that even remotely reflects anything to do with the vote."

Fifteen cars were vandalized in her neighborhood.

Over in Williamsville, an overwhelming number of "Vote No" signs.

Williamsville resident Dave Sherman said, "No one has really shown us how the difference would be between the situation as it is now and if there's a special district created. The special district would be applied to village residents, but we already have a special district it's called the village."

In Sloan, they believe the vandalism could be gang related.

As for the vote, Gaughan knows it will be a challenge in Sloan and especially in Williamsville.