DEPEW — Village of Depew voters recently rejected by a 3-1 margin a move to dissolve their village government, maintaining public services.
The vote result is not only a victory for our members who work and live in the village, but for the village residents who rely on the vital public services we provide.
Election officials said it was a record turnout of registered voters, with some people waiting up to an hour to vote.
Village of Depew Blue Collar Unit President Lou Heltman, a Department of Public Works employee, said his neighbors made the right decision. “The residents of Depew sent a strong message that they love their village and they love their public services,” he said. “When we knocked on doors during this campaign, everyone knew what was at stake. We were determined not to lose our village.”
Western Region President Flo Tripi called the Depew vote to dissolve the village services unlike any recent village dissolution effort in that there were few details released to voters about the overall plan for village services and taxes. “Evidently, the residents of Depew knew better and overwhelmingly made the right choice,” she said.
Saving public services
CSEA members and pro-village coalition groups canvassed neighborhoods and staffed phone banks since last October to educate residents about keeping their village whole.
“We are very pleased all our advocacy and hard work paid off,” said Erie County Local President Denise Szymura. “Dismantling village public services, especially emergency fire, police and snow removal, was just too much for voters to approve.”
In recent years, the governor has been urging government bodies to dissolve or consolidate, focusing on village, town, city and county charter revisions, education, utility and water services, transportation and public safety. The state has also been providing incentives for communities considering consolidation, noting that it would save taxpayer money.
But there is no evidence to date that the benefits outweigh the risks, and voters have overwhelmingly shown support for keeping their villages intact.
