Johnson City Residents:

Since December 2007, volunteer committee members have been conducting a study to develop a plan to dissolve the Village of Johnson City.  Once this plan is completed, there will be at least one public hearing where residents may ask questions and voice their concerns. When the hearing process is complete, the plan to dissolve Johnson City will be put to a vote for registered Johnson City voters.  If the outcome of the vote produces a majority in favor of dissolution, all village property would be forfeited to the Town of Union, and all unpaid village debt would be taxed to the residents of Johnson City until paid in full. At the same time, we would also begin paying the full Town of Union tax rate. The Town of Union would have jurisdiction over all future activities of the village, including but not limited to: water and sewer rates, local laws, taxation, police and fire protection, parks and recreational usage, public works, and refuse collection.

All Village of Johnson City residents who are not currently registered to vote are encouraged to pick up a voter registration form at any local post office, complete and mail it to the address on the form.  It is vital that residents take an active role in this critical decision. If the choice to dissolve the village were made, the change would be permanent. It would be nearly impossible to reverse this decision in order to get our paid fire and police departments and our water rights back in the future.

Therefore, it is our goal that all residents are informed with the best and most reliable facts available regarding the dissolution study and plan.  We want our fellow citizens to be able to make the most educated choice when this issue goes to a vote.

The following outline is a collection of information retrieved from presentations given to the Dissolution Study Committee members during the public portion of their meetings. This information may be obtained through Freedom of Information Law, by contacting the village clerk’s office and filing a F.O.I.L. request.

Department of Public Works:
Johnson City D.P.W & Water vs. Town of Union D.P.W.

Johnson City D.P.W. & Water

Advantages to JC residents:

• The value of owning our potable water supply and processing equipment
• Premium, reliable refuse collection
• Staff familiar with the village & residents
• Staff familiar with our infrastructure
• Shared manpower, between departments, assuring adequate seasonal manpower
• Sewage trunk line credits, reducing our bills
• Revenue received from outside water users
• Expert knowledge of potable water treatment and equipment maintenance

Town of Union D.P.W.

Disadvantages to JC residents:

• Potential increase in water rates
• Potential increase in sewer rates
• Less convenient, more restrictive refuse collection
• Town unfamiliar with village streets and underground utilities
• No shared manpower.  Only Town Hwy. Dept. employees are allowed to snow plow; seasonal labor shortages would be possible
• No experience in potable water treatment and equipment maintenance

Fire protection:

Johnson City Fire Dept.  vs.  Volunteers

Johnson City Fire Department

Advantages to JC residents:

• Quick response times, reducing life and property loss
• Commendable service
• Stations staffed 24/7
• Excellent employee retention
• Staff familiar with the village & residents
• Community service volunteers
• Fire prevention programs
• Fire inspections
• Life saving, first responder EMS calls
• Good comradery, essential in critical situations

Volunteer Fire Dept.

Disadvantages to JC residents:

• Longer response times
• Volunteer recruitment concerns
• Volunteer daytime availability concerns
• Volunteer retention concerns
• Training concerns, due to length of training required for new recruits
• Volunteers responding must travel to stations, increasing response time
• Increased risk of flashover, due to longer response times
• Greater chance for loss of life and property, due to longer response times

Police protection:

Johnson City Police Dept.  vs. NY State Police & Broome County Sheriff’s Dept.

Johnson City Police Department

Advantages to JC residents:

• Favorable response times
• Reliable availability
• Commendable service
• Staff familiar with the village & residents
• Foot patrols utilized
• Community oriented, individualized services
• Greater visibility, which deters crime
• Experienced in urban environment issues and its unique needs

NY State Police & Broome County Sheriff’s Dept.

Disadvantages to JC residents:

• Variable response times
• Staffing level concerns
• No foot patrol services offered
• Unable to provide same level of services currently offered to village residents
• Less frequent patrolling, less visible
• Limited urban environment experience
• Training concerns, due to length of training required for new hires
• Increased cost would be burden of all county and state residents, including JC taxpayers

Administration:
Johnson City Mayor and Board  vs. Town of Union Supervisor and Council

Johnson City Mayor and Board

Advantages to JC residents:

• Residents have more say in decisions, smaller government
• Village offices are conveniently located
• Only interest is in The Village of Johnson City
• Desires and concerns of the residents are better known
• Better understanding of urban environment and its unique needs

Town of Union Supervisor and Council

Disadvantages to JC residents:

• Residents would have less say in decisions, bigger government
• Town offices are less conveniently located
• Town has broader interests than just the village
• Unfamiliar with village resident concerns & their desires
• Limited experience in urban environment issues

This information has been provided to you by:
The Other Side of Dissolution & www.savejc.org.

We are a group of concerned Johnson City residents who want the very best for this community and its people.