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The dissolution of the Town of Rye is another step closer to reality after a firm was hired to consult on how to go about the process.
Officials from the Town of Rye and the villages of Port Chester, Rye Brook and Mamaroneck are negotiating a $65,000 contract with the Rochester-based municipal research firm Center for Government Research. The firm, which was selected Tuesday, will analyze replacing the services of Rye Town and consolidating others between the villages
.Port Chester homeowner Kathy Kelley was the former treasurer for the Port Chester School District and supports dissolving the Town.
"I don't see much value in it," said Keller. "It's just an extra layer of government."
The Town of Rye encompasses Port Chester, Rye Brook and the Rye Neck School District section of Mamaroneck. It collects approximately $2 million in taxes annually from all three for the services of managing two parks as well as property assessment.
"It's easy to talk about, but putting it into practice the devil's in the details," said Bishop Nowotnik, secretary to the town supervisor, who attended Tuesdays meeting as a representative for the Town.
Nowotnik said officials expect the study to begin July 5 and it could take 10 to 12 months to complete. Following that, he said, it could take another 18 months to implement the transition of services.
"At the very least, we hope to identify some ways to consolidate services," he said, pointing out that the study's results will not guarantee the Town's dissolution
.The committee received a $50,000 state grant for the research as part of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's initiative to consolidate local governments. Port Chester, Rye Brook and Rye Town have each contributed $5,000.
"We're hoping to eliminate redundant services and keep the identity of the villages," said Port Chester Mayor Dennis Pilla.
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