To the Editor:

There may come a time when it will be right to dissolve the village of Potsdam. There certainly are some compelling arguments for doing so. It seems possible that our neighbors who live in the town outside the village will acknowledge the importance of the village in their lives, and be willing to help pay the costs of maintaining it. Many of them work here, perhaps at one of the big three employers that do not pay property taxes.

Most of them shop here, come to church here, and send their children to school here. They may come to the village for dinner or a movie, go to the summer festival, or attend a concert at Crane. They probably do their banking here and see their physician here. And on a seasonal note quite a few of them bring their children into the village for an evening of trick or treating.

The village truly is the center of activity for many folks in town. It seems fair and reasonable for those us inside the boundaries of the village to ask for help in paying the bills associated with its upkeep, particularly when we consider so few are paying all the bills for a village enjoyed by so many.

However, I do not believe the time is right to dissolve the village of Potsdam. If dissolution is approved, there will be just less than 14 months to consider, decide upon, and implement the changes that will be required to effect the transition to one government for the town of Potsdam. It does not seem likely that this can be accomplished in any reasonable fashion or with any spirit of cooperation. The essential reason for dissolving should be to save money through increased efficiencies. I see no convincing evidence that there is any money to be saved with the direction our town leaders appear to be taking. There is simply no reason for me to believe that our town leaders are prepared to willingly assume the responsibilities the village entails. But that should be no wonder, for the people they consider their constituency, the people who live outside the village, have not shown strong support for the concept of one government serving all the people of Potsdam.

If the dissolution scenario is to have a chance for a satisfactory outcome, each of us, village folks and town outside folks alike, must agree that the village is important to us all. Without that agreement, dissolution will be a failure. We have before us an opportunity to begin the hard work required to create one Potsdam. But if we are to do it right, we need our rural neighbors to join with us in letting the town board and supervisor know this is what the people of the town of Potsdam, their true constituency, want to see happen.

I urge a no vote next Tuesday, followed by a serious effort to have your voice heard at the town level.

Bob Josephson,

Potsdam