Public Meeting on Town and Village of Ossining Evaluation of Potential Government Structures - April 26, 2012

Opportunity to Get Updated on Project and Provide Feedback

A public meeting will be held on Thursday, April 26, 7:00 – 9:00 pm at the Joseph G. Caputo Community Center, Ossining, NY, for residents and taxpayers to hear an update about – and provide feedback on – a study initiated last fall by the Town and Village of Ossining to determine how services can be delivered to their respective constituencies in the most efficient and cost effective manner.

The meeting will include a presentation on the recently-issued first report, Municipal Services and Financial Overview for the Town and Village of Ossining, which documents current services, costs, revenues and assets in both municipalities as a basis for further analysis. The report is available on the study website at www.cgr.org/ossining. Copies can also be accessed in the following locations:

   – Village / Town Hall, 16 Croton Avenue;
   – Ossining Public Library, 53 Croton Avenue; and
   – Joseph G. Caputo Community Center, 95 Broadway.

The participating municipalities embarked upon an effort in 2011 to carefully examine their governmental structures. The study aims to analyze additional municipal cooperation and consolidation of services in order for the Town and Village of Ossining to operate even more efficiently and effectively and to analyze the feasibility of alternative government structures for the Town and Village of Ossining permissible by law.

The communities have established a joint municipal committee, comprising each municipality’s Board members, to oversee the study. The Steering Committee issued the following statement: “We encourage residents to attend this public forum and share their thoughts and ideas on service delivery and government structure in the Ossining community. Public input is an extremely important part of this study process, and we are committed to engaging the community through this project. This meeting offers an excellent opportunity for residents and any other interested parties to learn more about the study and offer feedback on items of interest to them.”

The meeting is the second public forum held in conjunction with this project. The Agenda will include a brief presentation of the Baseline Report by the study consultant, the Center for Governmental Research (CGR). CGR will then moderate a public input session, inviting residents to address the Steering Committee and study team.

Residents are also reminded that they can monitor the study’s progress at the project website, www.cgr.org/ossining. The website offers access to Steering Committee meeting schedules and reports as they become available. By going to the website, community members can also email comments to the Steering Committee. In addition, residents can sign up to receive email “alerts” regarding the project and key meeting dates.

Tentative Meeting Agenda:
   – Introduction – Mayor and Supervisor
   – Project Update – CGR
   – Review of Baseline Report – CGR
   – Comments from the Public – Moderated by CGR

About the Center for Governmental Research (CGR)
CGR is a 97-year-old nonprofit, nonpartisan, independent consulting organization with significant expertise conducting local government consolidation and shared service studies and developing implementation plans. CGR is headquartered in Rochester, NY, and in October 2011 was engaged by the Town and Village of Ossining to serve as study consultant. Dr. Joseph Stefko, CGR’s Vice President and Director of Public Finance, is serving as project director for this study.

CGR Project Website - Evaluation of Potential Government Structures