Excerpted from: State of New York. Department of State. Local Government
Handbook, 5th Ed. 'Albany: NYS Department of State. 2000
Creation and Organization
The Village Law governs the incorporation of new villages and
the organization of most existing villages.
The 12 remaining charter villages are subject to this law only where it does not
conflict with their respective charters.
Incorporation
A territory of 500 or more inhabitants may incorporate as a village in New York
State, provided that the territory is not already part of a city or village. The
territory must contain no more than five square miles at the time of
incorporation, although it may be larger in land area if its boundaries are made
coterminous with those of a school, fire, improvement or other district, or the
entire boundaries of a town (Village Law, Article 2 is the Village Incorporation
Law).
The incorporation process begins when a petition, signed by either 20 percent of
the residents of the territory qualified to vote, or by the owners of more than
50 percent of the assessed value of real property in the territory, is submitted
to the supervisor of the town in which all or the greatest part of the proposed
village would lie. If the area lies in more than one town, copies of the
petition are presented to the supervisors of the other affected towns.
Within 20 days from the filing of the petition the supervisor of each town
affected must post a notice of public hearing on the petition. Where the
proposed village is in more than one town, the giving of notice and subsequent
hearing are a joint effort of the affected towns. The purpose of the hearing is
to determine only whether the petition and the proposed incorporation are in
conformance with the provisions of the Village Law. Other considerations and
objections to the incorporation are not at issue. This formal hearing must be
held between 20 and 30 days following posting of notice.
Within 10 days after the conclusion of the hearing the supervisor of the
affected town must judge the legal sufficiency of the petition. If more than one
town is involved and the supervisors cannot agree on a decision, their decision
is deemed to be adverse to the petition. Any decision made is subject to review
by the courts. If no review is sought within 30 days, the decision of the
supervisor is final. If the supervisor decides against the petition, a new
petition may be presented immediately. If the supervisor finds that the petition
meets the requirements of the law or if the petition is sustained by the courts,
a referendum is held within the proposed area no later than 40 days after the
expiration of30 days from the filing of the supervisors' favorable decision, or
the filing of a final court order sustaining the petition. Only those residing
in the proposed area of incorporation and qualified to vote in town elections
may vote in the referendum.
Where the proposed' area lies in one town, a majority of those voting is
required in order to incorporate. Where more than one town is involved, an
affirmative majority in the area proposed for incorporation in each town is
required. If the required majorities are not obtained, then the question is
defeated, and no new proceeding for incorporation of the same territory may
beheld for one year. If a favorable vote is obtained, and there is no
court challenge, the town clerk of the town in which the original petition has
been tiled makes a report of incorporation. The report is sent to the Secretary
of State, the State Comptroller, the State Office of Real Property Services, the
county clerk and county treasurer of each county in which the village will be
located, and the town clerks of each town in which the village will be located.
Upon receipt of the report, the Secretary of State prepares and files a
Certificate of Incorporation. The certificate is also filed with the clerks of
each town in which the village is located. The village is deemed incorporated on
the date the report is filed with the Secretary of State. Within five days after
the filing of the Certificate of Incorporation, the clerks of each town in which
the village is located jointly appoint a resident of the new village area to
serve as village clerk until a successor is chosen by the village's first
elected board of trustees. Election of the board and mayor is held within 60
days of the appointment of the interim village clerk, except in instances where
the new village embraces the entire territory of a town. In that case the
election of village officers is held at the next regular election of town
officials occurring not less than 30 days after the filing of the certificate of
village incorporation.
New York State Conference of Mayors and Municipal Officials
VILLAGE INCORPORATION: THE FIVE WS, WHAT, WHY,
WHERE, WHEN, WHO, AND HOW
- What Is A Village?
In New York State, a village is a general purpose municipal corporation formed
voluntarily by the residents of an area in one or more towns, to provide
municipal services. When a village is created, its area still remains a part
of the town where it is located, and its residents continue to be residents
and taxpayers of that town.
Village government serves an important purpose that is, providing an enhanced
level of government service to concentrated populations who, without a
village, would not receive the necessary level of government services. For
example, many towns do not provide the public safety services needed by
population centers. Virtually all villages provide water, sewer and fire
protection services and approximately one-half provide police protection.
Village government is the government closest to the people, where residents
know and directly communicate with their elected representatives.
There are currently 574 villages in New York State, which range in size from
50 to 50,000 people. The majority of villages have populations less than
2,500. Since 1948, 25 villages have been created. Three of those have since
dissolved. Since 1961, eight villages have been created in the Town of Ramapo
in Rockland County.
The last village incorporated in NYS was the Village of East Nassau, in
Rensselaer County in 1998. The last on Long Island was the Village of West
Hampton Dunes in 1993. Since 1960, five villages have been created on Long
Island, one, Pine Valley, has since dissolved.
- Why Are Villages Formed?
The earliest villages in New York were created because clusters of people in
otherwise sparsely settled towns wanted to secure fire or police protection or
other public services. Those inhabitants receiving the fire or police service,
and not the whole town, paid for such services.
Forming a village is a matter of local choice. A village is a unique form of
government in New York State.
Villages are created for a variety of reasons. Generally, the population in a
neighborhood or hamlet unites. over a particular need or issue, such as zoning
and development; police and/of fire protection; water and sewer services;
watershed concerns; traffic; code enforcement; environmental concerns. The
issue is usually unique to the area.
- Where Are Villages Formed?
Villages are formed all over NYS; generally in areas of growing and
concentrated populations. Twenty percent of all the villages in the State
-95-- are located on Long Island. In Nassau-County there are 64 villages; in
Suffolk County there are 31. There is also a concentration of villages in
Westchester (23), Rockland (19), and Orange (17) counties; Jefferson (20),
Oneida (19) and Onondaga (15) counties; and Erie (16) and Chautauqua (15)
counties.
- When Is A Village Formed?
Usually, but not always, a defining event spurs village incorporation. Maybe
it's the enactment of new zoning
regulations by the town that adversely effect development in a particular area
of the town. Or maybe it is a reaction to rampant commercial development in
the town and its impact on a particular neighborhood Of hamlet.
No matter the reason, the opportunity to establish a village is available
under NYS law. Specifically, Village Law Article 2.
- Who Forms A Village?
Usually a group of concerned citizens united by a cause or concern will be the
engine that spurs the creation of a village.
Incorporation of a village is one of the few actions in New York State that
can be undertaken solely on the initiative of residents without any
discretionary interference or approval from other governing bodies at the
state or local levels. While state law specifies certain procedures that must
be followed, there is no authority for anyone but local residents to decide
the question of whether to incorporate. However, once the village is formed,
its structure and operation are matters that are regulated in nearly every
respect by state law.
When a village incorporates, it remains a part of the town. All village
residents continue to be entitled to vote in the town and take part in any
services which are provided on a townwide basis, and continue to be required
to pay town taxes to support their share of the cost of such services (general
government, recreation, library, etc.).
The major exceptions are services that are provided by the town through the
operation of special districts." Any portion of a special district (such as
sewer, water, fire, etc.) which falls within the area of the new village will
cease to be a part of that district. Virtually all of the special district
functions can be continued by contracting with the town, provided that both
the village and the town can reach agreement. Where special district services
are received by only a portion of the proposed new village, the village can
set up special assessments to continue to provide funding for those services.
While incorporation fosters a sense of community identification, and permits a
degree of local control over many matters, incorporation will not alter social
and economic developments which are in process prior to the incorporation. In
recent years, the most commonly cited reason for seeking incorporation is the
desire to control or limit local development, principally by getting more
localized control over zoning. Local zoning powers are not absolute, and are
limited by State law as well as court decisions. Those seeking to control and
guide development through incorporation are well-advised to proceed carefully
to make certain that their wishes fall within the effects that are possible
and legal, and to be certain that they take actions that will not produce
unwanted side effects.
Operation of a village government with the many administrative mandates and
restrictions is very different from the operation of a neighborhood civic or
improvement association. Municipal government is time-consuming and intense
effort and includes policy development, service expansions and community
amenities. Incorporation is not a panacea. Proponents must keep in mind that
the benefits of local control and identity bring with them a great deal of
serious responsibility.
During the period of public discussion prior to an incorporation referendum.
it is wise to actively seek out and consider the opinions of those who
disagree with the activists who are promoting the formation of the new
village. Formation of a new municipal government is a serious step. All
participants should maintain a realistic, practical perspective while
attempting to understand a very complex set of potential outcomes.
- How Is A Village Formed?
Village government is the only form of government that New York residents can
incorporate and dissolve directly, by vote of the people. There are very few
instances in which residents have the power to collect signatures on a
petition ,and cause a referendum to be held.
One is on village incorporation.
A second one is on village dissolution.
A proceeding for the incorporation of a territory as a village begins with a
petition.
The requirements for such petition are as follows:
Petitioners can consist of either one or both of the following two groups of
persons
1. At last 20% of the residents of the territory qualified to vote for town
officers in a town in which all or part of the territory is located; or
2. The owners of more than -59% in assessed valuation of the real property in
the territory assessed upon the last completed town assessment roll in which
the territory is located.
The petition must contain the following information:
1. A statement of the basis on which the petition is signed.
2. The name of the proposed village.
3. A statement that the territory contains a population of at least five
hundred regular Inhabitants.
4. The manner in which the area requirements of Village Law §2-200 are
satisfied.
5. A designation of at least one but no more than three persons, giving full
names and addresses, on whom and at which addresses all papers required to be
served in connection with the proceeding for incorporation, shall be served. A
majority of these designees must reside in such territory.
6. Each page of the petition and all exhibits and certifications must be
securely fastened together.
Each copy of the petition must have attached to it before the signature pages
the following exhibits and certifications:
1. A description of such territory sufficient to identify the location and
extent of such territory with common certainty and which shall be in one of
the following forms or a combination thereof:
(a) A metes and bounds description;
(b) a description made with reference to existing streets and
navigable waters or a combination of
same; or ,
(c) a map showing existing streets and navigable waters or a
combination of same forming boundaries or metes and bounds or the entire
boundaries of one or more districts of an entire town.
2. A list of the names and address of the regular inhabitants of such
territory
Pre-Incorporation Time Line
Petition for incorporation filed with town supervisor.
Within 20 days of petition filing, supervisor must post and publish notice
of a public hearing upon petition .
Public hearing must be held not less than 20 nor more than 30 days from
posting and first publication of notice.
Petition must be available for public inspection from date of receipt
through date of hearing.
The hearing may be adjourned but must be concluded within 20 days from the
date fixed in original notice and publication.
Within 10 days after conclusion of hearing, supervisor must make a 'written
determination as to the sufficiency of the petition.
The original written decision, copies of the notice of hearing together with
affidavits of publication and posting of same, written objections, and minutes
of the hearing including signed testimony must be filed with the town clerk
within 15 days after the conclusion of the hearing.
Any proceeding to review the decision must be initiated within 30 days of
filing with the town clerk.
An election to determine the question of incorporation must be held not
later than 40 days after either the expiration of 30 days from the filing of a
decision sustaining the petition or from the filing of a judicial order
sustaining the petition.
Within 10 days after the right to election is determined the town clerk must
post and publish notice of an election.
Date of election must be not less than 20 nor more than 30 days after date
of posting and first publication.
At least 10 days before the election, the town clerk must serve the
supervisor with list of inspectors of election and the town board must
designate alternate inspectors.
At least 10 days before the election, the town clerk must make and file a
list of qualified voters.
Within 10 days after the right of election is determined, the clerk must
post and publish notice of date when list of voters qualified to vote in
election will be available for public inspection which cannot be a Sunday and
must be at least 3 days prior to election.
At least 3 days prior to election but not on a Sunday, the list of voters
must be available for inspection.
Before 9:30 a.m. the day after election, the inspectors shall file
certificate of election and canvass with town clerk.
Any action to challenge election results must be brought not more than 10
days after filing of certificate of election.
After 10 and within 15 days from filing of certificate of election
certifying majority voted for incorporation or within 15 days from a judicial
determination upholding electoral vote, the town clerk shall prepare and
deliver a report of incorporation to Secretary of State, State comptroller,
State Board of Real Property Services, County Clerk and County Treasurer.
The village shall be incorporated as of date Secretary of State certifies
receipt of report.
Post'-incorporation Time-Line
Within five days of the date of incorporation, the town clerk shall appoint
a village clerk.
Within three days of appointment, the village clerk must file an oath of
office with the town clerk.
Within 10 days of appointment the clerk. must post and publish a notice of
election for mayor and four trustees arid appoint four inspectors of election.
Inspectors of election must file an oath of office within three days of
appointment.
Within 60 days from the appointment of the clerk, there shall be an election
to choose a mayor and four trustees.
As soon as practicable after the election, the mayor and trustees shall meet
to appoint a clerk and treasurer.
Immediately upon incorporation, a village board is conferred the following
powers:
To appoint a village clerk, treasurer, and attorney;
To hold meetings of the board of trustees;
To appoint a zoning commission;
To engage necessary clerical assistants to the clerk;
To designate an official newspaper;
To fix and pay all compensation, salaries, fees, costs and disbursements in
connection with the foregoing, And to borrow by tax anticipation notes as
needed to make such payments; and
To enact local laws, rules and regulations.
While the village will be incorporated as of the date of the filing of the
report of incorporation with the Secretary of State the incorporation will
become effective on the following dates for the following purposes: .
From The Date Of Incorporation:
to perform any and all acts authorized in Village Law §§ 2-236 through 2-250
to appoint a village clerk, treasurer, attorney
to hold meetings of the board of trustees (once board members are elected)
to appoint a zoning commission
to engage necessary clerical assistants to the clerk
to designate an official newspaper
to fix the compensation of and to pay all salaries, fees, costs and
disbursements in connection with any of the foregoing and to borrow by tax
anticipation notes in the manner provided in the local finance law, such money
as may be needed to make such payments, and
such officers, commission, and employees as are authorized by this paragraph
shall have power to perform their necessary duties.
From The First Day Of January Next Succeeding The Date Of Incorporation:
to perform all acts and fulfill all requirements of Real Property Tax
Law, Article 14, Title 2, entitled ~Levy and Collection of Taxes;"
to perform all acts and fulfill all requirements of Village Law, Article 5,
entitled "Finances";
to pay all necessary costs and disbursements in connection with the
foregoing and to borrow by tax anticipation notes in the manner provided in
the local finance law, such money as may be needed to make such payments.
From The First Day Of June Following The First Day Of January Next
Succeeding The Date Of Incorporation:
to have and exercise all the rights, powers, duties, privileges and
immunities granted villages by the Constitution or any other provision of law.
Once the village clerk is appointed, the town clerk must provide the
certificate of incorporation for permanent inclusion in the official records
of the village.
If the incorporation is unsuccessful, the expenses incurred by the town for
payment of cost of posting, publishing and serving required notices,
stenographic services and services of inspectors of election must be paid from
the fund deposited with the town supervisor. If the fund is insufficient to
pay all of the expenses, the excess costs will be a general town charge. Any
unexpended balance will become a part of the general fund of the town.
If the proceedings result in incorporation, the deposit must be returned by
the town supervisor to the person or persons making the deposit.
If the incorporation of the village is successful, the following expenses
incurred in the proceedings will be a charge against the village:
The reasonably necessary expenses, including attorney fees, incurred in
sustaining the petition in a proceeding brought under Village Law § 2-210,
(review of decision) not exceeding $500.00 .
The cost of posting, publishing and serving required notices, stenographic
services and services of inspectors of election, and the reasonable expense of
the outline map and description required by Village Law § 2-232(c).
The reasonably necessary expenses, including attorney fees, incurred in a
proceeding brought to determine the validity or regularity of the election
under Village Law § 2-224 where an election result against incorporation was
set aside or an election result in favor of incorporation was sustained, flat
exceeding $500.00.
Appointment Of The Village Clerk
Within five days after the filing of the certificate of incorporation in the
office of the town clerk, the town clerk must appoint a resident of the
village to serve as village clerk until a successor is chosen by the first
elected village board of trustees. A copy of the appointment must be provided
to the village clerk and a copy must be filed in the office of the town clerk.
Within three days of appointment, the village clerk must file an oath of
office with the town clerk with whom the certificate of election was filed.
First Election Of Officers, Terms Of Office
A special election must be held in the village no more than 60 days after
the appointment of the village clerk. A mayor and four trustees must be chosen
at this first election.
If the first election is held on or after the first Monday in April and before
the first Monday in October, the teffils of office of two of the trustees will
expire at noon on the first Monday in April next succeeding the first
election.
If the first election is held at any other time, the terms of office of two
tr4stees will expire one year after the first Monday in April next succeeding
the first election. The terms of office of the mayor and the other two
trustees will expire at noon on the first Monday in April next succeeding the
expiration of the terms of office of the first two trustees. The terms of
office begin as soon as they have qualified as outlined below.
Within 10 days after appointment, the village clerk must post in at least six
public places in the village and publish at least once in a newspaper of
general circulation, a notice of the election including the time and place or
the election, the hours of opening and closing the polls which must be from
12:00 noon to 9:00 p.m., and the offices and the terms to be filled.
The village clerk must also appoint four qualified voters to serve as election
inspectors. The inspectors must file their oath of office with the village
clerk within three days after their appointment.
Anyone qualified to vote for town officers and who have been residents of the
village for 30 days prior to the election may vote for village officers. The
election inspectors must conduct the election as provided by Election Law
Article 15 and must be paid at the same rate as inspectors at the last
preceding general election.
The newly elected mayor and trustees must meet as soon as practicable after
the election to appoint a clerk and treasurer and such other officers as are
authorized by law.
Town Legislation To Carryover
For two years following the date of incorporation, all local laws,
ordinances, rules or regulations of the town will remain in effect in the
village as if they had been adopted by the village board of trustees. All such
legislation must be enforced and administered by the town until the first day
of June following the first day of January next succeeding the date of
incorporation at which time responsibility for enforcement and administration
will shift to the village.
Beginning from the date of incorporation, the village is authorized to enact
local laws, resolutions, rules, and regulations. Therefore, any carried-over
town legislation will remain in effect in the village unless the village
enacts local laws which cover the same subject matter of any town legislation.
Town and district services (a town improvement district, fire district, fire
protection or fire alarm district) will continue to be provided in the area of
the newly incorporated village until the first day of June following the first
day of January subsequent to incorporation.
Any district wholly within or coterminous with the limits of a village will
cease to exist at the end of the fiscal year next succeeding the first day of
June following the first day of January subsequent to incorporation.
The cost of these services will be budgeted, levied upon, assessed against and
collected from the entire town or district, as if the village had not been
incorporated. In budgeting these costs and expenses, the town or district must
provide for a full year's cost and expense of providing the functions and
services in the incorporated area.
The town collector or receiver of taxes and the county treasurer will continue
to perform their duties with respect to the property included in the
incorporated area until all taxes and assessments extended and levied against
the property prior to the village incorporation or subsequent thereto, have
been collected.
The town collector or receiver of taxes and the county treasurer must, on the
first day of June following the first day of January next succeeding the date
of incorporation, pay over to the village treasurer seven-twelfths of the
collected taxes and assessments extended and levied against the real property
in the incorporated area for the aforementioned functions and services.
The town receiver of taxes and the county treasurer will, beginning on the
first day of July following the first day of January next succeeding the date
of incorporation, pay over to the village treasurer monthly, as collected
after the first day of June, 7/12 of the taxes and assessments extended and
levied against the real property in the incorporated area for the
aforementioned services. However, the village, town and district or any of
them may agree to a different amount or manner of payment or both.
All sums received by the village treasurer must be deposited in the general
village fund.
Effect Of Incorporation On Districts Within The Village
If on the date of incorporation the boundaries of the village are coterminous
with the boundaries of, or wholly include, the area of a district, the
district will cease to exist at the end of the fiscal year of the district
next following the first day of June following the first day of January next
following the date of incorporation. The powers and duties of the governing
body will also terminate at that time. However, the obligations and contracts
of the district and the town will not be impaired.
If the village includes part of a town special district, the village must bear
its proportionate share of liability or indebtedness incurred for special
district purposes while the area was a part of the special district. This
obligation will continue until the liability is discharged, or indebtedness is
paid. The village treasurer will pay the moneys collected for this purpose to
the town supervisor to discharge this liability. The town collector or
receiver of taxes and the county treasurer will continue in the execution of
their duties in connection with the district until taxes authorized or
assessed for the year of the incorporation have been collected.
If the village includes part of a town special district, the proportion of the
bonded debt incurred by the town will be assumed by the village. The
apportionment of personal and real property belonging to the special district
will be determined according to the relative assessed valuation of the
property in that portion of the special district outside the village and that
portion within the village. If, within six months of the village's
incorporation, the town board and the village trustees are unable to agree on
the proportion of debt and the apportionment of personal and real property,
then the Supreme Court will determine the division and enforce an award in the
same manner as a suit in equity brought by either of the parties.
Town Taxes
While villages have no responsibility for the levy and collection of town
taxes, village residents are obligated to pay a portion of town property
taxes. The general rule is that village property owners must pay taxes for all
expenditures in the town budget unless a state statute requires or permits an
expenditure to be a part-town (or town-outside-village) charge.
Several sections of State Jaw require, in certain specific circumstances,
certain town expenditures to be part-town charges. Refer to the section of law
cited for specific guidelines.
Building Inspection (Town Law §138)
Board of Health (public Health Law §304)
Registrar of Vital Statistics (Public Health Law §4124)
Library (Education Law §256)
Zoning and Planning (Town Law §261)
Police Department (Town Law §150)
Joint Police Department (General Municipal Law §121-a)
Recreation (General Municipal Law Article 13)
Refuse and Garbage Collection (General Municipal Law §120-w; Town Law
Article 12 or 12-a)
Repair and Improvement of Highways -- Town Highway Budget, Item #1 (Highway
Law §277)
Youth Bureaus/Agencies/Programs (General Municipal Law §95 or 240; Executive
Law §412
Fire Alarm System (Town Law §64(11-c)
Suburban Town Improvements (Town Law §56)
Joint Town-Village Parking Garage (General Municipal Law §72-j (5))
Joint Town-Village Memorial Building (General Municipal Law §72-b)
Joint Town-Village Public Docks (General Municipal Law §120-x)
Joint Town-Village Hospital (General Municipal Law §126-a)
Village residents may be exempt from financing certain
other town expenditures, at the
option of the town board: .
Purchase, Repair and Custody of Highway Equipment - Town Highway Budget Item
#3 (Highway Law §277»
Snow removal - Town Highway Budget, Item #4 (Highway Law §277) Municipal
Cooperation Agreement (General Municipal Law §119-0
Required Village Functions
Required Public Officers: Mayor, four trustees, treasurer, and clerk. The
Board of Trustees may, subject. to permissive referendum, increase or decrease
the required number of trustees.
The Board of Trustees may consolidate the offices of assessor (an optional
office), clerk and treasurer, or any two of the offices,
Optional Village Functions
Village Officials and Employees - The appointment of all other village
officials and employees, including building
inspector and code enforcement officers and village attorney, is
discretionary. '
Planning Board - The village board is authorized to create a planning
board and may provide for the referral of any municipal matter to the planning
board for its review and report prior to final action. Additionally, the
village board may establish a procedure for referral to the planning board of
all applications for rezoning, variances and special use permits. The planning
board can also have an advisory role in preparing and amending comprehensive
plans', zoning regulations, official maps, long-range capital programs,
special purpose control~ and compliance with the State Environmental Quality
Review Act (SEQRA). Further, the village board may grant the planning board
such regulatory functions as control of land subdivision, site plan review and
issuance of special use permits.
Zoning Board of Appeals ~ A village is required to establish a zoning
board of appeals, if a local zoning law is enacted.
Zoning Commission - In order to adopt its first zoning law, a village
must appoint a zoning commission which must make a report to the board of
trustees prior to the adoption of a first zoning law.
Real Property Assessment - A village may appoint an assessor or it may abolish
itself as an assessing unit, requiring the town to assume this function. The
village is not required to pay the town for this service.
Police - A village is authorized to establish a police department and to
employ necessary personnel; establish a joint police department with other
municipalities; or may contract with the town within which it is located for
the provision of police services. In the absence of any of the foregoing, the
town in which the village is located is responsible to supply police
protection to a village, the extent and intensity of which is within the
discretion of the town.
Fire - The Board of Trustees is authorized to create a volunteer or paid fire
department.
Dog Control - The provision of a dog control officer is optional. unless a
village has determined to issue dog licenses.
Trash Collection - Villages are authorized, but not required, to provide trash
collection or to purchase land for the establishment of a public waste
disposal site or plant and to operate the same. A village is authorized to
contract with any other municipal corporation or public or private corporation
or individual for the construction or operation of a resource recovery
facility, for the processing of solid waste, or for a system at collection and
disposal of municipal solid waste through resource recovery. A village is also
authorized to contract with any other municipality for the use of a
municipally operated public dump.
Sewage Treatment and Disposal - The Board of Trustees is authorized to
establish, maintain and extend a sewage system.
Water Supply - A village may provide for the development of a water supply
system.
Highways - The streets of a village are under the exclusive control and
supervision of the Board of Trustees or another officer to who control is
delegated by the Board. Repair and maintenance may be performed by the
village, or the village may contract with another municipal corporation or
private entity for services. The Board of Trustees is authorized to apportion
the costs of the repavement of a street wholly ,at the expense of the village,
wholly at the expense of the owners of the adjoining land, or partly at the
expense of each. A village may also petition for the creation of a
transportation improvement district.
Snow Removal A village is authorized to provide for snow removal or to
contract with the town within which it is located or with a private concern or
individual.
Recreation -A village may establish a recreation commission to equip, operate,
and maintain recreation centers.
Libraries - A village may organize and establish public libraries.
Private Contracts/Cooperative Contracts - Generally, a village may contract
with a private entity or with another municipal corporation for the delivery
of services.
Dissolution -If the Board of Trustees so decides, or by the filing of a
petition, a village may be dissolved following a referendum on the issue.
Justice Court - A village may establish a village justice court with up to two
justices and one acting justice. If a court is not created, the town justice
court has jurisdiction over offenses committed In the village, but any fine
money collected for violation of village local laws is returned to the
village.
10/13/2003
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