If the Village of Williamsville were to dissolve, residents would see both saving and losses, Williamsville Citizens Study Group leader Chris Duquin said at Sunday’s public meeting.

As a slideshow of images of life in the village played behind him, Duquin presented the results of structured interviews with village and town elected officials regarding likely scenarios for village dissolution.

If a referendum were to pass dissolving the Village of Williamsville, the Village Board would be responsible for developing a dissolution plan. The town would have to approve the plan, however.

Duquin stated that a 21-page report on the results of the group’s interviews is available at www.willvillstudy.com. A summary of its findings was distributed at the meeting.

If the village were to dissolve, its assets would be sold to either the town or a private party. The park system would remain intact, as it is held in public trust and cannot be sold without permission from New York State.

Funds raised from the sale of village assets would go to pay off the village’s debt. Currently, the village is carrying $4.7 million in debt. If the village dissolved, village residents would still be responsible for paying the debt. Town of Amherst officials have indicated that they would not accept a plan that calls for the town to assume village debt.

Though the fire department would remain, a special district would be created to fund it. Duquin pointed out that currently, the village has a great deal of say in the fire department’s budget, since it is funded out of the general village budget. There would be less government oversight through a special district.

Sewer services, storm drainage and police protection would not change. The garbage contract would remain the same, with a slight difference in the way yard waste is collected. The water system would be turned over to the Erie County Water Authority. The village is currently working toward that goal, but under dissolution, the process would be accelerated with less room to negotiate.

Duquin also stated that officials indicated clearly that sidewalk snowplowing would end, village committees would be discontinued, and the Town Community Plan, Zoning Board and Building Code would guide development in the village.

Based on the results of the interviews, it is the belief of the study group that dissolving the village would not result in significant tax savings. Any savings would come from the elimination of jobs and services.

“There is money to be saved, but you won’t save your whole tax bill. You won’t even save half,” said Duquin.

As he has done at previous meetings, Duquin encouraged attendees to make an informed decision when it comes to village dissolution. Several in attendance had already made up their minds.

“I came today because I wanted to make sure what I thought was true, was,” said Beth Delano. Delano’s husband, Dan, is the co-founder of Protect Village Life, a group that opposes dissolution. She had not attended previous study group meetings.

Jean Stadelman, who volunteers with Protect Village Life, has attended previous study meetings, but wanted to get more facts.

“I so appreciate that the group did this. What they’ve done is invaluable,” she said, echoing the sentiments of many who had attended the series of meetings.

Jody Eichhorn, a six-year village resident, also came in search of more facts.

“I wanted to really understand what’s going on. I thought the presentation was very balanced,” she said. “I’m still in favor of keeping the village as a village.”

Though Duquin does not plan to hold another public meeting, he says that the group will continue to take questions. It is also planning to compare village and town codes and to attempt to determine whether houses in the village generally sell for more than those in the town. It will disseminate this information online at www.willvillstudy.com.