The Amherst Bee has learned that Barry Zeplowitz and Associates conducted a village survey last week and found that only 10 percent of respondents support dissolving the Village of Williamsville.

The survey asked, “If a referendum to dissolve the Village of Williamsville were held today, would you vote to dissolve the village or vote against dissolving the village?”

One hundred ninety-nine of those responding stated that they would vote against dissolving the village, with another 23 leaning against dissolution. Only 20 respondents stated that they would vote to dissolve, with another 11 leaning toward village dissolution. Forty-four respondents were unsure of how they would vote. This translates to 75 percent opposed, 10 percent in favor and 15 percent undecided.

Of those respondents who are opposed to dissolving the village, an overwhelming majority state that nothing could change their minds. Two percent indicated that concrete evidence of lower taxes could change their minds, and 5 percent indicated that other savings could change their minds.

The survey also asked respondents about their impression of civic activist Kevin Gaughan. Thirty-nine percent of respondents said they had a somewhat unfavorable or very unfavorable opinion of him, while 18 percent said they had a somewhat favorable or very favorable opinion of him.

Of the respondents, 38 percent identified themselves as Democrats and 39 percent identified themselves as Republicans, with 23 percent stating that they were unaffiliated.

In the survey narrative, Barry Zeplowitz said, “The Village of Williamsville will not be dissolved through the ballot box based on the responses to this survey. There is very strong opposition to dissolving the village, and Kevin Gaughan, the leader of the effort, is very unpopular among voters who are aware of him in the village.”

The survey was carried out on May 6. The company sampled 300 village residents. The margin of error was 5.7 percent.