Activist Kevin Gaughan is calling for a “summer-long conversation” after planning to file petitions today calling for votes to dissolve the villages of Farnam, Sloan and Williamsville. Photo by David F. Sherman Purchase color photos at www.BeeNews.com Government reform activist and attorney Kevin Gaughan is expected to file a petition today to force a resolution on dissolving the village government of Williamsville.

Gaughan has been circulating the petition in the village since mid-March. Gaughan states that he has amassed 620 signatures on the petition that will be brought to Village Hall.

As a result of the New N.Y. Government Reorganization and Citizen Empowerment Act, a petition to bring a vote on dissolving a village requires 10 percent of the signatures of registered voters in the village.

In Williamsville, 373 signatures were needed.

The village administrator will have 10 days to review the signatures. After that, a referendum is required to be scheduled within 60 to 90 days.

Gaughan said he submitted the petition on a specific time schedule to allow the possible dissolution vote to be included as a referendum in the Primary Day elections on Sept. 14.

Gaughan intends to hold 10 community meetings prior to Primary Day. During the forums he will present his own suggestions for a dissolution plan and discuss benefits of dissolving Williamsville’s government.

“This is not an occasion to draw battle lines. It’s an occasion to engage in constructive conversation,” Gaughan said. “Whatever decision the residents make is going to be the right decision.”

Gaughan’s belief is that the government in Western New York is too large and costly and is inhibiting economic growth.

He said his intention is to encourage all municipalities in Western New York to reduce the size of their governing bodies.

Gaughan said he also seeks to establish dissolution referendums in all of WNY’s villages. He is intending to have two or three votes every two or three months until all the villages have voted, but has not yet decided which villages he will focus on next.

Gaughan said his downsizing and dissolution study work is funded in part by the Oishei, Wendt and Koessler foundations.

Gaughan said he sees four primary ways in which the region will benefit from village dissolution: lower taxes, a reduction of animosity between village and town governments, a more nurturing environment for economic growth through streamlined government, and an increased responsibility among citizens for their own affairs.

He has been successful in efforts to downsize boards in other communities.

“I haven’t lost yet, and frankly, I don’t expect to,” said Gaughan.