To the residents of Eldred:

The Town Board of Highland is about to abdicate its responsibility regarding the re-establishment of the town constabulary. We the people voted the members into their positions to represent us. We the people do not have enough information to make decisions about how to run the town.

What am I talking about?  The town board has just announced that there will be a referendum in the next election (November) on whether to reinstate the constables in the town. I personally do not know enough about the consequences, short- or long-term, of this decision. I’m not sure the rest of the town knows either, other than the fact of a yes or no reflex answer. 

This is why we elected a town board.  No offense to the recent speaker at the last town board meeting, but I still have myriad questions that I would need answers to before I could possibly vote on a topic that will affect the town for years to come.

What will the actual cost be to reestablish the constables?

I understand grants are involved; how does that work? 

Has the previous lawsuit been resolved?

Is the town establishing a new department to handle the personnel, hiring, scheduling, procedures, consequences etc.? 

How many constables are we considering? 24/7 coverage or 12-hour shifts only?

How many incidents during the past two to three years have the Sheriff’s Department handled?  

I have a hard time believing that grants are going to cover all the expenses of re-establishing the constables for this town for years to come. Personnel, cars (electric or gasoline), safety equipment, vehicle and liability insurance, any other benefits, training, etc.—the list is endless.

This is why we elected a Town Board. If they are not comfortable making the decision, how do they think that the townspeople can make an informed decision?

November 4  is right around the corner. How are we going to notify the town of this vote, and how will the referendum be phrased? 

In conclusion, if you can find satisfactory answers to ALL  of the above questions, and have no doubts, then by all means vote Yes.

BUT if you have more questions than answers for a November vote, then you should be voting No and waiting until next year to vote on the referendum.

Anthony Frey

Eldred, NY