$mart Review of Newark and Arcadia
by John Zornow
A program designed to help local governments become more efficient, called the $mart
Review, has just been completed and released by the New York State Comptroller's Office.
The State Municipal Advisory Review Teams recently worked with staff and officials from
the Town of Arcadia and the Village of Newark to review operations and develop
recommendations to find savings and efficiencies.
The purpose of the voluntary $Mart Review is to help local governments enhance revenues
with other than real property taxes; and to contain or reduce expenditures. 'Best
practices' were shared with local governments and changes to statutes were recommended as
a way to improve cost effectiveness.
This is a summary of recommendations by the $Mart Review team:
- Consolidation of Village and Town Justice Courts - The village would abolished their
justice court, but still receive fines for violation of village laws.
- Consolidation of Court Clerk Services - an alternative to abolishing the Village Justice
Court.
- Joint Construction and or Sharing of Salt/Sand Storage Facility - Newark and Arcadia
jointly constructing and using a sand/salt storage facility. Both village and town
officials agree that their respective salt storage facilities are inadequate and need to
be upgraded to comply with state regulations.
- Joint construction and/or sharing of a fuel storage facility with Newark, Arcadia and
the Newark School District participating. Allowing the local school district to be the
lead agency would permit a percentages of the cost to be coverd by state aid, currently at
90%.
- Consolidation of Village Street and Town Highway Departments - Explore the opportunities
for cost savings, economies and efficiencies that may result from consolidation of these
areas. Current facilities used by the village and town for the storage of highway and
street equipment are becoming inadequate for the number and types of equipment owned by
each municipality, and each facility will have to be replaced in the near future. Local
officials also indicate that neither the town or village facilities are ideally located.
This $mart Review has resulted in recommendations, specific to the village of Newark.
These recommendations have been discussed with village officials and a report was made
available for their review. Copies of the report are available at the village office.
Officials from the Town of Arcadia will receive a report containing recommendations
tailored to the opportunities identified for the town.
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