In an effort to save money, village looks to consolidate the election cycle

Warwick — Mayor Michael Newhard and Village Board members discussed how to save some money at the first regular meeting of 2012 on Jan. 3 at Village Hall. The board believes it can save some money by cycling the election of the justice into the current configuration of elections for other officials. “(The village justice) ends up as a sole election next year,” said Newhard, who explained that the village used paper ballots last time to save some money. Yet each election requires additional expenses associated with the voting process. “I’d still need at least four election inspectors from 5:30 in the morning until 9:30 at night,” said village clerk Jo-Ann Rome. Each election inspector costs $10 per hour and each paper ballot costs approximately $0.57 cents. Were the village to use the voting machines, the cost of programming the machine and transporting it back and forth costs even more than a paper ballot. Fewer residents turn out to vote for the village justice than for such posts as mayor or trustee. Trustees Barry Cheney and Bill Iurato agreed that the sole election should cycle in with the others. “It’s two different branches of government,” said village attorney Michael Meth, who will determine how to transition the term of the village justice properly in order to hold one less election. In other news: The mayor congratulated Town of Warwick supervisor Michael Sweeton and councilman Russell Kowal who had been sworn in earlier in the day by U.S. Rep. Nan Hayworth. The board authorized payment of bills totaling $91,661.22 - Birgit Bogler