The current fiasco surrounding the Village of Ellenville's fiscal crisis, if nothing else, reflects the country's current trend in bailouts for troubled entities. Ellenville's taxpayers can now proudly exclaim that we have our own, home grown AIG!

If ever a situation cried out for change, this is it. Therefore, I humbly offer several suggestions for consideration by village residents.

Firstly, it is only fair to say that more than a few members of our village board have long been aware of then-Village Manager Elliot Auerbach's shortcomings, which, for whatever reasons, were ignored. It seems that a host of residents, as well as village employees, were aware of his incompetence, while our government officials wore blinders.

That being said, I suggest that our current board members, during this extreme crisis, each work for $1 per year, since it is during their watch that, in effect, no one was minding the store. That's what they get paid for!

Secondly, this fiscal crisis suggests that it is, again, time for Ellenville residents to rethink the subject of dissolution!

The basic question before us is this: why do we need a separate and complex governmental structure for 4,000 residents? What benefits, if any, do we derive from our current system? What shortcomings would result to village residents if there were no village government?

Over the years, various studies have taken place on dissolving the Village of Ellenville. In each scenario, the move would benefit all village taxpayers with, you guessed it, lowered taxes!

But each time the subject matter began to take serious form, various objections were raised, which effectively snuffed out that flicker of hope for a progressive future for a community mired in stagnation.

Looking back at the negative arguments of yesteryear should be enlightening, and certainly many proponents of dissolution can offer others. Mainly, as I recall, the two major arguments against dissolving the village were: 1. Village residents would lose that personal touch of their government since the Wawarsing Town Board would be the governing body; and, 2. Village residents would lose the most precious commodity they had, the "mountain property"! It should be noted herewith that, in those days, the village still owned the mountain acreage!

Let's look at those arguments in today's light. Having our own village government is, to put it mildly, a fiasco! Can any village residents and taxpayers truly admit they are better off with its governance over the years, considering you are probably one of the highest-taxed, if not the highest, in the state? Can any of you out there, with a straight face, admit that you can see any greater benefit to talking with your village officials than if you spoke to your town officials? Look in the mirror, village taxpayers, and do you see yourself better off having a separate village government? Hmmmm!

Let's now look at the next former obstacle to dissolution. The former mountain parcel is now an interest-bearing account for taxpayers. What would happen to this money? Well, as it appears today, your village board would urge that over $1 million of it be used to cover their sloppy administration of recent years! Can you see any AIG here? Let's reward the folks who got us in this mess to begin with!

Let's examine how dissolution could work. Only village residents would vote on the proposal which would see our police department expanded to a town force, or street department would merge with the town highway department. We would organize a separate water and sewer department (similar to Napanoch and Kerhonkson), we would adopt a town manager form of government (and I vote for Mary Sheely for that position), and our office folks would join with our town's staff!

Naturally, there would need to be a meeting of the minds in establishing such an arrangement, but it can be done. As for the mountain money fund, I suggest it become a benefit for the town. As things go now, our village fathers will soon deplete it anyway.

The time has come to abandon our "little village" mentality and broaden our horizons to embrace the new reality. We are not the Ellenville of the '40s, '50s and '60s. Those are good memories and we should not abandon them. But it's time for Ellenville's residents to enter the 21st century with an open mind. If looking at our present village government and its performance hasn't convinced you, then it's back to the drawing board!

Bernie Wainer

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