TOWN OF THOMPSON – If developers have their way, a new village would be created in the Town of Thompson.
The Village of Ateres is proposed along Route 42 to the Town of Fallsburg and Thompson Town Supervisor Bill Rieber has concerns.
“If you look at the history of Rockland County, for instance, that’s the smallest county – that’s the smallest county in the State of New York – they have 19 villages. This is ridiculous to have this many separate governments in one county, and this will probably be the start of many,” he said.
Senators James Skoufis (D, Cornwall) and Andrea Stewart Cousins (D, Yonkers) have passed legislation that would make it more difficult to form a new village.
“My bill, amongst some other things, raises the minimum population from 500 to 2,000,” he said.
Current village incorporation law does not include a provision for the environmental impact, Skoufis said.
