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Towns Move Forward On Single Justice Plan

The towns of Harmony and North Harmony have ironed out a proposal to consolidate its courts.

Talks involving officials from both towns have been taking place since the beginning of the year. At that time John Brown, Harmony town supervisor, approached North Harmony to inquire whether the town would be interested in using a single justice to handle cases for both municipalities.

Brown said only a handful of cases go through Harmony Town Court each month. On the other hand, North Harmony Town Court may see up to 200 cases a month, many from traffic citations issued by police officers along Interstate 86 that runs through the town.

“It would be a benefit to the taxpayers,” said Brown, who noted that the town does not break even on the cost to operate and maintain the court.

In New York state, town and village courts handle both criminal and civil matters as well as collect fines, fees and surcharges. Cases are heard by elected justices who also can issue search warrants and orders of protection.

To consolidate the courts, Harmony and North Harmony will each have to abolish its justice positions and then establish a single elected position.

Under the proposal, Harmony would pay North Harmony $8,500 each year to cover clerk costs, contractual fees and other “overhead” costs. Cases would be heard in North Harmony, where the town in recent years has constructed a new municipal building where court is held.

The plan was put together by the town attorney in North Harmony based on a series of meetings held this year.

Robert Yates, North Harmony town supervisor, said while consolidating courts does not provide much of a financial incentive for the town, he supports sharing services and helping another municipality.

“This is just a good neighborly gesture,” Yates said. “It’s not going to cost us any hardship. … With their influx, we will hardly notice it.”

Moving forward with a single justice, though, is going to take some time. The towns are required to put together a consolidation plan then hold a joint public hearing to be announced at a later date. Approval is then needed by each town followed by the state Legislature. At that point, the consolidation effort is put to a public vote in each town.

“It’s a slow, slow, slow process,” Brown said.

Consolidating local town courts is not new to the area. In 2019, the towns of Mina and French Creek began looking into using a single justice. Sherman and Clymer later joined, and court for all four municipalities is currently held at Mina’s community center.

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