Holley board discusses dissolving police department
Village Board expects to make cuts to department or eliminate it
Photos by Tom Rivers: The Holley Village Board met on Tuesday at the American Legion for the board’s monthly meeting. From left include trustees Rochelle Moroz and Jessica MacClaren, Mayor Mark Bower, attorney John Sansone, and trustees John Morriss and Brenden Bedard.
HOLLEY – The Holley Village Board is discussing whether to eliminate the police department which accounts for over $500,000 to village taxpayers each year.
Mayor Mark Bower said the board is determined to try to bring down the tax burden in the village. Residents and some of the larger businesses in Holley tell him the taxes are too high in the village.
The board discussed the police department on Tuesday. Deputy Mayor John Morriss said the department accounts for $523,973 of the village’s $2,165,925 budget in 2026-27.
“If we dissolve (the police department), we need to have a plan in place for how our citizens will be protected,” Morriss said.
Holley needs to know from the Orleans County sheriff and the county legislators if there would be increased patrols and coverage in the village if the Holley PD were to dissolve, and would the county be expecting the village to pay for that coverage. Morriss said the village property owners already pay in county taxes towards the Sheriff’s Office.
“What would it cost us?” Morriss said during Tuesday’s meeting. “Would it be above what we’re already paying in taxes?”
Holley Police Chief Bob Barton is shown during Holley’s Flag Day celebration on June 13, 2025. Barton plans to retire as police chief in July 2027. He leads a department with two full-time officers and several part-timers.
The Holley PD has a chief, two full-time officers and six part-timers. There are officers on duty nearly 24-7. There are currently two night shifts not filled each week.
Each eight-hour shift costs the village about $200 to $250 for officer pay. If the police department continues, Morriss said the board and department could look at reducing some shifts when there are typically few calls.
During the month of July, Morriss broke down the call volume of about 100 calls for service: 15 calls on overnight; 16 from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.; 32 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; 6 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.; and 31 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
During the month of August, Morriss said Thursdays and Fridays were the busiest days while Tuesdays saw the fewest calls.
Mayor Bower said he would like the board to decide next month if it will look to either reduce costs in the department and keep it, or look towards dissolution.
If the police department is dissolved, the board could make the decision on its own or put it to a public vote. If the board makes the decision, it would be subject to a permissive referendum, where residents could sign a petition requiring a public referendum.
Either way, there would need to be public hearings to get input from the community.
Besides eliminating some shifts, Holley could have an acting chief among its officers after Chief Bob Barton retires. Barton is expected to retire in July. His salary for the year is $59,580.
The two full-time officers are paid $25.75 an hour and $27.81 an hour, respectively. The part-time officers range in hourly pay from $18.54 an hour to $27.81.
If there was an acting chief, that person would likely be paid $30 an hour, the board said on Tuesday.
If there is a public vote on dissolution, Mayor Bower said it will be in its own special election and not be included in the next village election which is in June 2028.
The sign on the police station says the PD has been serving the community since 1930.
