The Town of Crawford will hold a combined election, or referendum, on December 12 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the town hall, where residents can vote on whether or not to turn the municipality into a coterminous village town.

If approved, the town board will create a village and consolidate it within the town, preventing any future villages from developing in Crawford. Town Supervisor Charles Carnes, during the town’s September 21 meeting, explained that the consolidation would maintain residents’ taxes, Crawford’s open space, and the board’s control over its municipal boundaries. The town’s boundaries and services would also remain the same.

“If another village was formed, they can change the zoning, they can form their own government, and we’re all going to be paying for it,” Carnes said during the meeting. “This gives, in my opinion, the residents protection and the master plan gives us more control.”

“The borders stay the same, the police department stays the same, the fire department stays the same, the highway department stays the same,” he continued.

During the election, residents will answer two questions: one asking to create the village, the other asking to consolidate it with the town. Residents who want the consolidation need to answer ‘yes’ to both questions, otherwise, their vote will be void.