There is a proposal to create a single village within the Town of Crawford. Though it’s far from a done deal, the Crawford Town Board has taken steps to preserve the autonomy of the two fire districts that currently serve the town.

The town board, last week, adopted a resolution at the request of the Bullville Fire Commissioners that would preserve the Bullville and Pine Bush Fire Districts in the event of the creation of a consolidated and/or coterminous village with the town of Crawford. Some fire departments, it was noted, are operated by the village government which controls their budget and votes on purchases like new fire apparatus. Others are governed by a board of fire commissioners, with their own authority to levy taxes and hold special elections when proposing major purchases like new apparatus or a new fire house. Bullville and Pine Bush currently fall into the later category and would remain that way if a village is created.

There is currently a petition circulating throughout the town to incorporate a village of Crawford within the entire boundary of the town. This would effectively prevent future village incorporations within the town, should new population centers emerge within the town in the future.

Carnes said the petition still needs an additional 150-200 signatures before the matter could be brought to a vote.