ALBION — A standing-room-only crowd gathered at Village Hall on Wednesday evening as the Board of Trustees tackled a topic that could fundamentally alter the future of local governance: the potential dissolution of the village. Mayor Angel Javier Jr. and trustees conducted a public hearing regarding the consideration of consolidating the Village of Albion into the surrounding Town of Albion. The meeting room, filled with approximately 55 residents, was the venue for a robust debate on the merits and drawbacks of such a move. The hearing opened with a unanimous vote by the board. Following the formalities, the floor was opened to the public, where discussion was spirited. According to the minutes, community members questioned why the consolidation measure was being considered and asked clarifying questions about the next steps in the process. Public opinion appeared divided, with speakers both advocating for the dissolution and arguing against it. At one point, the board voted to extend the speaking time for Attorney Weiss by two minutes to ensure legal points could be clarified. They also allowed resident Joe Martillotta to speak a second time. The hearing was officially closed at 6:48 PM. No final decision on dissolution was made during this meeting; the hearing was a required step to gauge public sentiment and gather feedback as the board continues to study the potential impact of such a consolidation. Outside of the high-stakes discussion on governance, the board managed the financial operations of the village, approving a significant slate of bills totaling over $91,000. Trustees voted to pay vouchers #48434 through #48502, covering expenses for the General, Water, Sewer, and Capital funds. The total payments included $60,203.63 for General expenses, $15,642.42 for Water, $13,617.58 for Sewer, and $1,619.00 for Capital projects. The Board also made minor adjustments to the 2025 and 2026 budgets. Notably, they moved to increase revenue line items for the 2026 July 3rd celebration, accepting a $100 donation from St. Mary’s Athletic Club which will be placed in reserves. For the current budget, the board approved an increase of $3,146.12 in the Water Fund budget to cover fuel expenses for the sludge truck. In personnel matters, the board addressed a request from an employee who had previously chosen not to accept a 4% raise in the 2025-2026 budget. The employee had requested ten personal days. The Board, however, moved to offer a compromise of three personal days instead. The motion carried with a vote of 4-1. Mayor Javier, Deputy Mayor Greg Bennett, and Trustees Joyce Riley and William Gabalski voted in favor. Trustee Tim McMurray cast the lone nay vote. The employee ultimately chose not to accept the three days offered. Two topics, a quote for rewiring work and a matter regarding FEMA, were tabled and are scheduled to be addressed at the next meeting on July 9, 2025. The meeting also included a brief executive session to discuss contracts before adjourning just before 8:00 PM.