Leigh Anne Wacht About 30 residents from several sectors — firefighters, law enforcement, laborers and private citizens — united Monday night in a common effort to try to save their village.

Depew resident Leigh Anne Wacht led the meeting aimed at protecting the village from civil activist Kevin Gaughan and others who hope to circulate petitions to dissolve the village government.

The New N.Y. Government Reorganization and Citizen Empowerment Act, which took effect March 21, makes it easier for residents to realize the dissolution of their municipalities because citizens can force a public vote on the matter by providing a petition with signatures from 10 percent of the electorate eligible to vote in the previous year’s election. The previous requirement was 33 percent.

Wacht opened the meeting by touting the services provided by the village, from the Department of Public Works to firefighting to police. Discussions focused on if fire districts would have to be formed and on whether the towns would take over police liaison responsibilities that the Depew department currently supplies to schools.

“It’s another layer of democracy we’ll be removing,” Wacht said.

She added that special districts would have to be formed to pay off village debt and the towns may have to hire more workers to provide more services to those who formerly were village residents. She added that village dissolution also would mean larger areas for towns to cover, meaning longer response times to problems.

“Your tax bill will not go away,” she said.

About 1,080 valid signatures would be required from Depew voters to begin the dissolution process. The group has the goal of providing literature and going door to door to inform residents of the consequences of removing the layer of government.

Wacht also has been attending Lancaster meetings to share information and show support.

The Depew group meets at 7 p.m. the first and third Mondays of the month at the Twin Village Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 463, 97 Litchfield Ave.

Wacht made it clear why she organized the group.

“This is to save our village,” she said.

(Story ideas for this feature can be sent to Cheektowaga Bee Editor Matt Krueger, Bee Publications, 5564 Main St., Williamsville, or by calling 204-4915.)