4 months ago
The next time you look at a new map of Cattaraugus County, it will no longer include a small municipality near the Pennsylvania line.
For a village known to travelers as "The Gateway to New York," Limestone itself is now on a journey -- a journey into political oblivion.
"When you lose your village, you lose your identity factor," Former Limestone Mayor Ralph Battone said.
Battone certainly stirred the pot when he opposed dissolving his village, population 300, into the surrounding town of Carrollton at the end of 2010.
The two governments already share a municipal building and most of their services. And when Limestone residents were told consolidation would drop their taxes by 46 percent, they voted in favor of it this week by a three-to-one margin.
They also recently voted out Mayor Battone.
BATTONE: Are you going to listen to your finances or listen to your heart?REPORTER: Which one did you chose?
BATTONE: I listened to my heart.
For the last year, Battone had been at odds with the young Supervisor of Carrollton, David Frederick, who had been pushing for consolidating the two municipalities.
Frederick also happens to be married to Battone's daughter.
"I mean, the personal side had nothing to do with it," Frederick said.So what happens to Limestone now? There was talk of trying to change the name of the Town of Carrollton into the Town of Limestone. That didn't go anywhere. Instead Limestone will become a hamlet.
And guess who was appointed to the Carrollton Town Board? Ralph Battone.
REPORTER: Have you and your father-in-law buried the hatchet after this?
FREDERICK: Actually, he's working out on the town board quite well.
REPORTER: Do you think he's going to be a thorn in your side?
FREDERICK: He's always a thorn in my side. It doesn't matter. That's what in-laws do.
