Opinion & Comments
There are currently discussions before the Brockport Village Board of a possible dissolution of the Village Court, which was formed in 2013. The Town of Sweden has no legal authority or input on that decision. By NYS Municipal Law, if the Village Court dissolves, the Sweden Town Court is obligated to take on those cases.
On December 22, 2025, I attended a Brockport Village Board meeting where the dissolution of the Village Court was an agenda item. At that meeting, I stated that the Town of Sweden had not been brought into the discussion on a potential dissolution. However, since that time, the Town has taken steps to prepare for the possible dissolution. We have moved forward with meetings with Mayor Ben Reed and Dr. Sandeep Singh to discuss the logistics of a possible transfer of cases to Sweden Town Court.
Subsequently, I have met with Sweden Town Court personnel, Town Attorney Jim Bell, and Finance Director Hiedi Librock. Based on the information gathered, the Town will be ready to take on the Village Court caseload as of July 1, 2026, if necessary. If needed, there will be personnel adjustments. This is an evolving situation, which we will continue to plan for.
I also attended the Public Information Session conducted by the Village Board on Friday, January 16, 2026. There were a number of misstatements and half-truths brought forward at the meeting. I do not plan to address all of them. However, I will emphatically state that the Sweden Town Court personnel, including the judges, are competent in their positions and well respected in NYS and Monroe County. Any remarks to the contrary are unfounded. The Town is respectful of the Village Court personnel; we would like the same in return. In addition, the minimum staffing levels of the court are based on population and dictated by NYS Municipal Law. We operate the court as efficiently as possible based on what NYS law dictates.
As a reminder, the Town of Sweden has no legal authority or input on the decision to dissolve the Village Court. By NYS Municipal Law, if the Village Court dissolves, the Sweden Town Court is obligated to take on those cases. We are ready and able to take on this additional caseload if the Village chooses to dissolve its court. I am happy to meet with any of our residents to discuss this matter further.
Patricia Hayles
Sweden Town Supervisor
