The Village Board on Tuesday unanimously endorsed abolishing the village police department, pending a possible public vote on the matter.... Village residents now have until Feb. 22 to decide whether to challenge the board’s action. If a petition carrying the valid signatures of at least 625 registered village voters is submitted by that date, the village will hold a vote in which residents will decide whether to abolish the police force. If no petition is submitted, or if a vote is held and the results support the board’s action, the village police force could be dissolved by Jan. 1, 2011.... If the police department is disbanded, law enforcement in the village would be handled by a consolidated town of Saugerties police force. That force, which would use some officers from the current village department, would have 13 officers, five sergeants and two detectives.... Village officials previously said if the village police force was not abolished by the end of 2010, there could be a village property tax increase of at least 25 percent to maintain current services.