Melanie Lekocevic is reporting for the Capital Region Independent Media Ravena officials are considering the abolition of the village court as a cost-saving measure. At the June 2 village board meeting, Mayor Bill Misuraca introduced the idea saying, “...let Coeymans take over the duties as a cost-saving measure because we are always looking for ways to keep money in taxpayers’ pockets and do things more efficiently." The cost to operate the court exceeds the venue it generates by more than $40,000, the mayor said. “I don’t believe,...that a court should be a source of revenue — that is not what it is for. It is to correct improper behavior and encourage safety in the community,” Misuraca said. “...But I do believe it should take care of itself, or at least close to it; $40,000 a year is not close to it.” According to research conducted by village trustees Linda Muller and Mary Ellen Rosato, Coxsackie was one of the villages to recently do away with its court and transfer those responsibilities to the town court. There are five villages in Greene County and one village court; in Rensselaer County there are six villages and one village court, said Ravena village attorney Michael Biscone. The possible closure of the village court would not signal that more departments or responsibilities would be relinquished to the town, Misuraca said. “This isn’t a stepping stone to giving it all away,” he said. “That is not what I stand for, it is not what my board stands for, but this is worth looking at.” A public hearing will be held on the proposal at 6 p.m., June 16, at the village municipal building in Ravena. One person from the public will be allowed into the building at a time to voice their opinion, in compliance with social distancing guidelines. Read the full story in The Ravena News-Herald.