Cazenovia Voices Coalition: Madison County FAQ - Send Your Feedback

Welcome to the latest Cazenovia Voices Coalition update.
Many of you are new here — thank you for paying attention and stepping in. This list exists because Madison County is moving to purchase Reisman and Sigety Halls on the former Cazenovia College campus to house the Sheriff’s office and emergency services. Our concern is with the lack of transparency, the speed of the process, and the impact on our school zone, business district, and village character.
Our new web page, Cazenovia Voices Coalition, provides an overview of the issue and our initiative. We continue to post our email updates at https://www.arc-c.org/arc-c-blog.
On to the latest: 

1. County “FAQ” Released – What It Says and Why It Matters
Madison County has now posted an online “FAQ” about the planned Sheriff’s office and emergency services move. They are even inviting residents to submit feedback through a form on their website: Madison County FAQ and feedback form.

This information is helpful — but it comes far too late. For nearly a year, County, Village, Town, and 9 Fresh leaders kept the negotiations out of public view. If this type of FAQ had been released at the beginning, residents could have been part of a genuine planning process. Instead, we are left reacting after decisions are already before the Attorney General.

Where Was This in the Public Record?
County leaders now point to board minutes as proof that the deal was “public.” But the agendas never referenced Cazenovia or Reisman and Sigety Halls directly. Instead, they buried the transaction in vague language that no ordinary citizen could recognize as concerning the sale of a central village property.

For example, the May 2025 agenda listed the matter simply as:
“RESOLUTION NO. 25-145 AUTHORIZING CHAIRMAN TO EXECUTE AN OFFER TO PURCHASE AND CORRESPONDING DOCUMENTS FOR REAL ESTATE PURCHASE.”

Without naming Cazenovia or the campus, how could any resident know to show up at that meeting and ask questions? The information may exist in the fine print, but withholding clarity is another form of secrecy.

Points to Consider When You Read the FAQ

• “Private transaction?” The FAQ calls this a private deal. But Madison County is a public entity spending taxpayer money. That makes it a public decision, requiring accountability to the public.
• Sheriff’s office description: The section on uses begins with “At this time…”  — meaning nothing is guaranteed. Without binding agreements, the range of possible uses is wide open, and residents have no assurances about the long-term scope of operations.
• Community voice: The FAQ asks for feedback now, but the absence of disclosure up front has already undermined trust. Feedback after a deal is nearly finalized is not the same as meaningful input before decisions are made.

2. What We Can Do Now
Tell the county what you think
Share your concerns about transparency, zoning, equity, and the long-term impacts of this move on Cazenovia and Central New York. And when you do, ask yourself this question: Why is the County only asking now, instead of when this deal was first under discussion? (Madison County FAQ and feedback form).

Sign and share our petitions
We’re at nearly 240 signatures on the petition to the Attorney General & at 190 signatures on the petition to the Village Board. Please share these petitions widely. Anyone can sign, whether Cazenovia village or town residents, or beyond. This is a New York State issue!
- Petition to the Attorney General – Pause the Purchase
- Petition to the Village Board - Uphold Zoning & Public Process

Spread the word
Share the Cazenovia Voices Coalition and the blog updates page.

Disclaimer on this Email Group
This mailing list includes a wide range of people, including some directly involved in the Reisman/Sigety Hall deal. 
Please keep in mind:

• We use blind copy (bcc) to prevent addresses from being used for other purposes.
• If you prefer not to receive these updates, you may opt out at any time by emailing: [email protected] 
• If you are new to this group, complete information and previous posts (transcripts, etc) can be found on the Cazenovia Voices Coalition page.