Could a Merger Be on the Way?

Could the battles between Sussex and Town of Lisbon be coming to an end?

The Sussex Sun is reporting the Lisbon Board of Supervisors is exploring the possibility of holding a referendum to allow the community to merge with Sussex.

If the referendum vote is successful, the two communities would form a steering committee to form the new community.

Sussex and Lisbon have been at odds over the years with issues related to detachments of properties into the village and opposition Sussex showed during the unsuccessful by Lisbon to incorporate into a village.

Sussex leaders issued a press release Thursday stating the idea was discussed at a recent meeting between the two communities and a merged community could help the area become stronger as it competes economically on a global setting.

“If Lisbon is interested in studying the possibility of consolidating, the Village Board is interested in participating in that study," village President Greg Gotez said in the release. "The Village is willing to work together with Lisbon if and when they feel their community discussion leads to that point."