Former Brooks-TLC CEO Richard Ketcham encouraged Fredonia officials last week to consolidate services with nearby municipalities.

Ketcham, a Fredonia resident, spoke at a workshop of the Fredonia Board of Trustees. He argued that change is inevitable in the composition of local municipal services.

Ketcham started his talk by pointing out that none of the top 10 largest companies in the United States from 50 years ago are still in the top 10.

He stated that in order to emphasize, “It’s just amazing what has changed, and the rate of change. The only constant is change — and I am pleased there seems to be an increase in interest in looking at change in the village and northern Chautauqua County, whether that be schools, police, fire, water.”

Ketcham offered the opinion, “I find it difficult to imagine that there’s anyone — or perhaps very few that are here today or are in this village — who believe that 10 years from now, certainly 50 years from now, that we are going to have separate police, water, fire, schools. We have got to come together.”

He concluded, “We just cannot continue to do the same thing the way we’ve always done it. I’m pleased to see there’s interest, I think there’s a lot of interest in the village. I appreciate the leadership from this group, and encourage you to embrace the future — with leading for a change.”

Ketcham spoke as the village and the city of Dunkirk eye a state-sponsored study on consolidating the municipalities’ fire and police services. Many Fredonia officials are also interested in the village purchasing water from either the North County Water District or directly from the district’s own supplier, the city.

Ketcham played a role in getting state funding freed up for Brooks-TLC’s new hospital in the village. He was a member of a blue ribbon committee that successfully lobbied for the funds to get released.