By Eric O'Connor
Buffalo, NY – Erie County Clerk David Swarts is proposing a merger with the city's clerk's office.
At a downtown news conference Wednesday, Swarts said such a move would lead to the consolidation of records and archives of the county and the city into one central location. He envisions a building where students and curious citizens alike could come and look at the area's historical documents and maps.
Swarts said he hopes to reach out and include other area groups in the project.
"Perhaps we can explore a relationship with the Historical Society, or Albright-Knox Art Gallery, or many of the geneological societies that exist throughout this community to kind of centralize all of this," Swarts said. "We can create, if you will, the kind of museum that exists in Washington where people can go and research in one location."
Swarts said the county is running out of space to house its records. With the retirement of City Clerk Charles Michaux, he said it is the perfect time to explore the idea of consolidation.