Erie County Legislature Votes to Downsize

Matt Biddle 6

In a unanimous decision at the July 2 session, the Erie County Legislature voted to reduce its size from 15 members to 13 members. The Legislature also voted to increase the length of a legislator's terms from two years to four years in the same 14-0 vote.

This means the legislators want voters to decide on the provision on Election Day in November, barring any administrative veto. County Executive Chris Collins, however, has previously labeled the plan to combine downsizing and term length in the same vote as "sneaky." He has promised to veto the proposed law, saying voters should be able to decide on each provision separately.

Chairwoman Lynn Marinelli said the decision begins to make "true reform a reality" in Erie County. Legislator Barbara Miller-Williams said, "While it is not perfect, it is reform and we look forward to giving the people an opportunity to let us hear how they feel on resizing the Legislature."

Critics of the proposed law say it should reduce the size of the Legislature even more. Two plans that would have done that were not approved on Thursday, however. Plans to reduce the body to nine or 11 members did not garner enough support and were removed from discussions.

The Legislature has been steadily downsizing since it started as a 20-member body before being reduced to 17 members. In 2003, it was reduced again to its current size of 15 members.

If the plan survives executive veto and is approved by voters in November, it would go into effect in the 2011 election cycle.

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Comments

6 Comments Leave a comment

al labruna

July 3, 2009 2:21 PM

easy faux reform in lieu of any real fundamental change. my vote: booo!

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whatever

July 3, 2009 5:00 PM

It will probably win, but I'll vote no because of the term lengthening from 2 to 4 years. That's a worse negative than the reduction from 15 to 13 is a positive. Better to just reject this now and if any challengers defeat incumbents in Nov then maybe a better plan can happen after that.

QueenCity

July 3, 2009 8:08 PM

When can we get referendum Niagara County to merge with Erie County?

When can we get a referendum for Blasdell, Lackawanna and Buffalo to merge?

That merger could expand the successes of Lakeside Industrial Park to include all of the former Bethlehem Steel site....and the Historical Preservation might even be able to tackle the historic Bethlehem Steel Headquarters building if it hasnt already been demolished.

littleacorn

July 4, 2009 11:15 AM

When we downsized the Buffalo Common Council a few years ago the council succeeded in doing the same thing that the Erie County Legislators are trying to do, lengthen the terms from two years to four years for the remaining political hacks. Most voters in the city did not even realize that they were getting the wool pulled over their eyes. They thought they were voting for a smaller more responsive and responsible council and now they have a smaller council that does not have to be responsible or responsive for the first three years after an election.

I hope that the Erie County voters look back at the expectations of the longer terms in Buffalo and then ask , "What did Buffalo gain by giving these politicians a free ride for four years?"

July 5, 2009 6:09 AM

They should have gone all the way to 11....how much do we really gain if they double their term of office in exchange from dropping 2 legislators?

From the County Legislatures perspective...I wish they would put together a bipartisan commission to consolidate county and municipal functions...sort of as the Congress (House and Senate) did with the base closings many years ago.

Why not let the county take over municipal functions like accounting, payroll, auditing, controller (or is it comptroller), forecasting, purchasing, etc....if they can prove that they can do it cheaper...why...Id settle for even 10% of a metro government.

Personally, the county executive would never go for it but I think an anti-sprawl based county property tax code would be a great way. Halve property taxes with 20miles of the waterfront...and double them after 20miles until the Erie County Border is reached.

Blackrocklifer

July 5, 2009 5:10 PM

Too bad we couldn't downsize the County Executive position and send Chris "I hate the city" Collins packing. This guy lacks the vision to lead our county and his leadership will assure the same old sprawl without growth policy will continue.