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.