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Freshmen County Legislators Unveil Reform Package

By Mark Scott

Buffalo, NY – Three freshmen members of the Erie County Legislature presented a package of reforms Wednesday.

Legislators Kathy Konst, Cindy Locklear and Michele Ianello say they were all elected last November on reform platforms. So, Wednesday, they unveiled a five-point reform agenda to increase government transparency, accountability to the public, best practices and fiscal responsibility. They're also proposing a structural overhaul of county government -- something that a charter review commission is now undertaking.

Konst said many of the reforms they're proposing are simple "nuts and bolts" measures.

"Everything from offering periodic evening meetings so that the public can participate to having really good analyses of each department to make sure they're operating efficiently so that we don't waste money," Knost said.

Konst says they want to make county government more "user-friendly," shifting the paradigm from "can't" to "can do."

"We've been meeting together for two months. Part of what we learned is how we operate as a government. But we haven't had a lot of time to talk about getting some of these reform agenda items into play."

Konst said she and her two colleagues are well aware of voter frustration with county government. She said they're hoping other legislators will buy into their reform agenda and that they'll have the votes to pass it.