By Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – The Erie County Legislature holds a public hearing Thursday night on downsizing. The hearing is scheduled for 6:00 at County Hall downtown.
The County Legislature currently has 15 members. There are four proposals under consideration that would reduce that number.
The first would trim the size of the Legislature by two with lawmakers continuing to serve two year terms. The second proposal calls for an 11 member body but their terms would be extended to four years. The third option also calls for 11 legislators but their terms would stay at two years. And a fourth proposal championed by the Legislature's Republican minority would reduce the number of lawmakers to nine, each serving for two years.
Last year, the Legislature actually approved a downsizing measure that would have reduced its size to 13 while extending terms to four years. County Executive Chris Collins, however, vetoed the downsizing measure because of he opposed the longer term.
For now, it appears there are eight eight votes for an eleven member Legislature. If signed by the county executive, the downsizing measure would go before voters this November.