JULY 2, 2009

COUNTY LEGISLATURE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES REDUCING SIZE OF THE LEGISLATURE TO 13 MEMBERS FROM 15

The Erie County Legislature unanimously voted to reduce the size of the Legislature to 13 members from 15 and increase the length of terms to four years from two at its July 2 session.

The 14-0 approval of this local law reducing the size of the Legislature and lengthening the terms of office will go before the voters of Erie County in November, unless the administration vetoes this reduction effort.

The local law was sponsored by County Legislature Chair Lynn M. Marinelli, Majority Leader Maria R. Whyte, Government Affairs Committee Chair Legislator Barbara Miler-Williams and Legislators Betty Jean Grant, Michele M. Iannello, Kathy Konst, Daniel M. Kozub, Thomas J. Mazur, Robert B. Reynolds Jr. and Timothy M. Wroblewski.

"The action the County Legislature took today makes true reform a reality in putting the reduction of the Legislature to 13 members from 15 up to the voters of Erie County," Chair Marinelli said. "The Legislature both honored the work and effort of the 21st Century Commission and makes reform a reality. We have continually cut the County Legislature’s budgets through legislative action, and we will continue this financial prudence."

"This legislative body worked in a collaborative manner for the benefit of the entire constituency of Erie County to garner a compromise," Legislator 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. I will continue to inform and educate our constituency on the importance of understanding the referendum that will be on the ballot."

The Erie County Legislature was originally made up of 20 members, was downsized first to 17 members and downsized again to 15 members in 2003.

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