BUFFALO, NY (WKBW) -- It was a low turnout for a public hearing on Thursday evening at the Old County Hall on the issue of down sizing the Erie County Legislature.
"One of the problems we are having all over New York State is layer, upon layer, upon layer, upon layer of government," said down sizing supporter Rus Thompson.
Kevin Gaughan, the man who lead the charge to reduce local government in several towns was also on hand.
"I came here to remind our County Legislators that they're just like our town and village representatives, they're part of a system that creates the fifth highest property taxes in America and as a result the County Legislature like our towns and villages has to downsize appropriate to our reduced population,: said Gaughan.
So far, Gaughan's message has struck a chord with voters in at least four towns.Residents in West Seneca. Hamburg, Orchard Park and Evans all voted to reduce their town boards by two members. Gaughan thinks Erie County should follow suit.
"It's almost impossible to find a County Legislature in America outside of New York that's more than seven or nine members no matter what the population," Gaughan said.
Erie County Legislature Chairwoman Barbara Miller-Williams disagrees. She says down sizing tends to hurt people who need the representation the most.
"I saw what can happen when you eliminate members of an elected body it reduces and diminishes the voice of the public who needs it so dearly, so I am certainly not a proponent of down sizing to nine," Miller-Williams said.
Despite the low turnout for the public hearing Gaughan is confident the issue will make it to a referendum in November that's when he believes the voter will make their voices heard. Miller-Williams hopes legislators will also have their say.
"I think that its equally important that we as a body deliver our message and we make it very loud and clear to our constituency why it would not be a good thing to downsize the Erie County Legislature down to his magic number of nine," said Miller-Williams.
