West Seneca & Evans Vote: How Many Politicians Are Needed?
Voters in Evans and West Seneca go to the polls today, to decide on shedding 2 elected officials from the town board, in an effort that advocates say could save millions if duplicated in each town in the county.
If approved the measure would take a four member town board and reduce it to 2 board members and a town Supervisor, as part of the town's next elections.
The issue was first brought to the towns by activist Kevin Gaughan, who spearheaded a petition drive to get today's referendum on the ballot. Gaughan claims that if each town in Erie County were to reduce the size of it's elected officials by 2, it would save.
He says similar plans are being prepared for Alden, Cheektowaga and Amherst where petitions are either already circulating or being prepared.
"Here in Erie County we have 439 elected officials. That's more than ten times the number of any like sized community in America. And if you think about it, what that means is here in Erie County we have more politicians representing ourselves than represent the entire nation in the (House of Representatives)... and it turns out to sustain those 439 elected officials and their staff, Western New Yorkers pay on an annual basis $32 million, " Gaughan says.
Opponents of the referendum have argued that fewer board members could jeopardize the municipality's bond rating, result in less representation, and more gridlock.
"For a dollar a person, you've got councilmembers at your beckon call every day," argues Deputy Evans Supervisor Karen Wilikinson. " I don't know if that's enough of a savings.".
Attorney Craig Bucki, who has debated Gaughan on the issue, has researched the history of downsizing in the Buffalo region and found that it was reversed in 1917 in Buffalo, and actually resulted in a higher staffing cost after reductions were made to the Erie County Legislature in 1981.
The voting begins at 11am in both towns, in a consolidated series of polling places listed below.
"I believe that will shut out some people, but that is what a majority on my board decided to do. is make it from 11 in the morning until 9 pm..." says West Seneca Supervisor Wallace Piotrowski, a downsizing supporter.
" This easily could have been put on the ballot in last November... putting it in the beginning of June, on a Wednesday, with reduced number of hours and locations is going to reduce the turnout but I'm still confident that enough residents are going to turn out and pass this measure. But I do think that's what (the town board) was trying to accomplish, is reduce turnout with these restrictions."
Propositions & Polling Places
Evans Ballot
YES or NO
"Shall the representation on the Town Board be decreased from four (4) Council Members to two (2) Council Members in the Town of Evans, New York, such that the Evans Town Board shall be comprised of the Supervisor and two (2) Council Members beginning on January 1, 2010?" |
West Seneca Ballot
YES or NO
"Shall the number of council members be reduced from four to two in the Town of West Seneca?"
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Evans Polling Places Open 11am-9pm
Your usual general election voting locations have been consolidated into 7 polling places. Check your voter registration card to match a voting district with the following locations:
District 1: Evans Senior Center
Districts 2, 4 & 11: John T. Waugh School
Districts 3 & 14: Evans Center Fire Hall
Districts 5, 9, & 16:
Highland Hose Volunteer Fire Hall
Districts 6, 12 & 17: Lake Erie Beach Fire Hall
Election District 7: Evans Town Hall
District 8 & 15: Most Precious Blood School
District 10: North Evans Fire Hall
District 13 : Evans Town Park Shop |
West Seneca: Polling Places Open 11am-9pm
Your usual general election voting locations have been consolidated into 5 polling places. Check your voter registration card to match a voting district with the following locations:
Election districts: 1, 18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,33,41,46
Winchester Community Church
Election districts 2, 3, 6, 35, 36, 43, 47:
East Seneca Fire Hall
Election districts: 4, 5, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 32, 37, 38, 42, 45
Vigilant Fire Hall
Election districts: 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 29, 30, 31, 40, 44:
Reserve Fire Hall
Election districts: 26, 27, 28, 34, 39, 48, 49, 50:
Reserve Fire Hall #2
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