Are Reform Efforts Working?

It has been more than two years since regionalism advocate Kevin Gaughan began pushing for local governments to downsize.  So what is the status of those efforts?

"We are poised to make substantial changes in the way we govern ourselves on a local level here in Erie County," said Gaughan.  He points to communities like Depew, Lancaster, the Town of Tonawanda and North Collins as municipalities that agreed to downsize or merge.  But other communities have been more resistant to change.  Lawmakers in towns like West Seneca and Amherst have rejected Gaughan's efforts.

Gaughan said at a time when people are losing their jobs and having to decide between energy costs and food, "the politicians response is oh no, we're not going to change ourselves."  But Gaughan added that by and large the public has said yes, they want change.  he hopes to use a little known petition law to force a referendum, as early as this spring for West Seneca and Amherst, and possibly Clarence, the Village of Blasdell and the Town of Evans, as well.  He also said he has five of eight Erie County lawmakers on board his effort to begin downsizing the Erie County legislature from 15 to 9.

Gaughan's critics include Jim Gardner, the Vice Dean for Academic Affairs at UBs law school.  "There's a difference between proposing regional solutions through consolidation of governments and proposing existing governments retain their current form and simply reduce the number of legislators they employ.  The latter is not regionalism.  It has nothing to do with regionalism."

Gaughan says a big reason for downsizing is the massive population loss in Erie County, therefore fewer lawmakers are needed.

Gardner says the merits of that argument are incorrect when applied to most suburban districts in the area, including Amherst, which continues to grow in size.  He also says fewer lawmakers means less responsive representation.  While he doesn't doubt there is waste, he doesn't believe it necessarily applies to every local government in the area.  As for the petition law that would allow citizens to force a referendum, Gardner says the whole reason the law exists is to allow people who live in a locality to govern themselves democratically.  Local governments account for more local self-government, according to Gardner.

Gaughan maintains taxpayer dollars are wasted with the larger boards and says few towns in the country have as many members as the towns and villages in Erie County.  He says he is pressing on with his efforts, convinced his efforts will bring about reform.