Hamburg Residents Vote to Cut Board by Two BUFFALO (wned) - Hamburg voters overwhelmingly approved cutting their Town Board from five-members to three, the fifth of five towns where voters had that opportunity and chose to do so.

The two seats will be eliminated January first, 2012.

Hamburg Supervisor Steven Walters led the charge against the vote, saying the board had cut taxes, staff and the size of government. Walters says the public wanted to send a message to Albany and this was their way to do it.

"The state law doesn't allow the public to hold a referendum against state government. They allowed them to hold a referendum against local government, and they took that opportunity," Walters said.

Activist Kevin Gaughan doesn't disagree that Albany had a lot to do with the vote. But he says Hamburg's efforts to cut government aren't enough.

"It's not enough...it still hasn't reduced the reality, which is that every Western New Yorker pays the fifth highest property taxes in America," Gaughan said.

Gaughan says next year's target for his activities is pushing for abolishing the county's 16-villages, with some already looking into dissolving.

East Aurora Mayor Clark Crook says he supports efforts to put the question on the ballot. © Copyright 2012, wned