Signatures Force Referendum in West Seneca BUFFALO (wned) - West Seneca residents are pushing back against the Town Board in a fight over the size of town government.

Board members rejected a proposal to cut the board from five to three on July 28, rebuffing the continuing calls from activist Kevin Gaughan to shrink the size and cost of local town and village boards.

In reaction, town citizens began collecting signatures to put the proposal on the November ballot, something allowed by state law.

Tuesday, supporters of a three-member board celebrated a victory by presenting petitions with more than 4,300 signatures to be delivered to Town Clerk Patricia DePaaquale.

Gaughan says that means it will be on the ballot, no matter what the Town Board wants.

"This November, West Seneca residents are going to have the opportunity to decide for themselves the shape and size of their local government," Gaughan said.

Gaughan says the signatures represent about 10-percent of the town's population.

Gaughan predicts there will be other ballot propositions in November to shrink boards in other communities and more next year.

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