Amherst residents will vote in three months on whether to downsize their Town Board.

Board members voted, 5-1, Monday to set June 15 as the referendum date for the proposed local law that would downsize the board from seven members to five by 2014.

“I’ve been talking about a June referendum or a referendum in the spring for the two months I’ve been in office,” said Supervisor Barry A. Weinstein.

Weinstein said he proposed the June date so that residents can decide the downsizing issue before any future Town Board candidate plans a run for the seat vacated by Weinstein after he was elevated to supervisor in January.

If the downsizing resolution is approved by voters, Weinstein’s old board seat would be abolished in January.

Another board seat would be eliminated in 2014, skipping over one board election cycle so that, ultimately, two board seats would come up for election every two years. Currently, three board seats come up for election every two years.

Given the wording of the resolution, one of the three newly elected board members who supports the downsizing proposal — Richard “Jay” Anderson, Steven D. Sanders and Barbara S. Nuchereno —could be at risk of losing his or her own seat in four years.

The proposed law stipulates that should a seat become vacant between Jan. 1, 2011, and Jan. 1, 2014, that seat would be eliminated immediately.

Weinstein said he has talked with the town clerk about opening four to six polling places June 15, ideally on town-owned property to contain costs.

He added that because town residents would have fewer polling places available, compared with the general election in November, he is hoping the Erie County Board of Elections will allow residents to vote at any of the locations instead of being restricted to one.

“We’re trying to open it up to allow anyone to vote anywhere,” Weinstein said.

Council Member Mark A. Manna opposed the June 15 referendum date, saying that it was an inconvenience to citizens and a waste of taxpayer money to hold a referendum in June instead of adding the downsizing proposition to the regular ballot in November.