CORNWALL – City council has decided not to make a decision right away on whether to have fewer councillors or a ward system after the next municipal vote in 2022.
Council deferred the idea Monday night in order to get more information after some councillors expressed concern that workload wasn’t addressed. The city will research workload in other municipalities.
If it wants to reduce the size of council, it would have to pass a bylaw by the end of 2021.
As for wards, many on council believe there should be a public town hall meeting before any decision is made because public opinion is virtually split. Logistics on the meeting need to be worked out for that in the age of COVID-19.
In other council news:
- Council approved the terms for bidders to submit proposals for three playgrounds. It also approved the increased budget of $150,000 (from $100,000) from the Federal Gas Tax for a ‘wow-worthy’ play area at the Benson Center.
- Bag tags at $1.50 each for extra residential garbage plus a bulky item pickup program was approved. The weekly amount of garbage bags allowed per household will be four, starting Monday (Oct. 5).
- An application to Ontario Connecting Links has been approved to look at the first step towards repairing Brookdale Avenue from Seventh Street West to Fourteenth Street West. If approved by the province, the $300,000 environmental assessment would also study the Rotary Traffic Circle.