Smaller council push stalls

London councillors couldn't decide on any key size issues after two hours of debate last night.
JOE BELANGER, Free Press City Hall Reporter 2005-05-06 01:42:46
 

The London councillor who led the push for a smaller council says he doubts changes will ever be made.

Coun. Fred Tranquilli made the comment last night after council, meeting as a committee, was unable to decide on any key issues about council size after two hours of debate.

The only common ground found was to ask the public for input on four options at a May 18 meeting.

"Clearly, asking politicians to eliminate their own jobs is probably not the best way to reduce the size of council," Tranquilli said. "I don't think at the end of the day any changes will be made, but council does need to make a decision and put the issue to rest."

A number of motions were debated, defeated or abandoned, including a call from Coun. Roger Caranci to set up a task force, another to keep board of control and one to keep the status quo.

Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco then brought the debate to an end with a motion to go to the public.

Council wants input on four options:

- Maintaining the four-member board of control with a mayor and 10-member council representing 10 wards.

- Abolishing board of control and keeping 14 councillors with each representing a ward.

- Abolishing the board and leaving the number of councillors and wards the same at seven.

- Maintaining the status quo.

Any change in council size must be approved by Jan. 1, 2006, to be in place for next year's municipal election. That means a decision must be made by mid-June to allow time for Ontario Municipal Board appeals.

DeCicco said council needs to get the public more involved since the impact of change goes beyond a simple reduction in council size.

"If we cut the size of council, there could be less representation, one councillor per ward instead of two . . . full-time councillors instead of part-time," DeCicco said. "Those are pretty fundamental questions and people have to think these issues through."

London is the only city in the country with a board of control. The board deals with financial, legal, contractual and property issues.

In a referendum during the November 2003 election, 76 per cent of voters wanted to see a smaller council and 55 per cent wanted to abolish board of control.

The result wasn't binding because voter turnout was only 35 per cent, less than the required 50 per cent.

Deputy Mayor Tom Gosnell appealed to council to drop the issue, saying the public simply wants better government.

"This council and the structure is the envy of every other council in the country," Gosnell said.

"(The public wants change) because the last council wasn't effective, efficient, responsible or accountable. They just want us to get our act together."

But some councillors were clearly frustrated others wanted to ignore the referendum.

"The results were pretty clear," said Coun. Bill Armstrong.

"If you want to dismiss the results, go ahead. It's your choice, but my conscience is clear."

Coun. Joni Baechler echoed Armstrong's frustration at the indecision.

"It was a mandate for this council and not something to be deferred for another council to decide," Baechler said.





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