Task force recommends scrapping board of control

London Free Press Tue, November 25, 2008 By JONATHAN SHER, SUN MEDIA

A London task force has recommended scrapping the city's board of control, leaving the shaky fate of that institution in the hands of city council. The governance task force, which includes politicians and citizens, made the recommendation today after its final meeting in a process whose genesis was a municipal ballot question in 2003. Back then, Londoners voted to scrap the board and reduce the size of council. The vote was ignored by council because fewer than half of eligible voters had cast ballots. Council's inaction led to a challenge by a citizens' group and a decision by the Ontario Municipal Board to double the numbers of wards and halve the number of councillors in each. It appears more likely than not that the board's days are numbered — controllers who support it appear resigned to defeat.