County News
Ballot question

Council gingerly wades back into the size-of-council pool
Should council be fixed? Is it in need of repair? Reorganization? Should council members be paid more than minimum wage? Does Prince Edward County need 14 members to make every decision?
In a week in which the province upended democratic power in municipalities such as Prince Edward County, Council decided to put the matter of its form and structure on the next election ballot. Coincidental but timely.
SOME BACKGROUND
It is just the first and likely easiest step along what may be a long and arduous journey. The County has been over this ground before. Indeed, it put a question like this on the ballot in the 2010 election. In that vote, 81 per cent of respondents were in favour of a review. But that effort hit a wall in the form of semantics—what does review mean?—and the refusal of some council members to acknowledge the will of the voters was the legitimate will of the majority.
Then, as now, some folks believe they are better attuned to the wishes of residents who don’t vote. Fewer than 50 per cent of eligible voters cast a ballot in the 2010 election. As such, the outcome did not compel Council to act. So it didn’t.
Council was able to kick the issue down the road a few years, but when the threat of an Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) hearing loomed, it agreed to reduce its size by two members— from 16 to 14. It was a change. Mind you, it was not much of a change, but it was considered sufficient to satisfy the OMB that the municipality had done something. They were right. Bloomfield was folded into Hallowell, and Sophiasburgh lost one of two members. And the OMB signed off.
That brings us to today.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Since early in this term, Chris Braney has advocated for a review of the Council’s size, structure and methods. After a couple of stalled efforts, the Hillier councillor concluded the debate would only move forward if prompted by a question posed on the ballot in the next election.
Three potential questions were drafted for a committee of council meeting last week. A consensus soon emerged.
The question: Are you in favour of a comprehensive governance review which would look at Council size, ward boundaries, structure and method of election?
There was broad agreement that the time was right to open up the issue again. Councillor John Hirsch said he has changed his view on the matter.
It’s time to ask the public if they are in favour of a comprehensive review,” said Hirsch. “ We are hearing every single day that people are dissatisfied. Respect for Council is dramatically lacking.”
Sophiasburgh councillor Bill Roberts believes Council should be smaller and that a governance review is overdue. He said the question posed is “clear, simple and objective. It is not prejudicial. It doesn’t predict an outcome. It has the gift of being comprehensive.”
While most council members want to see a review, some are worried about setting in motion a process that could reshape governance of the County.
Ameliasburgh councillor Janice Maynard proposed a telephone survey of residents to take the temperature of residents on the issue. The Ameliasburgh councillor worries her colleagues may be looking to solve a problem that doesn’t exist.
The motion’s sponsor, Councillor Braney, assured his colleagues that councils and boards should embrace reviews.
“This is a healthy process we should be looking at every five years,” said Braney. “Let’s give our residents a voice. I don’t want to overthink the outcome.”
Councillor Roy Pennell worried that rebalancing or reorganizing electoral wards could impact or diminish how wards view themselves.
Councillor Roberts dismissed this concern.
This doesn’t change townships or recreation committees hamlets, settlement identities or services,” said Roberts. “This is simply about political electoral districts. Putting the issue to the public in a democratic way is long overdue.”
Mayor Steve Ferguson endorsed the initiative.
“I think it is really, really important to do. And that we should do so more frequently than a quarter century,” said Mayor Ferguson.
The motion passed with just two dissenters. If ratified by Council next week, the question will appear on the ballot in the municipal election next year.
Comments (0)