Council advised to eliminate fee for registering complaints against council
Niagara Falls city council is shelving a recommendation to eliminate a $500 filing fee when it comes to registering complaints against council.
Ontario's Ombudsman has advised council to do that.
However, Councillor Mona Patel says a filing fee causes people to rethink a potential complaint, and thus saving taxpayers money. "Real complaints will get washed up in frivolous complaints, and the cost of all the complaints will be outrageous. I can't even imagine, if we didn't have $500 fees, we'd have complaints after every meeting... 10 complaints."
Councillor Lori Lococo agrees with the Ombudsman, adding the $500 fee should be reduced.
City Clerk Bill Matson says when the fee was $200, the city spent just over $90,000, and when it rose to $500, the city spent over $135,000.
"There was roughly 8 or 9 complaints filed, when that fee was $200. Since then, in 2022, when that fee was $500, we're roughly at the same number."
He also referred to the use of fees in general, saying if there wasn't a fee to run for mayor, there would be pages of names for candidates, of people who simply want to see their name on the ballot.
Temporary Patio Program Turned Down
Port Colborne Trying to Reduce Water Rates
Province Supporting Niagara Festivals
2nd Suspect Arrested in Vape Store Theft
Man Charged with Sexual Assault
Public Health Asking for $42-Mill
Fort Erie Increasing Pressure on Niagara Health
150th Birthday Celebrated at Montebello Park