Some councillors struggled with the change from 8 to 6, other Niagara communities are doing same
City of Thorold the latest Niagara municipality to move toward reducing the size of its council.
It voted 8-1 on Monday for Councillor Ken Sentence's motion to change it from 8 councillors to 6, he pointing out they must do something to avoid forced amalgamation with another city.
Councillor Carmen DeRose added he's for smaller government, but also struggled with it. "This is what frustrates me, the region should be the first ones doing this, about what they're going to do to reduce. We're going to do our part, because we're a municipal government, we're more transparent, and more efficient financially."
Port Colborne, Welland, and Niagara on the Lake are all moving toward reducing council sizes, but to do so the provincial government must approve these changes in time for the October provincial municipal elections. If not, these changes wait another 4-years.
Councillor Mike De Divitiis says it's about the small things, which government doesn't think about. "In business you do, because when you think about the small things, it makes a big impact. I was taught that at a young age, by a man when I was pushing a broom around, he kept saying to stay focused on the small things. That guy went on to be a entrepreneur hall of famer in Niagara, my father."
Councillor Jim Handley was the only vote against changes, saying local representation is needed, especially if the Niagara region could be on the chopping block.
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