Saying they’re logistically challenging and not worth the expense, Chatham-Kent council won’t hold more traveling meetings in each ward.
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A staff report recommended the meetings continue for the rest of the term in Blenheim, Ridgetown, Dresden, Wallaceburg and Tilbury, with a maximum cost of $23,000 coming from reserves.
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The idea initially came up in 2018, when council sought a report on the feasibility of off-site meetings. Council met at Tilbury’s Ryder Hall as part of a pilot project the following year.
But the COVID-19 pandemic scuttled further efforts, as council met virtually from March 2020 to November 2022.
South Kent Coun. Anthony Ceccacci said the cost and time involved meant traveling meetings didn’t make sense. He suggested putting the money toward community open houses or PIC (public information centers) as “contentious or challenging” issues arise.
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There are always challenges going off-site, Ceccacci said, and no guarantee agendas would include an issue specific to the hosting ward.
“To be honest with you, I haven’t really heard from one constituent that says this is a good way to spend money,” he added. “I’m not saying that it’s a bad way.”
Mayor Darrin Canniff, who had promoted the idea of meetings in all wards, said he simply wanted the report to come before council so a decision could be made post-pandemic.
He said he would defer to council’s will, noting he also hasn’t received a single comment about it.
“I felt obliged to bring it back again given that we didn’t finish that mandate,” he said. “Bottom line, we have to look at, is there a benefit to it? . . . I’m not married to either side of it.”
West Kent Coun. Melissa Harrigan, who also served last term when the Tilbury pilot meeting took place, said while residents appreciated the opportunity, they would prefer public engagement sessions relevant to the ward.
“Certainly over the last couple of years, I have seen much increase in the amount of social media presence and engagement around issues in the backyards across Chatham-Kent,” she said.
Dec. 11 was the final council meeting of the year, with the next one slated for Jan. 15.
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