A recommendation to reduce the Blind River council size with an estimated saving of $21,500 was received with mixed reactions by the current council at its virtual on Tuesday. Council did approve a recommendation to gather public input before a final decision is made.
Council has been conducting a service delivery review since 2019 to find cost savings through greater efficiencies for the town. The recommendation is based on several options by KPMG to cut costs as part of restructuring governance and has already resulted in council reducing the number of committees it has.
The issue was brought forward to council for consideration by CAO/Clerk Katie Scott for the first meeting in April.
Blind River currently has seven members with the mayor Sally Hagman, councillor-deputy Paula Summers and councillors Betty Ann Dunbar, Jim Dunbar, Jennifer Posteraro, HP Roy and Steven Wells.
The seven-member council costs taxpayers about $100,000 annually in honorariums, and benefits. Reducing the size of council means an annual estimated saving of $21,500.
When council cut its committees, the option to reduce council was deferred and put on Tuesday’s agenda.
Blind River council could be reduced to five members under the Municipal Act and is considered the minimum for a town of about 3,500 residents.
To move ahead with the recommendation, council would have to pass a bylaw for the cutback by December this year in advance of the October 24, 2022, municipal election.
Scott, in her report, said public feedback on such a plan should be part of the decision-making process.
“Council should take into consideration that residents of the community may not want to have a reduction to their political representation and as such public engagement should be considered by Council prior to voting on the governance change,” she stated. “The municipality has had an uptake in public survey responses and this could be considered as part of the engagement. As well as through our public newsletter, webpage, etc. to gauge the public’s views on this decision.”
On the issue of reduction, councillors made it clear reducing the number of council members could add considerably to the caseload now experienced by members and reduce the input on issues by members of the public represented by councillors in different parts of Blind River.
“My caution would be the voices that we would lose at the table,” Coun. Posteraro said, noting it was awkward discussing the reduction of council by current members including those considering re-election. “The perspectives of multiple demographics, generations are very valuable at the table so a very limited council with the mayor and the four councillors… and this would limit that (public input).”
“I know this resolution is just asking for public opinion, but I don’t think the average citizen understands the amount of work that goes into being a councillor, all the committees and boards that people would have to sit on and I believe if it was reduced to four that would be pretty much a full-time job,” she added.
“I think the survey is an excellent idea,” Coun. Wells said. “I think when we make that survey available to the public it should be made clear it’s a recommendation through the service delivery review.”
“If there were only four councillors instead of six it would increase the workload of the councillors at the table,” he said.
Coun. Summers said the current remuneration does not properly reflect the amount of work councillors do.
On the issue of reduction, she said the $21,500 estimate saving is a “mere pittance…in the grand scheme of things.”
“Think it (council size) should be left the way it is, but I think the people should be able to have their say as well,” she refers to the survey.
“Six councillors offer more perspective and that’s not a bad thing.” Coun. Roy said. “I think $21,000 is pretty cheap for two councillors."
He said cutting council would also mean less diverse opinions by elected members with a reduction of two councillors.
“I wouldn’t support this.”
Coun. Betty Ann Dunbar also does not support a smaller council.
“It seems incomprehensible to me that four people could carry the same load that we are carrying now.”
Coun. Jim Dunbar agreed with the comments of fellow members.
“I wanted you all to know that you’re worth your weight in gold, maybe the dollars (individual) remuneration) don’t reflect that,” Mayor Hagman said. “I know you all give 110 percent.”
In a recorded vote, on doing the survey, councillors Jim Dunbar, Betty Ann Dunbar and Roy voted against and Mayor Hagman with councillors Summers, Posteraro and Wells voted in favour.