council

Cape Breton Regional Municipality voters elect Cecil Clarke for third term

October 21, 2024 by Bill MacCuish

Cecil Clarke is returning to the CBRM mayor’s seat for the third time. In a field of nine candidates, Clarke got 34 percent of the vote. His closest challenger Joe Ward garnered 24 percent.

The 56 year old was mayor from 2004 to 2008 and from 2016 to 2020. Clarke came second to Amanda MacDougall-Merril in the previous municipal election.

After the votes were counted, he arrived at his campaign headquarters to a room full of cheering supporters.

Clarke told the crowd he plans to start working this week as the municipality’s new mayor, even though the official swearing-in ceremony won’t happen until later this month.

Five CBRM councillors were acclaimed, two incumbents return to city hall and there are four new councillors. Voter turnout numbers haven’t been released yet.

The group of seven people in business dress pose for a photo. A man in the centre front is wearing a chain of office around his neck. There are five men and two women in the picture.

Cobourg Mayor blames Northumberland County council for encampment response

August 30, 2024 by Jeff Gard

Who is responsible for ensuring the well being of encampment residents was the subject of some heated words at Northumberland County’s regular meeting on August 14.

Northumberland County Councillor and Cobourg Mayor Lucas Cleveland said council, not staff, is to blame when it comes to local encampment response.

County council, which is comprised of mayors from seven Northumberland municipalities, had just heard a report from Manager of Homelessness Services Bill Smith and Associate Director of Housing and Homelessness Rebecca Carman at its August meeting, and was ready to move on when Cleveland made his statement.

The other members of Council had many things to say in response. CFWN News summarizes the discussion and how it ended.

A sign in front of an arena and a ball diamond reads "Haldimand Memorial Arena and Park". The ball diamond is in the foreground and the arena in the back behind a small parking lot full of cars. It is a grey and raining day and there are no leaves on the trees. The grass is brown. It looks like a late fall or early spring day.

Consultant studies will help determine fate of arena facility in Grafton

July 24, 2024 by Jeff Gard

Alnwick/Haldimand Township council voted to direct staff to commence preparation for a Request for Proposal to hire a consultant for the completion of a feasibility study for the Haldimand Memorial Arena in Grafton at its regular meeting on Tuesday.

The framework for the decision was based off a notice of motion brought forward by councillor Mike Ainsworth. With amendments, the RFP will also now include a facility condition assessment for a 30-year lifespan, a detailed needs assessment study and three conceptual designs.

The final motion also asks staff to bring forward a draft RFP to council for approval before its issued, that the reports be funded as recommended by the treasurer, and that the CAO and staff prepare a report and recommendations for the Oct. 8 regular council meeting with a plan to proceed with the hiring of a contractor through the tendering process to begin the project by January of 2025.

Two people, a man and a woman, stand across from each other speaking into microphones in a municipal council chambers. There are two people at a wooden desk behind them.

New Port Hope councillor sworn in following by-election win

June 25, 2024 by Jeff Gard

Darrell Toms was sworn in as Port Hope’s new Ward 2 councillor on June 13 after topping the polls of the by-election the previous week for voters in the rural area of the municipality.

Toms also ran in the 2022 municipal election, but was the runner-up behind Chris Collins and Vicky Mink.

One of the two Ward 2 seats was left vacant in January when Collins was appointed as a justice of the peace by the province.

Council initially chose to appoint Toms to replace Collins a committee-of-the-whole meeting in February before reversing course at its regular meeting in early March and choosing to hold a by-election instead to fill the vacant seat.

Toms’ first meeting is Tuesday night, June 25th, when council will sit in Committee-of-the-Whole.

A stop sign and street sign markers at an intersection of a small town. The intersection is in a downtown area and several stores can be seen across the street.

Queens councillors want enforcement beefed up at busy intersection in Liverpool

April 25, 2024 by Rick Conrad

Region of Queens councillors want the RCMP to step up enforcement at a busy intersection in downtown Liverpool.

The intersection at Main and Market streets has been the scene of some close calls between motorists and pedestrians. And in January, a 79-year-old woman was hit in the crosswalk and taken to hospital in Bridgewater. A driver was charged with failing to yield to a pedestrian in a marked crosswalk.

The incident reignited concern in the community about that intersection and others in town.

At their Tuesday meeting, councillors discussed installing crosswalk beacons or traffic lights at the intersection. They also talked about adding fluorescent orange flags for pedestrians to use while they cross. They settled on urging local RCMP officers for better patrols in that area.

Three people sit behind wooden desks with a video screen behind them.

Region of Queens to give more low-income earners a property tax break

April 25, 2024 by Rick Conrad

The Region of Queens plans to increase the income threshold for people eligible for the low-income property tax exemption.

As part of budget discussions on Tuesday, District 6 Coun. David Brown asked council to consider increasing the income brackets for those eligible for the tax break.

Property owners who make $20,000 a year or less are eligible for a maximum $400 tax exemption. Those who make between $20,000 and $25,000 get up to $350, and those making between $25,000 and $30,000 get as much as a $300 break.

The revised income amounts would add $5,000 to each of those brackets. So the lowest income bracket would now be up to $25,000, and then $25,001 to $30,000 and $30,001 to $35,000. The tax exemption amounts would not change.

A council chambers in a municipal hall. Six people sit at a table. One seat is vacant. There are three flags and a painting behind the middle person at the table.

Port Hope will now hold by-election to fill vacant council seat

March 8, 2024 by Jeff Gard

A by-election will be held in late spring or early summer to fill the vacant Ward 2 rural council seat.

On Tuesday night (March 5), Port Hope council was set to approve an appointment option that it decided at its Feb. 20 committee-of-the-whole meeting. Council had decided that night to fill the vacancy with the runner-up in Ward 2 in the 2022 municipal election, but it required formal approval at Tuesday’s regular council meeting.

That previous appointment decision was defeated as Councillors Les Andrews and Vicki Mink, who both opposed it last week, were joined by Mayor Olena Hankivsky and Councillor Adam Pearson in their opposition. Only Deputy Mayor Claire Holloway-Wadwani and Councillor Todd Attridge remained in support.

The next councillor will now be chosen through a by-election, which is expected to cost around $25,000.

A two story red brick historic building with two flag poles in front .

Port Hope council to fill vacant Ward 2 seat with appointment

March 4, 2024 by Jeff Gard

After two defeated motions, Port Hope council opted to choose to appoint Darrell Toms, the first-runner up in Ward 2 from the 2022 municipal election, , to fill its vacant seat at its committee-of-the-whole meeting.

The decision will be finalized at Tuesday night’s regular council meeting.

Chris Collins resigned last month after being appointed a justice of the peace by the province. He was one of council’s two Ward 2 rural representatives.

Mayor Olena Hankivsky said in her discussions with council members, the unanimous opinion was that a Ward 2 constituent should fill the vacant seat, either by by-election or different appointment options. The mayor said all the choices available were democratic as they were options available through the municipal act.

Mink and Collins both received more than 600 votes in the last election and the next highest vote getter was Toms, who received 374.

A light grey 2 story office building with a Canadian flag flying in front of it against a blue sky. There is a sign in front of the building saying Port Hope Community Health Centre and Northumberland Community Care, 99 Toronto Road.

Port Hope walk-in medical clinic a step closer to re-opening

February 20, 2024 by Jeff Gard

Port Hope council will be asked Tuesday night to support and endorse the re-opening of a walk-in medical clinic, which the community and surrounding area has been without since 2020.

The motion comes from Mayor Olena Hankivsky, who says she has been working with councillor Les Andrews on bringing back a clinic since the start of the current council term.

Funding partners include the Port Hope and District Health Care Foundation, the Port Hope Rotary Club and the Town of Cobourg as well as the pharmacy at the location at 99 Toronto Road. The clinic would be open Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Northumberland County has agreed to serve as the nominal lessee for the space, with actual rental paid by the clinic, Mayor Hankivsky says.

There are currently 4,000 un-rostered patients in Northumberland County.

Deputations replace question period at Port Hope council meetings

February 16, 2024 by Jeff Gard

Port Hope Mayor Olena Hankivsky says community engagement with council and staff remains strong despite a change to question period at council meetings.

Question period was always held at the end of the meetings, which is still the case for committee-of-the-whole meetings where items are up for discussion and voted on, but not confirmed until the next regular meeting.

Deputations have replaced question period at regular council meetings and occur early on the agenda before final decisions are made. Citizens wishing to make a deputation to council must register up to a day in advance of the meeting.

Mayor Hankivsky explained the change in an interview with CFWN.

A woman with light brown hair tied back looks at the camera. There is a red and white flag over her shoulder in the background.

Port Hope mayor says budget challenges are similar to other municipalities

February 15, 2024 by Jeff Gard

Faced with challenges, especially related to infrastructure costs in the coming years, Port Hope council recently passed its 2024 budget with a 6.9 per cent increase.

Mayor Olena Hankivsky told CFWN the financial pinch Port Hope is feeling is similar to other municipalities across the province. She said it was imperative that council keep the increase as low as possible this year while recognizing projects need to be funded and it’s not possible to move forward with small increases.

The total municipal levy of $28 million translates to an estimated $305 increase to the property tax bill for the typical homeowner based on MPAC‘s assessed property value. The final budget documents are available on Port Hope’s municipal website.

A man in a dark suit and light blue tie smiles at the camera.

Port Hope councillor resigns following Justice of the Peace appointment

January 31, 2024 by Jeff Gard

Port Hope council will declare the seat of Chris Collins vacant at its Feb. 13 meeting.

Collins, a Ward 2 rural representative and chair of the protective services portfolio, resigned as a councillor after being appointed a Justice of the Peace by the province. The Justices of the Peace Act requires him to terminate other employment and abstain from engaging in any political activities upon appointment.

Council has 60 days after declaring the seat vacant either to appoint an individual to fill the vacancy or pass a bylaw to declare a by-election.

CFWN spoke to Port Hope Mayor Olena Hankivsky about Collins’ resignation.