Public meeting participants overwhelmingly against changing North Frontenac Council.

Craig Bakay | Aug 18, 2021

Between an in-person meeting held in Plevna at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning and an on-line meeting that followed at 11 a.m., all of the public participants had the same thing to say ‘don’t fix what ain’t broke.’

The meetings were organized to get public input towards reducing the number of seats on North Frontenac Council from seven to five and the number of wards to two from the current three.

“There were about 21 people at the Plevna meeting and they were all opposed to the proposal,” Mayor Ron Higgins said at the official opening of the Sky Pad Observatory Saturday evening. “We did get a letter or two in favour of the proposal but it doesn’t look like it will go through.”

During his opening remarks at the online meeting, Higgins acknowledged that there weren’t substantial cost saving to be had, only about $30,000 in salaries plus expenses.

“That’s really insignificant,” he said. “It could either be redistributed to Council members or listed as a savings.”

The five community members who spoke at the online meeting were unanimous in the conviction to leave things as they are.

“Each ward has unique sets of priorities and I think moving to two wards would upset those priorities,” said Ed Rohr. “And the councillors each have sets of responsibilities and to change things would increase their workload.

“I don’t think the job could pay enough to become a full-time position.”

Rohr said he could see a time, if the Council size were reduced, that the balance of power would reside with the Mayor’s position. Rohr was careful to point out that he wasn’t speaking about Higgins specifically, only that the potential might exist in the future.

Don Bradley of Norcan Lake said that he’s only been here a brief time, having moved from rural Kanata.

“During amalgamation, there was a lot of talk about savings but rural people were often left out.

“I’d like to see things stay as they are.”

“We need a broader perspective than five Council members can provide,” said Elaine Palmer.

“I’ve always appreciated that we could lobby more than just the two Councillors in our ward,” said Barbara Young. “I’m concerned that with only two Councillors, their interests might fall further south.

“We’re very happy with the way things are.”

“The more representation you have for a large territory, the better to have your voice heard,” said Mitch Livingstone, a 35-year resident of Buckshot Lake.

Coun. Fred Fowler said that what he heard in both meetings meshed with the feedback he’d been getting.

“I think this is what the people want,” Fowler said.

“We’re going to have to have more public meetings with all the compliments we’re getting,” joked Higgins. “(But) this has been an eye-opener for us — don’t fix what isn’t broke.”