Tues Feb 27: Council Recap - Tax Increase Approved, Council Remuneration Task Force Canceled

Plus: Brightshores fundraiser approved for River District despite weekend-long closure of downtown business district streets

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Photo by Daiga Ellaby on Unsplash

2.58% tax increase approved

Last night, Owen Sound Council unanimously approved a tax levy of $34,899,000 for 2024, a 2.58% increase for taxpayers, after a (very) lengthy roundtable in which most thanked staff for preparing it and members of the public for providing input (whether they felt it was acknowledged or not).

As part of that decision, they also approved an amendment proposed by Mayor Scott Greig to add the figure for total expenditures to the bylaw.

Council cancels their remuneration review and the committee formed to conduct it

Councilor Brock Hamley brought a motion without notice that council direct staff to cancel the ad hoc council remuneration task force and their review process.

Councilor Jon Farmer objected, questioned why the motion couldn’t wait to give council and the public time to discuss, and requested a recorded vote on the decision to waive notice.

Councilors Dodd and Farmer and Deputy Mayor Greig opposed the motion, which passed as all others were in favour.

With notice for the motion waived, a testy debate began over the surprise motion to cancel a review of council remuneration (compensation for sitting on council) – one that would prevent any such review until the next council is elected.

The Remuneration Task Force was to convene “soon,” according to the City Clerk, and bring a report and recommendations back to council within this calendar year.

It’s going to take some time to transcribe this exchange, but I think it is important that readers understand the position of each elected representative. Farmer’s primary concern was that a low rate of pay for councilors may prevent diversity and real representation on council, as only those in a position of financial security are able to participate.

A council remuneration and structural review was also recommended by Jim Hutton, who wants to see council bring back a 2021 motion to reduce council from 9 members to 5 and introduce performance-based compensation.

Watch for more on the debate later in the week. For now, we do know the result. When Mayor Ian Boddy called the vote, Farmer requested that it be recorded, and Council voted as follows:

• Opposed - Farmer, Greig

• In favour - Dodd, Hamley, Koepke, Kukreja, Merton, Middlebro, Boddy

Hamley’s motion to cancel the council remuneration review passed, effectively taking any action on the issue off the table until the end of this council term.

Council also approved the closure of several streets in the River District from Friday, May 3, 2024 at 12:00 pm until Sunday, May 5, 2024 at 12:00 pm, despite one councilor’s objections over the impact on business owners. More on that below.

Full subscribers, keep reading for more on…

• An invitation to provide input on the BGCDSB budget

• Details about an International Women’s Day event coming up in Chesley

• Info about the opening of Community Foundation Grey Bruce’s spring granting period

• Another (and likely final for this winter) notice about the Good Cheer Rink at Harrison Park

• Load limit restrictions coming to select Owen Sound roads March 1, thanks to the spring thaw

• A new walking tour for residents and visitors to Owen Sound

~ Miranda

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