By Pam Wright
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
North Kent Coun. Rhonda Jubenville is lobbying for a referendum on the proposed CK Community Hub project in downtown Chatham.
The councillor brought forward a notice of motion on the matter at the Oct. 7 council meeting. If approved at the Oct. 21 meeting, it would give every eligible voter a voice on the project’s destiny.
Jubenville said the reasoning behind the referendum is that many Chatham-Kent residents are against the project but that claim isn’t “penetrating” through to council and administration.
In the works for more than two years, the C-K Community Hub would see the Chatham-Kent Civic Centre relocate to the old Sears building. The space would also include a new Chatham branch of the C-K Public Library, as well as new space for the Chatham-Kent Museum/Cultural Centre.
Because the C-K Civic Centre is in need of at least $37 million in repairs, municipal officials said a new facility can be developed for only $6 million more.
Jubenville’s motion also calls for a report outlining how a referendum could be conducted.
“I’m sure it could happen,” the councillor said, noting a referendum could be held online.
Chatham-Kent municipal clerk Judy Smith said that if the motion passes, administration will prepare a report detailing the overall process, including costs. It will explain what is required to implement the decision if the question is put on a ballot.
Smith told The Chatham Voice in an email that a referendum “question on the ballot can only occur during a municipal election.” The next municipal election will take place more than two years from now.
There has not been a referendum question on the ballot since Chatham-Kent amalgamated in 1998, Smith said.
In a separate notice of motion, Jubenville also put forward a proposal that would see the municipality halt the hub project, stop putting additional funds towards it and trigger the buy-back clause of the Sears building to sell it back to its former owners.
Throughout the Chatham-Kent Community Hub project, the municipality has facilitated multiple opportunities for public engagement. There have been three public information sessions so far, attended by more than 300 residents.
Two online public surveys were conducted on the Let’s Talk platform, which drew more than 1,000 responses,
Three stakeholder engagement meetings were also held to glean input. The Stakeholder Engagement Group includes representatives from the CK library board, the Accessibility Advisory Committee, the Municipal Museums Advisory Committee and the Gallery Advisory Committee.
