By Pam Wright
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Chatham-Kent council has voted to shave three seats off of the current 18-member council to 15.
But only in principle, as the matter is returning to council for final consideration Jan. 27.
Council made the decision at its final meeting of 2024, following a final report from StrategyCorp – the firm hired to examine the composition of council and rejig ward boundaries to achieve voter parity.
Initially, at the Dec. 16 meeting, a motion came from West Kent Coun. Melissa Harrigan to support a 13-member council but was rejected in a 7-10 vote. Harrigan then brought forward a second motion calling for a 15-member council which was approved in a 10-7 vote, but with the caveat the final decision be delayed until the new year.
Three different options were presented by StrategyCorp, with a 13-member council (12 councillors and one mayor) as its top recommendation.
A 15-member council was also presented that would see seven wards with two councillors elected per ward, plus a mayor, as well as an 18-member status quo prospect with redrawn boundaries.
As presented, the preliminary draft map for a 15-member council shows Wallaceburg maintained as one ward, but extending to include Dover and Grande Pointe.
Other ideas in the draft have Chatham divided into three wards. West Kent and South Kent are both larger and the size of East Kent is decreased.
However, none of the options are carved in stone as StrategyCorp has been directed to further refine some of the boundaries and examine ways Chatham could be one “at large” ward.
In the report to council, StrategyCorp’s Sabine Matheson said many different versions of ward boundaries and council composition were considered during its six-month review.
“We want boundaries that make sense to people based on how they live and work within the community,” Matheson told council, adding StrategyCorp is there to support whatever choice council makes.
“We tried to do this in a way that wouldn’t create an excessive number of wildly confusing options,” she stressed, noting achieving voter parity, reducing the size of council, appropriate rural and agriculture representation and not dividing up Wallaceburg were among the objectives.
Matheson also pointed out that the plans have an eye to voter parity through to the 2026 and 2030 elections as C-K’s population increases.
As it stands, the current cost of the 18-member council is $796,217 per year with each councillor costing around $46,836. However, the report stated the savings from cutting three councillors could be used to raise the remuneration of councillors.
No deputations on the matter were allowed at the meeting, as public meetings were held in November.
