HRM council size unchanged despite lengthy debate
Posted Aug 4, 2010 05:47:26 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Halifax Regional Council will remain a group of 23 elected representatives plus the mayor.
After hours of debate in council chambers Tuesday night that ended with a deadlocked vote, the size of regional council hasn’t changed.
Motions to reduce council’s size to 16, 18 and 20 members were put on the table and all three were defeated. However, the vote for 20 narrowly missed becoming reality after a 12-12 result.
A tied vote is considered defeated.
Mayor Peter Kelly, who was in favour of trimming at least three positions, says he’s disappointed with the result.
“A little bit [disappointed],” he said. “But at the end of the day this certainly is true democracy in terms of the discussions that take place all across this country.”
Kelly notes the decision could still be overturned by the Utility and Review Board, who ultimately have the final say on electoral matters.
“It is a possibility, depending upon when they hold their public hearings,” said Kelly.
He says voters are hungry for change, and notes council plans to give community councils more power to deal with localized issues without going to regional council.
