Blind River council has decided to retain the size of council at seven members rather than reducing it to five.
Council unanimously voted in favour of keeping the size of town council at its virtual meeting Monday evening. Retention comes after a community-wide survey found that 51 per cent of the 167 survey respondents indicated they would favour a reduction in the size of council as opposed to 49 per cent favouring retention.
The survey was part of a number of recommendations put forward by KPMG as part of its Service Delivery Review aimed at reducing costs. The survey was posted on the town website and via Survey Monkey for the public to express their views from May 3 to June 4.
As expected, there were many varying opinions that ranged from, “I believe it is important to have a good diversity of opinions. If council is too small, then a bad idea can be pushed through too easily. Council is working for the benefit of the community. The more we have working for us the more we can accomplish” and “Don't fix what's not broken” to “The town has paid staff to report to council and coordinate municipal activities. Council's role in decision-making and a five-member council for a community of this size is fine.”
KPMG said the reduction in the size of council could trim about $21,000 from the annual council budget of about $100,000 for salary and benefits. Council currently has seven members including the mayor.
The survey also indicated that a reduction in the council size would mean more work for the remaining members on council and on committees.
Councillor Paula Summers acknowledged the survey comments were, “pretty much matched going either way.”
She agreed a reduction in the number of councillors would mean a heavier workload on a five-member council on council and committees. The councillor pointed out that several respondents did not feel the cost-savings were enough.
Councillor Jim Dunbar pointed out that the 167 survey respondents represented only about five percent of the town’s total population of 3,400.
“I do respect that the ones who did answer the survey did a good job with their explanations even though there were some explanations in there that I didn’t know which way they meant it