Letourneau name may be attached to park

DAVE JOHNSON

City staff will bring back a report on renaming Memorial Park in honour of a Welland councillor who died earlier this year.

Ward 4 Coun. Tony DiMarco brought forward a notice of motion at Tuesday night’s meeting asking the park be renamed Rocky Letourneau Memorial Park, in honour of the Ward 5 councillor who died in June at age 61.

DiMarco said he chose the park because the east side of the city was Letourneau’s former stomping grounds.

“I spoke to his family about this and they were all in favour. Hopefully, we can get this done for Rocky,” said DiMarco.

Ward 3 Coun. John Mastroianni asked if something like DiMarco’s request had ever been done before, and asked if the city had a naming policy. While no city staff member at the meeting had an answer, Ward 6 Coun. Jim Larouche said the city does have a naming policy on the books and believed there was some sort of waiting period before something could be renamed.

The late Rosie Smith not long ago was given honours in St. George Park.

DiMarco asked what the rules of the naming policy be waived.

Mayor Frank Campion was hesitant to waive any rules before getting information.

“We don’t know what we’re waiving at this point,” he said.

He asked if a staff report would work for DiMarco and said once the policy is known, council could easily waive rules if it wanted.

DiMarco was in favour of a staff report and council unanimously passed a motion asking for one to be brought forward.