Canal advisory committee all wet with some councillors
DAVE JOHNSON
At least two Welland city councillors feel an advisory committee to deal with a nearly 400-page report on the public consultation process for the recreational canal’s Go Quiet bylaw isn’t necessary.
The committee will serve in an advisory capacity to staff and council on matters pertaining to management and development of the Welland Recreational Canal.
It will seek public input; provide suggestions and options on the optimal management of the waterway; provide advice to support and enhance the growth of facilities, programs and services; provide advice to eliminate barriers to people of all ages and abilities; and will consider a number of factors, including impacts on users, health and safety, and economic and social benefits to the community.
Ward 4 Coun. Tony DiMarco said if a committee was to be formed, he wanted it to comprise people who use the waterway from one end to the other.
“There’s a few on the makeup of the committee that I don’t agree with,” said DiMarco at Tuesday night’s committee meeting.
The committee was originally to consist of nine voting members and one non-voting member. Members would be from council’s accessibility advisory committee; mayor’s youth advisory committee and senior citizens advisory committee plus an affiliated sports club on the waterway; one from recreational waterway users not affiliated with a club along the waterway; one from the Welland International Flatwater Centre event partner community; two members at large; one from emergency services; and one from the hospitality industry.
“Why do we have to put the onus on a committee, why can’t we make the decisions?” asked DiMarco.
“We know what the people want … I don’t agree with a committee,” he said.
Ward 3 Coun. John Chiocchio agreed with some of what DiMarco said about the committee.
He feels the process to get through the report and follow guidelines set out in it would take a long time and committee members would be left “spinning their wheels” like council on the subject.
“There’s 13 of us here to make decisions for 53,000 people. That’s what we are elected to do,” he said.
City treasurer Steve Zorbas said staff was of the opinion the waterway advisory committee is a natural step to keep the community engaged and involved in the process. Having a multi-disciplinary committee would make for a good advisory committee, he added.
Richard Dalton, Welland’s acting manager for the recreation and culture division, said having a number of different groups on the committee will have a moderating influence.
“No one group would be able to dominate the conversation,” Dalton said.
Ward 2 Coun. David McLeod said his concern was the membership. He said members of the business community need to be added to the group.
“It would be helpful to have them on board,” he said.
Council voted in favour of the advisory, with the addition of the two business community members.