Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa and most councillors say they welcome the feedback from last week’s inaugural Niagara-on-the-Lake Residents Association open house, where residents accused council of ignoring concerns and showing disrespect during meetings.
Residents said councillors sometimes appear distracted or dismissive, with some claiming councillors make faces or use their phones during delegations.
Residents also criticized recent council moves, like decisions they say contributed to the closure of the Old Town hospital and local school, a point Coun. Maria Mavridis disputed in an interview.
“Niagara Health and (the District School Board of Niagara) did that, not council,” said Mavridis. She said that kind of misinformation divides and distracts from real issues.
Frustrated by claims council doesn’t listen, she stressed her efforts: “I respond to emails, I return calls.”
Mavridis said she respects residents’ issues but felt like the mood shifted during the meeting from exciting unity to “political positioning,” and “pointed criticism of council and a countdown to the next election,” she said.
It even led some residents to leave early, she said.
“There is no councillor that is mocking a resident,” Mavridis said. “When the residents are delegating, council is not to speak or get into debate.”
Mavridis said, starting in September, the association would “put up profiles of each councillor and what they have done and haven’t done,” she said.
“That’s where they lost me.”
Regarding phone use, Mavridis said councillors only use phones during meetings to check agendas, past votes or facts. “I’ve opened up Google Maps,” she said.
But Coun. Gary Burroughs said this actually isn’t allowed either.
“I’ve been trying to say no cell phone use during meetings — and it’s in our bylaw as well,” said Burroughs in an interview. “We should be listening.”
“You clarify details through the chair and then through the senior staff.”
Burroughs said he has not seen council mocking anyone at a meeting before, but does not support it.
“It’s not appropriate, if it happens.”
Burroughs said he didn’t sense any tension at the meeting. He felt the goal was to share concerns and learn about town-wide issues.
“So I didn’t find it negative. But I wasn’t thinking it would be,” he said. “To me, I think they’ve done an excellent job.”
But the mention of a countdown to the next election surprised him, he said.
“It surprised me that they’re talking about it,” he said, adding he’d rather see the association focus on creating a clear plan for its goals — something council hasn’t seen yet.
For Burroughs, sharing councillor profiles could be helpful if done to inform, not sway votes.
Coun. Andrew Niven said it was a well-run, engaging meeting and he wants to make sure no resident is left out of the conversation.
“I want to ensure that all voices are heard,” said Niven in a message.
Issues like flooding and safety also came up at the meeting — concerns that Coun. Wendy Cheropita has as well.
“As a councillor, I do share the concerns,” said Cheropita in an interview. “I thought that the tone of the meeting was quite positive.”
“They were getting across some concerns,” she said. “In a very good, constructive way.”
Cheropita agreed with Burroughs in that posting council profiles could help, if done fairly, but said the election countdown might have been unnecessary.
“Maybe there was, you know, a little bit of drama and excitement,” she said. “That might have been the intention, I have no idea.”
Cheropita argued councillors should listen carefully — and avoid phones, at all times. She’s even had residents bring this to her attention, she said.
“That’s just simply wrong,” she said, adding that there are rules against phone use and it’s up to the chair to step in if mocking or distractions happen.
“I always turn my chair and I listen to the residents because I think it is really, really important that we are listening and hearing what they have to say,” she said, adding that it’s critical to make residents feel heard and comfortable.
Burroughs, Cheropita and Niven said they all engage with residents outside of council meetings on a regular basis as well.
Although Zalepa could not attend the meeting, he is also always “happy to receive comments from this group or any other, or individual, either in person or in writing,” he said.
This informed community input helps guide council’s decisions, he said.
No action from the town has been taken as a result of the meeting. Another association meeting “amongst themselves” is planned for May 29, Burroughs said.
