Old Town’s instalment of Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa’s open house sessions opened the floor for discussions on leadership and municipal decision making.
One of the first to pose a question following Zalepa’s presentation, Niagara-on-the-Lake resident Richard James started the discussion off on development.
“Do you have any concerns about some of the decisions that have been made in the last year by council?” James asked.
“Are you concerned about the level of unpopularity of these developments?” he continued.
In response, Zalepa replied with a simple “no,” he is not concerned.
“This is where we get to decisions that have to be made and not everybody is going to agree with it,” he said.
Zalepa said all decisions were made by a majority of councillors who feel they are doing what’s best for the community.
Resident Karen Taylor-Jones has been outspoken against council-approved developments and Tuesday’s meeting was no exception.
“When council is making all these decisions, are they truly listening to the residents of this community?” Taylor-Jones asked.
Zalpea responded with the rhetorical question, “what is listening?” which was met with laughs from the crowd of around 100 NOTLers.
Zalepa said Taylor–Jones is one voice, while another resident is another.
“Council does the best job they can to hear all the aggregate voices and they have to make tough decisions,” he said.
“My answer to your question is yes, they listen. But by making a decision that’s contrary to what your opinion was, that doesn’t mean we didn’t listen.”
Taylor-Jones referenced the protest she organized in July of last year, wherein hundreds of residents came to town hall to protest the Parliament Oak Hotel development.
“I brought 300 people,” Taylor-Jones said.
“They weren’t very nice,” Zalepa said, which was met with groans from the crowd.
Resident Terry Mactaggart said one of the biggest issues he has with current council is a conflict of interest.
Mactaggart asked what recourse those who object to the lack of declaration of interest or the way in which certain council (members) are behaving have.
Zalepa said council has a conflict of interest guideline which outlines what councillors have to declare as a conflict of interest.
He added at the start of every meeting, councillors declare their conflict if they feel they have one.
“If anybody feels that it is improperly declared you have full recourse through a complaint to the integrity commissioner which the town has,” Zalepa said.
Councillors take conflicts of interest very seriously and often get their own legal advice, Zalepa said.
The final open house will take place on Thursday, Feb. 20 in Queenston at Fire Station 4 beginning at 6:30 p.m.
If you want to send your questions in advance, you can send them to communications@notl.com.
