FEAST ON FONDUE CLASSIC SWISS RECIPE MAKES FOR GREAT APPETIZER {page 17} DEXTER TO MEET WITH HARPER HYDRO PROJECT UP FOR DISCUSSION {page 3}
MMVAs STARS COME OUT TO PLAY SCENE {page 14}
HALIFAX
Monday, June 20, 2011 www.metronews.ca News worth sharing.
Reassessing council size
Cancer. Event
Hearing starts with witnesses this morning, then speakers in evening session Should take two to three days
A father carries his son at the start of the annual Father’s Day Walk/Run at Dalhousie University yesterday morning. The event raises money and awareness for Prostate Cancer Canada. RYAN TAPLIN/METRO
Walkers and runners do it for dad Byelection in Accused in Cape Breton riot contrite
Right in your backyard
Tories hope to replace ex-MLA Clarke {page 6}
A closer look at SackvilleBedford {pages 21-26}
Vancouver fallout strikes rising teen athlete {page 10}
It’s a day many HRM residents and councillors have been waiting for: The Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board hearing into council size begins this morning. Council was split on the issue in August and ended up voting to tell the UARB it wants to keep the status quo — 23 councillors plus the mayor. A consultant hired by the board, Robert Williams, suggests a 20member council is the way to go. And about 19 letters from the public to the UARB all support a smaller council. Size suggestions range from eight to 16 councillors. “We need to cut costs where we can. Our tax dollars need to be directed towards health and other programs that benefit the taxpayers, not towards covering a bloated payroll,” HRM resident Mike Beattie wrote in his submission. Dave Grimshire of Lower Sackville said a whole new idea would be better. “My preference would be a single ballot for all HRM listing all candidates,” he wrote.
“A smaller council would lead to a more effective and efficient council. The present council has too many competing agendas.” FROM A LETTER WRITTEN BY SHIRLEY GILBERT OF HALIFAX
“The benefit of this type of election is that boundaries don’t have to be redrawn periodically and all councillors have a duty to represent all regions of HRM.” Several councillors and Mayor Peter Kelly have asked to speak at the hearing and Coun. Tim Outhit is the first on the list. “My strategy is I want to inform the board of what I hear from the vast majority of residents that they want a smaller council,” he said. Outhit would prefer a council with 15 to 17 members, including the mayor. “I hope the board will step up and make a decision that unfortunately we didn’t make.” JENNIFER TAPLIN