If at first you don’t succeed, then try, try again.
South Bruce Council is making another attempt to eliminate the ward system in the municipality.
Back in July, the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) overturned a by-law that would have seen the two wards disappear and replaced with an at-large system starting with the 2010 municipal election.
Now, council is trying again and will consider a new by-law to do away with the wards.
Mayor Bill Goetz says the OMB made the wrong decision because it says right in the Municipal Act that Council has the authority to get rid of the wards.
Goetz says they’ve crossed every T and dotted every I — and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs confirms Council is not doing anything beyond its responsibility.
Goetz says if the changes aren’t made now, they’ll be set back for another 4 years.
Goetz says if South Bruce is supposed to be one municipality, then it’s time to start acting like it.
He adds there are many advantages to doing away with wards, and thinks it will lessen the “we and they” mentality among residents.
A public meeting on eliminating the wards in South Bruce is being held tonight at the Formosa Community Centre.
Next Tuesday evening — South Bruce Council will have a special meeting to consider the by-law.
It will take place at 7 PM at the Municipal Office in Teeswater.