Opinions vary at townhall meeting
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City councillors took their lumps and some praise at the first of four townhall meetings to receive public input on Wednesday night at Centre 70 arena.
"We are here to listen to whatever is on your mind, provided it's related to municipal government," said Mayor Mark Gerretsen to the approximately 30 people in attendance.
The mayor and 11 of 12 councillors proceeded to hear comments and complaints on a range of issues from snow clearing to taxation levels to council politics.
Under the rules of the townhall format, the politicians could not respond, deferring instead to the senior city staff in attendance.
Bill Shortt, a resident of Old Colony Road, called annual 2.5% property tax increases "not sustainable. It's a big burden for us and it's getting worse."
Shortt pointed a finger at unionized city workers' wages.
"This city is union heavy," he said. "Very expensive union employees are costing us a lot of money."
Shortt was also one of several people who complained about the way council has been divided and voted 7-6 on numerous occasions during its term of office.
"It's becoming like a joke in the city. It's a split council. It's time to grow up," he said.
"Thank God there's an election this year because none of you deserves to be re-elected."
For every criticism, there were kudos for councillors.
Mary Golbourne was first at the microphone and presented her list of three things she likes about Kingston.
First was the transit system and the new express bus routes.
"I think the express bus system is fabulous. I call it Kingston's above-ground subway," said Golbourne. "The transit drivers, by and large, are very helpful."
Golbourne also had praise for the city library system and how works crews plowed and sanded roads and sidewalks this winter.
"I am amazed at how clean things are being kept," she said. "There are always drivers out there working around the clock."
Brian Milner asked that his street have stop signs installed to replace the speed humps that have not been effective in slowing fast traffic.
"The neighbours are getting a little annoyed about it," he said.
Alzira D'Souza said she was tired of having her driveway cleared of snow only to have a plow come by and dump two more feet of snow at the end.
"We know it's unfortunate," responded works director Damon Wells. "Unfortunately, it's part of the way we have to do our work. We don't have an answer to that problem."
Ron Decaire wondered why the city was relying so heavily on the taxes from new home construction and not encouraging more commercial development.
Decaire said he hadn't had a pay raise for 13 years and that "I've talked to the seniors on my street and they're struggling. I don't see business coming in."
City CAO Gerard Hunt acknowledged that while 73% of the tax base is from residential assessment, much of that is fuelled by government jobs -- and that senior governments don't pay taxes for their buildings.
The final speaker of the evening, Jimmy Hassan, thanked council for its restoration work at Lake Ontario Park.
"My kids had a great time there this summer," said Hassan, who added, "If you guys work together instead of 6-7, 7-6, that would be great."
The next townhall meetings will take place Feb. 25 at La Salle Secondary School, March 3 at Rideau Acres campground and March 17 at City Hall, all starting at 6 p.m.
