Chatham-Kent moves forward with move to reduce number of councillors
Council has called for new bylaw that would reduce number of councillors from 17 to 14
The municipal council of Chatham-Kent has asked its staff to bring forward a bylaw to reduce its size to 14 councillors and one mayor.
If approved, the change would take effect in time for the 2026 municipal election.
Under the new system, which was the first of several draft options presented to council, there would be eight new wards, up from the previous six — three wards in Chatham with two councillors in each, three wards in the county with two councillors in each, and two wards in the county with one councillor in each.
The change to the ward boundaries would be the first since amalgamation in 1998.
"The proposed council composition and ward boundaries reflect the significant change in the community since then and would ensure the electoral system continues to provide a system of effective representation at least through to the 2030 municipal election," officials said in a news release.
Chatham-Kent council currently has 18 members, including Mayor Darrin Canniff.
The change is based on recommendations made by a consultant, following "significant public consultation," according to the municipality.
That included two separate surveys and four public consultation sessions.
In asking staff to draft the bylaw, council made one amendment to the proposed ward boundaries, which would shift the community of Mitchell's Bay from the newly proposed Ward 5 to the newly proposed Ward 4.