Input from Bothwell Governance meeting similar to others held in Chatham-Kent

By Aaron Hall – Daily Post Editor

Bothwell resident Jacqueline Van Eerd Beatty was thrilled with the crowd from the Chatham-Kent Community Governance Task Force meeting held in Bothwell on Thursday night (Nov. 5).

Beatty, who was selected as the Ward 3 representative for the Task Force, said after the meeting that the residents of Bothwell had similar concerns to other residents in Chatham-Kent, specifically those from more rural areas.

“People are very educated on the way Chatham-Kent works… they have provided some very insightful comments,” she said. “People are afraid of losing their community identity and that’s why representation is so important.”

Beatty said the turn out in Bothwell, which was approximately 80 people, was the most attended meeting so far out of the seven held. Meetings were held this past Monday in Chatham and Tuesday in Ridgetown as well.

Current East Kent (Ward 3) councillors Steve Pinsonneault and Jim Brown were in attendance for the meeting, and caught up with the Chatham-Kent Daily Post afterward to give their input.

Pinsonneault said while recommendations in the Corporate Review state that Chatham-Kent Council should be reduced in terms of number of councillors, he doesn’t necessarily agree.

“I think the current size of Council is appropriate,” he said.

Pinsonneault also said that the implementation of community councils could be beneficial – if done so properly.

“The community councils would need to be given legitimacy… or you could lose the power of the community and it could result in losing representation,” he said.

Brown told the Daily Post that many of the comments and complaints he’s heard at the various meetings he’s attended have been very similar.

“People don’t feel as though they have a connection with the Municipality,” he said.

Check out this story, which showcases comments made during Thursday’s meeting: ‘Biggest turn out yet’ for Bothwell Community Governance meeting

Three more meetings are scheduled for the Task Force, including:

• Wallaceburg Municipal Centre – 786 Dufferin Ave., Wallaceburg – Tuesday November 10, 2009 – 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

• Dresden Arena – 1212 North St., Dresden – Monday November 30, 2009 – 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

• Dover Kinsmen Club – 7106 St Philippe Line, Grande Pointe – Tuesday December 1, 2009 – 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.