Should Council be reduced from 7 to 5 Members?

We asked the readers this question and here are the results:

Yes - 10%

No - 88%

Not sure - 1%

It's pretty clear that a vast majority of our readers do not want to see council reduced from 7 to 5 members.

But what would it be like to have only 5 members of council? Well, that's easy! Just look at the previous council and compare it to the current council. During the previous term we saw huge groups of volunteers improving the town, under the guidance and encouragement of members of council. We saw several grant and funding initiatives undertaken by members of council. We saw members of council organizing and supporting community events.

This term, we've only had 5 active members of council - Paul Tomlinson and Barry Dingwall have done nothing so far except find "can't-do" excuses - and some are FAR more active that others. Actually, Dingwall didn't even bother to show up for 43% of the council meetings in 2012! Good thing he voted himself a regular salary so he still gets to collect full pay, eh? Remember when we mentioned how nice it would be to get paid more for doing less...? How long would you keep your job if you didn't show up for work 43% of the time?

But if you really have your heart set on a council of 5, then at least make sure the ward system is back in place in Kearney. Otherwise, you might as well start telling people that you live in the Town of GLLRG.

By the way, Barry, how's the Ralph Bice Centre coming along? You know, the one you promised in your campaign speeches.



“I just don’t see how the community can expect people on council to go out and do these programs in addition to the work they’ve already taken on. For me, I’m out. I will never volunteer for regatta, I’m sorry to say.” - Councilor Barry Dingwall, November 2011