TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site (https://thepublicrecord.ca/topics/ward-boundary-review/page/2/)
The new proposal is a modification of existing boundaries, maintaining 15 wards similar to the existing boundaries with the old City / suburb boundary remaining in place as a defining feature.
City Council voted during their Wednesday Council meeting to approve “minutes of settlement” with one of the party’s appealing against Council’s gerrymandering of ward boundaries.
The settlement is not yet public, pending “final execution”.
Today’s pre-hearing will finalize the “issues list” and witnesses that each party will be able to call to testify during the hearing.
I’ll be liveblogging from the hearing starting at 10am.
The Ontario Municipal Board is hearing an appeal registered by two citizens against Council’s gerrymandering of Ward Boundaries. This is a pre-hearing, which serves to identify parties, issues, and set dates for the full hearing.
Councillors voted for their own gerrymandered wards, despite a clear warning from expert consultants that the gerrymander will be indefensible at a Ontario Municipal Board hearing.
As Council is fighting against their own experts, they’ve had to retain outside lawyers – at taxpayer expense – to fight the case.
The OMB pre-hearing is scheduled for August 3rd, 10am, at Dundas Town Hall.
Hamilton City Council meet for their first GIC of February, the headline issue was the final vote on Ward Boundary reform. Councillors voted for their own gerrymandered wards, despite a clear warning from expert consultants that the gerrymander will be indefensible at a Ontario Municipal Board hearing.
Councillors also received a task force report on workforce development, which will guide numerous private and public sector partners in the coming year.
Full video replay.
Hamilton City Council, with the exception of Matthew Green, does seem particular keen on completing a 1999 recommendation of the Transition Board to review the City’s 15 ward boundaries.