Wilmot Council considering change to by-law only allowing township residents

The Council in Wilmot Township will be examined a new by-law change for who is allowed to speak at delegations.

At a council meeting on Monday, council reviewed a draft of the possible changes and issued questions to staff. Jeff Bunn, the township’s manager of legislative services, said he could not find a municipality in Ontario that requires proof of residency to delegate.

Kris Wilkinson, the Ward 2 councillor in Wilmot, says he supports the change. He citing certain hot button issues have arisen in the last few years that brought commentary from outside the township.

“I do have the belief, whether wrong or right… this body should be purely from residents of Wilmot,” said Wilkinson. “Not necessarily taxpayers or landowners, but people that live and work in this township.”

This sentiment was echoed by Ward 4 Councillor Lillianne Dunstall.

“I get why it would be very difficult to do,” said Dunstall. “I do think that it’s very important to make sure it’s the people who live here because that’s the business we’re conducting are the ones that get to delegate.”

Council voted against another item that would change the time allotted to each delegation. A change request would have seen the time decrease from seven minutes to five minutes. The Region of Waterloo and the cities of Cambridge and Kitchener have that time frame for delegates.

Mayor Natasha Salonen has put forward a question to staff as to investigate if less time could be allotted for residents outside of Wilmot if they come to delegate.

A final report will be brought forward and voted upon on Sept 11.