Council meetings will remain televised despite pending election

The city will continue t o allow its council meetings to be televised.

A resolution tabled by Coun. Robert Tuchenhagen at Monday night’s regular scheduled meeting at city hall would have suspended live television broadcasts in September and October so incumbent councillors couldn’t have an advantage over candidates in the Oct. 25 election. Tuchenhagen, the only councillor to vote for the resolution, said blacking out the meetings would be more democratic.

"I think it’s fair that we level the playing field here between incumbents and their challengers," Tuchenhagen said. "It’s not something unusual that I’m asking for here."

But Coun. Aldo Ruberto said the move would have been unfair for the viewing public who are trying to decide who they should vote for. In the last election, Ruberto said six councillors changed and meetings were aired during that council’s whole tenure. Ruberto said due to the live nature of the broadcast, councillors can sometimes even be at a disadvantage.

"We have to be fair to the citizen who cares about the candidate?" Ruberto said. "Why should they be able to dictate what happens here… let’s be fair to the citizens."

After Tuchenhagen suggested councillors voting against the resolution were acting in their own selfish interests, Coun. Trevor Giertuga suggested it was Tuchenhagen acting selfishly. Despite many opportunities, Tuchenhagen had never tabled a resolution like this before said Giertuga. Since Tuchenhagen’s mother is running against Giertuga in the next election, Giertuga wondered if that was the reason for the resolution before being reminded to stay on topic by Coun. Iain Angus.

"I take offence to anyone saying that if we don’t vote for this we’re acting selfishly. Well look in the mirror," Giertuga said.

City clerk John Hannam told council that instead of blacking out meetings before elections, other Ontario municipalities suspend meetings.

Also Monday, council directed administration to continue to look for more parking space in the south core as a new courthouse and Thunder Bay District Social Services Administration Board Building move in. The direction also includes increases in monthly parkade and lot rates but not before consulting with business owners and other stakeholders in the area.

Parking Authority manager James Coady said between the courthouse and TBDSSAB, the city will be losing over 265 spaces but the city is more concerned with the new demands people will have for parking in the area. Coady said TBDSSAB will have over 100 employees while the courthouse will have over 200 plus users of the buildings.

"The issue really with us is the increased demand that the developments will create," Coady said. "We’re looking for the authority to go ahead and try to purchase the property that we think will be adequate to deal with the future parking demand," Cody said.

$2.2 million will come out of the city’s Land Development Account for purchasing and renovating properties for parking.

Council also voted Monday to close and demolish the Westfort Community Centre.

The 66-year-old building has long past the point of being rehabilitated and its roof could be in danger of collapsing should the city experience a heavy snowfall this winter city administration said.