Smiths Falls council has adopted a community improvement plan (CIP) aimed at creating incentives for businesses and developers to invest in the town.
The town brought on Dillion Consulting to guide them through the extensive process, and board member Rory Baksh outlined the key focuses of the CIP during a public meeting, which occurred prior to Tuesday’s (Oct 11) committee of the whole and council meetings.
Councillor Chris McGuire has a long history with the document, sitting on the CIP committee as a citizen years before running for council.
He was the only councillor who voted against passing the CIP Monday, as he took several exceptions to how it was being pushed through.
There was a lone question asked by a member of the public during the meeting, made by a council candidate running in the Smiths Falls municipal election. It was directed at Baksh drawing on his experience as a consultant, asking what he’s seen in the past on how councils decide to allocate funding for their own community improvement plans.
McGuire went on to explain his reservations further.
The adoption carried 4-1, with McGuire voting against it and Niki Dwyer declaring a conflict of interest.
The community improvement plan report can be found here.
Story by Grant Deme
Comments