> Grimsby’s “Holiday of Hope” reverse Parade set for Dec. 5 /Pg 5 > West Lincoln sets flag raising protocol Pg 4 > Big Brothers/Sisters taking dinner orders Pg 11 > GAMRU works through record year Pg 13 Thursday, November 19, 2020 Vol. 9 Issue 30
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Grimsby to shine light on Integrity Commish filings By Mike Williscraft NewsNow A council accountability tool - Integrity Commissioner complaints - got tweaked at Monday’s Grimsby Committee of The Whole meeting to allow all filings to be made public. The move - approved in a 5-4 vote with Coun. John Dunstall voting in favour with Councillors Lianne Vardy, Dorothy Bothwell, Reg Freake
and Mayor Jeff Jordan - was approved with a hope to eliminate “frivolous and vexatious complaints [that] are costly to the taxpayers”, according to the motion made by Vardy. Councillors Kevin Ritchie, Randy Vaine, Dave Kadwell and Dave Sharpe opposed the motion to allow for more transparency of the process. See INTEGRITY, Page 2
Lights, camera, salute
Niagara eateries want relief from West Lincoln council COVID sanctions Bradaric to be offered seat For the first time, Grimsby livestreamed its Remembrance Day ceremony last week. Attendees were socially distanced in a fenced off area
By Mike Williscraft NewsNow Restaurant owners from across Niagara are not happy with increased COVID-19 protocols instituted by Dr. Mustafa Hirji, the Region’s acting medical officer of health. The added measures, announced by Hirji last week exceed those put in place by the provincial government’s implementation of a Code Orange designation for Niagara, which took effect on Monday. Under the guidelines,
among other measures: • no more than six can be seated at an indoor or outdoor table; • all must be from the same household • For every customer who enters premises, name, contact info, arrival time, departure time, table number and attestation they are symptom free must be taken; •All records must be kept confidential for at least a month, and; • Sanitizer must always be kept on each table. See SECTION 22, Page 7
By Tristan Marks NewsNow Runner up in the 2018 municipal election, Shelley Ann Bradaric, will be offered the Ward 3 seat at West Lincoln created by the resignation of Coun. Chris Coady. West Lincoln Council made its decision at Monday’s meeting. Bradaric was the runner-up in in the Ward 3 race losing to Coady by 53 votes. The motion passed 5-1, with only Mayor Bylsma dissenting. All councillors present said that they would prefer a byelection in normal circumstances, but those who voted for
and a small gathering of residents filtered in around the perimeter at the cenotaph grounds at Grimsby Museum. Williscraft - Photo
appointment justified their decision because of the intensifying pandemic. Coun. Jason Trombetta was among those who voiced concerns over holding a vote while Niagara was under restrictions imposed by the province. “I was for the byelection until we were put into the position we’re in,” Trombetta said, referring to the ‘Code Orange’ COVID-19 restrictions in the Niagara Region. Coun. William Reilly agreed noting he was worried that a byelection would further deplete the Township’s already strained reserve funds. “From a financial perspective,
it (a byelection) doesn’t make much sense,” Reilly said. Bylsma voted against the motion. He said citizens should have a chance to exercise their vote. “I do hold to the citizens’ right to choose a rep,” Bylsma said, although he added that he did not doubt his fellow members of council felt the same despite their decision. Former Coun. Coady announced his resignation through a written letter submitted to clerk Joanne Scime on Oct. 13. He has since moved to British Columbia. Council subsequently voted to accept his resignation letter in Oct. 26.