By Pam Wright, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Chatham Voice
Chatham-Kent will not be holding a referendum on the C-K Community Hub Project.
That was the decision made by council Nov. 4, following an unsuccessful attempt by North Kent Coun. Rhonda Jubenville to ask staff for a report on how such a referendum could be carried out.
The motion failed in a 11 to 6 vote. In favour were councillors Jubenville, Michael Bondy, Morena McDonald, Alysson Storey and John Wright, as well as Mayor Darrin Canniff. Opposed were Conor Allin, Lauren Anderson, Brock McGregor, Carmen McGregor, Anthony Ceccacci, Marjorie Crew, Ryan Doyle, Aaron Hall, Melissa Harrigan, Jamie McGrail and Trevor Thompson. Amy Finn was absent.
Council learned from municipal clerk Judy Smith that a referendum can be held at any time and doesn’t have to be linked to a municipal election.
In pushing for the report, Jubenville said there’s a lot of confusion around the hub, noting she brought it forward in the interest of transparency.
“We’re merely asking for a report from the clerk who will convey the pertinent details about what we need to know about holding a referendum regarding the proposed Community Hub project,” the councillor said. “It’s a very divisive topic that will ultimately lead to council having to make a very difficult and impactful decision that will affect our municipality and its residents for years to come.”
In her comments, Storey said asking for the report was a reasonable request.
“We’re just requesting information,” Storey said. “I think that is a respectful way of recognizing a good number of citizens who have requested this.”
Council heard from the municipal clerk that a referendum report was completed in 2018 in relation to municipal ward boundaries.
Because Jubenville did not vote on the prevailing side of two motions allowing the hub to proceed, made in October 2023 and January 2024, Smith said Jubenville was unable to put forward a second part of the motion calling on the municipality to halt work and spending on the project.
Jubenville agreed to drop the second component.
The Chatham-Kent Community Hub project that would see the old Sears building in downtown Chatham amalgamated into a new C-K Civic Centre, Chatham-Kent Museum and Chatham-Kent Public Library Chatham branch has been dogged with controversy with numerous residents objecting to municipal spending on the project.
