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A councillor in Stratford, P.E.I., has resigned, saying the town’s staff and council aren’t aligned on several key topics.
Jody Jackson served as councillor for Ward 3, and was first elected in a 2017 byelection in Ward 2.
He told councillors during their regular meeting Wednesday night that while he was “immensely proud” of many things that have happened in the town, he was disappointed with a lack of progress in certain areas.
Jackson cited housing density as an area where “staff and council are not aligned,” and also spoke out against a property tax increase.
“It was something I thought about for a while,” Jackson said Thursday in an interview with CBC News.
Stratford Mayor Steve Ogden said he would have liked to have a discussion with Jackson prior to his resignation.
Stratford Mayor Steve Ogden says he would have liked to have a discussion with former councillor Jody Jackson prior to his resignation. (Tony Davis/CBC)
“I’m really disappointed and I’m really sorry to see him go,” Ogden said. “He was a very respected member of council and a really important voice around the table for his residents in Ward 3.”
The Town of Stratford is in the final year of a three-year plan to raise residents’ property taxes by two cents per $100 of assessed value per year. The third year of the tax increase is expected to generate about $5.9 million over 25 years.
Jackson noted that Stratford saw higher than anticipated surpluses this year and last, and said the tax increase would unnecessarily drive up costs for town residents.
But the mayor said the tax increase will bring needed revenue and avoid a larger tax hikes in the future.
“We don’t believe in borrowing any more than is absolutely necessary for all the neat things residents want and need and, really, they deserve,” Ogden said.
‘Scolded’ for pushing views
Jackson said during Wednesday’s council meeting that councillors are often “scolded” for pushing the views of residents.
Jackson told CBC News on Thursday that population growth projections for the town put Stratford at 30,000 residents in the coming years. He said people have strong opinions on changes to their neighbourhoods, and some feel they haven’t been adequately consulted.
“I think the biggest thing across the town, but especially in my ward, was disruption of their current neighbourhoods and the culture of their neighborhood,” he said.
The Town of Stratford is in the final year of a three-year plan to raise municipal residential taxes by two cents per year. (Shane Ross/CBC)
Ogden said the town looks closely at every development application and is bound by the provincial Planning Act — so if applications meet those requirements, Stratford is obligated to approve them.
“We always try to work with developers to try to get more homes for people built, affordable homes for people built in areas that are appropriate, while at the same time protecting traditional neighbourhoods,” Ogden said.
He said the town is still going through a zoning process and is planning to increase the amount of housing. The public will have a chance to weigh in before anything is finalized, Odgen said.
A byelection won’t be held for Ward 3 because municipal elections are taking place this November. Until then, the ward will be represented by Deputy Mayor Steve Gallant.
