Image

Petrolia politicians reject smaller council for the 2022 election

October 2, 2020

Heather Wright/The Independent

Petrolia residents will be voting for six councillors during the next election.

Councillors decided not even to study the idea of reducing council to five people.

Former Mayor John McCharles suggested the idea prior to the 2018 election.
Current Mayor Brad Loosley decided to start the conversation about council’s size, asking council to have staff study the impacts of reducing council to the minimum allowed by the province.

But when the idea came up for discussion Monday, it became clear very quickly councillors were not interested.

Councillor Grant Purdy voiced concern that if a councillor called in sick or had to work, the meeting wouldn’t be able to move forward because there would not be enough people to make decisions.

“I can’t see what we’re going to gain going down to four (councillors),” said Councillor Marty Souch.

Some, like Councillor Joel Field, were torn.

“There are pros and cons both ways; there could be an issue with quorum. Then I weigh out that we are a growing community that has the potential in the next few years to explode,” he says adding that would increase the workload of councillors.

“If it is saving a few thousand dollars maybe but making sure we have the right representation is important, too.”

In 2019, councillors in Petrolia received a base pay of $13,338.02 a year. They can also claim expenses for conferences and mileage. They also can tap into the town’s health plan. On average, that bumps up taxpayers costs for representation about $3,300 per year.

Only one councillor filed no expenses and received the minimum payment last year – Wade Deighton.

In all, the cost to taxpayers for the mayor and council’s salaries and expenses was $134,982.33.

Share This

Image
Front Page

Wyoming’s Jackson taken by Yankees in MLB Draft

July 14, 2025

The Independent Core Jackson may be headed to the Big Apple. The Wyoming native was selected in the fifth round of the MLB Draft by the New York Yankees on Monday afternoon. Jackson has played college baseball at the University of Utah for the past two years. He slashed .364/.445/.641 with 12 home runs, 44 RBI, and 20 stolen bases

Read More

Image
Front Page

Information and Privacy Commissioner orders Petrolia to release 2021 letter from mayor banning town councillor

July 14, 2025

Heather Wright/The Independent Nearly four years, after Petrolia Mayor Brad Loosley banned a councillor from attending in camera meetings, the town has been forced to release the letter spelling out his reasons. In June 2022, while investigating a Code of Conduct complain against the mayor for the release of confidential information to The Independent, the investigator found Loosley had banned

Read More

Image
Front Page

Flyers sign veterans, Flags go with youth

July 13, 2025

Barry Wright/The Independent The Petrolia Flyers have reached into east Lambton for a pair of players for the coming season. Alvinston’s Joey Hayter and Ty Moffatt of Watford are both joining the PJHL team. Hayter, 19, has played the past two seasons with the Blenheim Blades including scoring 15 goals and adding 31 assists in 51 regular season and playoff

Read More

Image
Front Page

Killer Bees’ Feasey to coach Maroons

July 12, 2025

Barry Wright/The Independent Alvinston Killer Bees star Brennan Feasey is the new head coach of the Sutherland Cup champion Chatham Maroons of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League. The new job came about after Richard Santos left the Maroons this week to become the new head coach of the U16 boys prep team with Biosteel Sports Academy in Windsor and

Read More