Council highlights from the January 23, 2023 meeting

Children playing soccer, a fire truck, children swimming and a snowplow.

Appointments to boards and committees

Dozens of community-minded residents have volunteered to be part of Clarington’s numerous boards and committees for the next four years. One of the year’s first business items was for Clarington Council to appoint residents for the term. The committees and boards advise Council on important issues – accessibility, agriculture, active transportation, affordable housing, diversity, tourism, the energy-from-waste facility, and more. Volunteer committees also work to preserve Clarington’s heritage, plan the Santa Claus parades, and support the libraries, arenas, local business associations, conservation areas, and community halls. These residents selflessly give their time to help support our Clarington community.

Courtice Temporary Sales Office approved

Council approved an application to change the zoning to permit a new mobile one-storey Temporary Sales Office at the Southwest corner of Nash and Hancock Roads in Courtice. The temporary use zoning by-law amendment allows the new temporary home sales office and its parking lot for a maximum of three years.

Seven new homes to be added to Bowmanville neighbourhood

Council approved an application to permit the development of seven lots for single-detached houses on the west side of Mearns Avenue in Bowmanville. Two new homes will front onto Ireland Street, and five will front onto Lyle Drive. A zoning by-law amendment was needed to rezone the property from agricultural to residential to permit the new two-storey houses. The rezoning is compatible with the existing low-density neighbourhood beside the property and promotes infill in the urban area.

Post-election report on Clarington’s first online/telephone voting

Most Clarington residents liked how easy, fast, and convenient online/telephone voting was in the last election. For the first time in 2022, Clarington’s municipal election was conducted via internet and telephone voting.

Clarington’s Election Team conducted a survey (available online and in paper form) to gauge the voter experience with the new internet/telephone voting system. Lots of feedback was received that was very positive, with 85 per cent of respondents saying they liked how easy, fast, and convenient the voting process was. Only five per cent of those responding said they didn’t like anything about the process. The vast majority, 84 per cent, of respondents stated that they are very likely to vote online or by telephone in future elections, with four per cent responding that they are very unlikely.

The survey’s final question asked if respondents had any other comments or concerns about the voting process. These comments varied wildly from people requesting a paper ballot, not trusting online voting or concerned about the security and privacy of online voting, to people expressing how much they loved it, how easy it was and requesting that online voting be an option in every election.

Voters could also receive assistance to cast their ballots at Election Assistance Centres, local library branches and special voting locations held at retirement homes, nursing homes and the hospital.

Municipal staff will continue to receive feedback from voters and monitor the technologies and processes of conducting elections to ensure the 2026 Municipal Election process will provide an equal opportunity for all of Clarington’s voters.

The next council meeting is Monday, February 13, 2023.

-30-