Sarnia council virtual meeting. Screen image taken from ZOOM meeting.Sarnia council virtual meeting. Screen image taken from ZOOM meeting.
Sarnia

Sarnia council extends pandemic relief, considers restoring transit fares

Sarnia council has extended pandemic relief measures for residential and commercial property owners at a cost of about $200,000.

The penalty and interest charges on property taxes, late fees on utilities and other invoices will be waived until June 30.

Councillor Margaret Bird proposed reintroducing transit fares and possibly increasing them to recoup lost revenue.

"We could possibly reintroduce fares gradually, half-fare, three-quarters fare over the next few months, or if we still leave it as free then when the fares come back in to increase them appropriately to get some kind of recuperation for the revenue lost," said Bird.

She also wants to see plexiglass walls installed on city buses as a protective measure for drivers.

Councillor Mike Stark agreed, adding that the city should consider reintroducing transit fares as soon as the premier withdraws restrictions May 28.

"By that point, we should have mitigation safety measures introduced on the transit system to allow full fares, not graduated fares," said Stark.

He said similar steps should be considered when it comes to property taxes.

Councillors delayed making amendments after Mayor Mike Bradley urged them to discuss the ideas at the next meeting on June 1.

"This is, to me, premature," said Bradley. "Council took steps on April 20, and we have steps here you're being asked to take and none of us know where we're going to be in a month. None of us know where we're going to be in two months. I think we can accept when we understand where the community is at."

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