Hamilton heads for showdown with Niagara over seats on conservation authority board

Hamilton is heading for a showdown with Niagara Region over how many seats it holds on the board of the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority.

Hamilton is nowconvinced it has four seats on the problem-plagued board (NPCA) board after learning that for decades, it was given half the members it deserved.

The city plans to go ahead and appoint four representatives to show up at the first meeting, even though Niagara Region has already filled the board with its appointees, leaving onlytwo seats.

SamMerulla, Ward 4 councillor, said Hamilton had a "democratic deficit" for years.

"I'm actually shocked that for over two decades, we've been underrepresented," he said. "How did it go unnoticed until now?"

Since at least the early 90s, two Hamilton reps have sat on the NPCAboard. Right now, the board is comprised of 12 people from Niagara, twofrom Hamilton and onefrom Haldimand. The province says it should befivefrom Niagara,fourfrom Hamilton and twofrom Haldimand.

How did it go unnoticed until now?- Sam Merulla, Hamilton councillor

Councillorsseemedoutraged and bewildered Wednesday as they voted to appoint the right number of members even though Niagara has already gone ahead and appointed its usual dozen.

"Based on media reports, they appear to be dysfunctional," said Lloyd Ferguson, Ancastercity councillor, during a general issues committee meeting Wednesday. "They just went ahead and appointed a new board anyway."

By some accounts, this would be an understatement.

In a report this year, the auditor general said the NPCAhad "significant operational issues," including board members interfering in day-to-day operations. It also outlined some issues with procurement, and offered 18 recommendations for the NPCA and six for the province. The NPCA says it's already implementing many of them.

In the Niagara Region in general, voters ousted so many regional councillorsin the last election that two-thirds of the council isnew. This happened in part because of media reports around the hiring of CAOCarmen D'Angelo, a matter that the Ontario Ombudsman is investigating now.

As for Hamilton, there's been friction since the NPCAhiked the city's levy in 2015.

Hamilton taxpayershad to pay nearly $1 million a year more, D'Angelotold them. D'Angelo, once a Hamilton NPCA rep, had become the head ofthe NPCA.

Hamilton's lower levy, D'Angelosaid, was based on an apparent agreement no one could verify or find anymore.

Hamilton appealed the levy increase to the Ontario mining and lands commissioner, which ruled with the NPCA. The city is now fighting it in court.

As part of the levy discussion, the NPCA talked about granting Hamilton anotherseat or two on the board,said James Kaspersetz, a Hamilton NPCA rep andinterim chair. Then during the commission hearing, he said, "it kind of got us thinking."

The inaugural meeting will be interesting, he said.If a dozen Niagara reps show up, "there'll be five chairs for them."

Niagara Region spokesperson Jason Tamming says regional council will get legal advice on the matter Thursday.

In addition to two councillors, Hamilton will appoint two citizens, although not until early 2019. The deadline for applications is Friday. Coun. Brenda Johnson ofWard 11 (Glanbrook)and Coun. Brad Clark ofWard 9 (upper Stoney Creek), a one-time PC cabinet minister, willsit on the board.

There are 112,000 Hamilton residents living in the Niagara watershed, Johnson said. Accordingto the Conservation Authorities Act, that gives Hamilton four members.

"It's interesting to try and figure out why it's never been investigated," said Kaspersetz, who lives in Stoney Creek. "It's always been a stronghold ofNiagara and no one's really questioned it."