Community Feedback Request - Governance in the Niagara Region

A Message From Town of Pelham Mayor Marvin Junkin

This is Mayor Marvin Junkin.

There’s been a lot of discussion recently about amalgamation. I’m here as Mayor to get your feedback, whether you agree with me or not, I want to hear what you have to say, because that’s the basis of good policy and good decisions for this community.

Amalgamation means change. In short, I don’t think Pelham should be amalgamated, but I’m really open to some dramatic change at the Regional level.

I have served this community as an elected official for more than a decade and sat on the Regional Council for seven of those years. I’ve learned a lot about local government. This includes some insight into what works for Pelham.

We’ve made a lot of thoughtful changes at Pelham Town Hall over the years, which I’m proud to say have resulted in a Town that now has money in the bank, a high rate of growth, and a lot of awards to its credit, all while still being the Pelham community I know and in which I was born, raised my family, and now grandkids.

I’ve also spent more hours than I can count in Regional Council meetings, advocating for Pelham.

Change is hard, but I feel change is necessary at the Region. I’ll get into more of the details at Regional Council, but please know that I think there are better ways to deliver water and wastewater, and likely the Regional road system as well. Those are good places to start and major areas of spending which could help all taxpayers.

I urge each of you to speak up about the Pelham you have and the Pelham you want. I strongly believe that today’s Pelham can continue to thrive, if given the opportunity.

An amalgamated future, means that decisions about Pelham will be made outside our borders, by people who may not understand our needs.

I look forward to hearing from you.