Cumberland councillor Kate Greening will not seek re-election in November.
“I decided a little bit ago and it just reconfirmed it after the Monday meeting,” Greening said of last week’s council meeting, which had a split vote on moving the Official Community Plan forward.
After concerns regarding where secondary suites would be allowed were brought up by residents, Greening and Coun. Conner Copeman voted to amend the OCP to expand the residential area designated for ‘infill.’
But, citing concern around stalling the process, (another public hearing would need to be scheduled for an amendment like that), and pointing to the planned updates to the zoning bylaws as the way to address these resident concerns, the rest of council voted instead to give third reading to the OCP.
“Most of the people ran on listening and engaging and informing, and then it came down to maybe taking up to another month and all it became was, well there’s an election and the timeline isn’t long enough that we can get it all done by that,” said Greening.
Moving forward with the MMBC recycling contract – which she was opposed to – is an example of another time she was outvoted on an issue she felt strongly about, this time with council changing its mind mid-course to move forward with the contract.
“I just find it really frustrating,” she said.
Greening, who works as a notary public, is serving her second term on council. Previously, she played an active role as a citizen.
“Just because I’m quitting doesn’t mean I’m going to not be still sticking my nose into what’s going on,” added Greening, who said her greatest accomplishment has been getting the new library built in Cumberland.