The issue of breaking up Greater Sudbury hasn't been much of an issue in this election campaign, dominated as it has been by the Kingsway Entertainment District.
But a city councillor who was acclaimed to his seat is trying to bring it back with a motion headed to city council next week.
Ward 2 Coun. Michael Vagnini's motion calls for city CAO Ed Archer to ask the province for options “to decentralize services to provide autonomy to the towns and cities that existed prior to amalgamation.”
Vagnini's motion says that the 2001 amalgamation of the seven former communities “removed access to decision makers to Tom Davies Square, and significantly limited residents’ ability to directly influence events at the local level.
“The promised benefits and predicted savings from amalgamation have failed to materialize and disaffection and frustration continue to exist among the city’s citizens,” the motion continues. “Citizens in the former towns and cities want to regain their ability to directly influence events and services at the local level and would like to see essential services decentralized.”
Vagnini also provided Sudbury.com with a copy of an open letter from Capreol resident Anthony Skopyk, who wrote to Premier Doug Ford asking him to support demalgamation.
“We have been told for almost two decades that it is impossible to undo what was done in 2001,” Skopyk writes. “I believe you are the person who can make the impossible happen for us.
“If your government would consider deamalgamating the City of Great Sudbury, and have it revert to the former regional government, I believe the taxpayers would save a small fortune, and the residents in the seven outlying communities would be better served with their own local government.”
Skopyk included a copy of Vagnini's motion in his letter urging Ford to act.
Vagnini's motion goes to city council Sept. 25, the final council meeting of this term.
