The mayor of Chatham-Kent is apologizing for not notifying some councillors about a recent online information meeting he had with the Ontario Hockey League.
In a letter posted on social media, Mayor Darrin Canniff apologized for not sending an email to all of Council explaining the meeting and providing next steps.
"For that, I certainly apologize; I got caught up in the excitement about this amazing opportunity and what it could mean for the future of our community," wrote Canniff. "I value transparency, and having extra Council member ears in these meetings isn’t about exclusion, it's about adding more transparency and community representation."
Mayor Canniff said he agrees with what he's been hearing from councillors and the community following the meeting that the councillors who weren’t present needed to hear about this exciting opportunity as well, straight from the source.
Canniff said he's arranging to have the OHL commissioner speak directly to Council and the community at the next Council meeting on March 23 to provide the same information that he, senior staff, and the other half of Council received.
"I hope Council takes the opportunity to share how great our community truly is, with a wonderful organization that has shown interest in investing in Chatham-Kent," the mayor said. "The OHL showing interest in Chatham-Kent is great news, without a doubt."
Mayor Canniff promised that all councillors will receive all OHL-related information in a timely manner in the future and will also keep the community updated as this project evolves.
He said he chose councillors who have previously expressed interest in the OHL and investing in Chatham-Kent’s future.
The mayor added that there were no developers, local entrepreneurs, or private citizens in attendance and there were no decisions made, dollars spent, or dollars promised.
"The online meeting was purely informational, with the OHL commissioner sharing their vision for the expansion of the league and how CK might fit into it," Canniff noted.
Canniff also noted that part of his job as mayor is to meet with various people often to explore and gather information.
