Interview with Mayor Jerry Acchione - September 3rd 2024

Tuesday, 3 September 2024 10:46

The agenda for this Thursday's City Council meeting includes discussions around the budget for homeless encampment cleanup and a proposed change for Transit Route 4.

WOODSTOCK - Woodstock City Council will have to revisit the budget for homeless encampment cleanup.

The City knows of 14 different encampments in Woodstock, so Council approved $100,000 for cleanup efforts in the 2024 budget.

Parks and Recreation staff have cleaned up six encampments so far this year and Mayor Jerry Acchione says they have gone over budget.

"So over $101,000 has been spent, so a report from the Parks and Rec Department is coming forward asking council what it wants to do. Do we want to up the budget so we can continue cleaning them, or are we going to stop cleaning them right now and wait for the next budget?"

City Council will also look over a proposed change for Transit Route 4 this week.

A staff report shows that about 3,600 people alone utilize bus stop 4150 in the north end of Woodstock. The City has a goal of having a bus stop located within five minutes or 400 metres away from each home, so Mayor Jerry Acchione says they're thinking about spreading out some of the other bus stops in the area.

"We're going to continue east on Upper Thames Drive, turn left on Queenston Boulevard, and left on Thompson Street. It only adds approximately two minutes to the bus ride, but it's going to make it a lot more accessible for a lot more riders up in that neighbourhood."

Thursday's City Council meeting will begin at 1:30 p.m. and it will be livestreamed on the City of Woodstock YouTube page. You can also find the meeting agenda online here.

During his interview with Dan Henry this morning, Mayor Acchione also discussed the following:

- How he was able to spend time with family at the Binbrook Conservation Area over the Labour Day long weekend.

- His upcoming proclamation for Big Brothers Big Sisters Month.

- Proposed changes to the Fowl Bylaw for pigeon and chicken owners.

- A motion calling for CN to fix the pedestrian bridge on Finkle Street.

- Potential voting methods for the next municipal election in October 2026.

- A motion to increase the minimum Woodstock Fire Department Staff from nine firefighters to 10.

You can listen to the full interview below: