SOUTH HURON — South Huron has deferred a decision on whether or not to join its municipal neighbour to the north in an appeal of a decision that reduced the size of Huron County council from 20 members to 16 members.

As previously reported, a recent ruling from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice saw county council reduced by four members. Losing their seats on county council were South Huron's David Frayne, North Huron's David Riach, Central Huron's Brian Barnim and Huron East's Bill Siemon.

The ruling upheld the county's Bylaw 28-1999 that states each municipality receives one seat on county council and additional seats based on increments of 4,000 electors. South Huron, North Huron, Central Huron and Huron East each lost a seat because their number of electors dropped after the 2010 election.

An appeal of the decision, led by Central Huron, is scheduled to be heard Jan. 31.
In a letter dated Jan. 10, Central Huron Mayor Jim Ginn asked South Huron to “consider participating in the appeal to show unity and sharing the costs.”
South Huron council discussed the matter at its Jan. 16 meeting.

Answering a question from South Huron Coun. Tom Tomes, chief administrative officer Roy Hardy said the cost of joining the appeal would depend on how many other municipalities join.

Mayor George Robertson said council didn't need to make a decision immediately and suggested waiting to see if North Huron decided to join the appeal. In the end, council decided to defer the matter until its Jan. 30 committee of the whole meeting.

Hardy told the Times-Advocate Monday that North Huron had decided to donate $2,000 towards the appeal.