Interview with the Acting Mayor - March 17th, 2025

Monday, 17 March 2025 10:36

Woodstock Mayor Jerry Acchione is away, so Acting Mayor Liz Wismer-Van Meer stopped by the Heart FM studio this morning.

WOODSTOCK - Big decisions will be made at Woodstock City Council this week.

Council will sign off on a Revenue Fund Budget for 2025 this Thursday.

If just the draft base budget is approved, it would be a 2.8 percent increase to the tax levy. This would not include any new additions, service enhance, or contributions to reserves.

However, Acting Mayor Liz Wismer-Van Meer says that number changes when you include all of the proposed additions.

"The base budget plus all of the additions that were presented to council, minus the service level change which was the encampment level response, that would be a 6.38 percent increase. That's about $192.56 on the average home."

Please note that this is only for the city's portion of the property tax bill. This does not include the county or the school board portion.

City Council will also have to make another judgement call regarding the development that was proposed for 401 Lakeview Drive during this week's meeting.

A developer wanted to add over 250 housing units to the 10 acre property with two seven-storey apartment buildings, eight townhouses, and 26 semidetached homes. During his interview with Heart FM earlier this month, Mayor Jerry Acchione said council turned it down due to concerns regarding over development.

Wismer-Van Meer says the developer has filed an appeal since then.

"We as council have to decide if we are going to reconfirm not supporting the application, giving the staff the okay to move forward on getting legal representation for us for the Ontario Land Tribunal."

Thursday's City Council meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m. and it will be livestreamed on the City of Woodstock YouTube page. You can also find the meeting agenda online here.

Wismer-Van Meer is currently serving her first term as a Woodstock City Councillor. During her interview on Heart FM this morning, we asked her about her thoughts so far.

"There are things that I have experienced that I didn't expect to experience, but it's been rewarding to be in this role. I love this community and I have lived here my entire life so to have this opportunity, I am very honoured and proud to have done it. There are some tough days, but there are some really great days."

Wismer-Van Meer also discussed the following:

- The decision to add a Deputy Mayor for the next municipal council term.

- What do to if you notice a traffic light is out.

- Her concerns regarding the bend on Springbank Ave between Contestoga Road and Cree Ave, after the crash that took place yesterday morning.

You can listen to the full interview below: