Re-elected Councillor John Bell looks to balance growth, fiscal responsibility

Casandra Turnbull

Managing Editor

As Paris continues to grow and evolve, returning Ward 3 Coun. John Bell believes the challenge facing the next County of Brant council will be finding the right balance between maintaining the community’s small-town character and meeting the demands of an expanding population.

Bell secured his third consecutive term in the Oct. 26 municipal election, bringing eight years of council experience into another four-year mandate. First elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022, Bell has become a familiar voice around the council table, particularly when it comes to financial planning, infrastructure and managing growth.

For Bell, sound financial management remains one of his proudest contributions to the County.

He pointed to his advocacy for a long-term financial plan, which he considers essential to developing responsible annual budgets and capital forecasts.

"We have maintained a strong and sustainable financial position for the County whilst keeping property taxes low relative to neighbouring municipalities," he said.

Bell also highlighted several local initiatives he helped advance, including the selection of a preferred site for a new Paris main branch library, renovations to the former Paris Lawn Bowling Club pavilion, now the Wilkins Paris Community Centre, and plans to revitalize downtown Paris.

Beyond Ward 3, he pointed to improvements in road safety, the creation of a hospital reserve fund and completion of the County's new Official Plan. He also played a role in the merger of the Brant County and Haldimand-Norfolk health units to form Grand Erie Public Health, where he has served as vice-chair of the board of health.

Despite those accomplishments, Bell acknowledged several priorities remain unfinished.

Among them is the long-awaited new Paris library, which he had hoped would already be under construction. With a preferred location identified, he said the project remains on track for completion by early 2029, subject to final approvals.

Affordable housing is another area where he believes more progress is needed. While the second Trillium Way building opened in 2025 and plans are underway for a 35-unit development at Russell Heights in St. George, Bell said the County still has work to do.

He also expressed disappointment that a fixed transit route connecting Paris and Brantford has not materialized and that the province's ban on automated speed enforcement ended a tool he believed was successfully reducing speeding.

Looking ahead, Bell intends to continue championing downtown revitalization, affordable housing and additional housing options for adults with developmental challenges.

He also wants to strengthen collaboration with the City of Brantford on regional transportation and other shared priorities, including advocacy for a new Brantford-Brant hospital.

However, he cautioned that financial pressures could make the next four years particularly challenging.

The County faces rising infrastructure demands, difficult economic conditions and increasing costs transferred from the provincial government, all while trying to meet the sometimes competing expectations of rural and urban residents.

Bell believes council must become more disciplined in distinguishing essential services and projects from those that are desirable but less urgent.

"Council will need to be more explicit in agreeing needs vs wants," he said, noting he advocated for that approach during the previous term but did not gain the support of some of his colleagues.

He believes priorities should be established through a transparent, logical and financially sustainable process.

That approach could be tested almost immediately, with the 2027 municipal budget among the first major responsibilities facing the newly elected council.

During the campaign, Bell said residents frequently raised concerns about property taxes, construction delays, communication and community safety. He also heard a desire to see downtown Paris revitalized in a way that respects its historic character.

Those concerns represent something of a shift from four years ago, when conversations focused more heavily on growth, parking and whether infrastructure could keep pace with development.

Bell acknowledged council could improve how it communicates the complexities and uncertainties surrounding major road construction and infrastructure projects.

His previous experience, he believes, will help him contribute immediately while supporting newly elected Mayor Jennifer Kyle and mentoring new council colleagues.

Before his election to council in 2018, Bell served on the County's Committee of Adjustment and as a director of Brant Municipal Enterprises from 2014 to 2018.

Now entering his third term, he recognizes that not every decision council makes will satisfy everyone, particularly as Paris continues to change.

"It is a key job of Council is to manage that growth as best we can - maintaining small town charm whilst benefitting from the associated prosperity associated with growth," he said.

Bell also urged residents to recognize that continued development will bring disruption, even with careful planning.

He said he remains committed to explaining council decisions to residents, including those he may personally disagree with.

"I will always do my best to explain our decisions even if/when I disagree with the majority."