Castonguay teased, saying sometimes the gist of the discussion is Suplizio mentioning consolidation, Castonguay mentioning joint water/sewer control. Then, at a standstill, they eat.
A person in the crowd of the breakfast at DuBois Diner asked Suplizio why, if he is in favor of consolidation, he isn't in favor of a regional water and sewage power.
"We're not going to give the milk for free. If you want it, you're going to marry us," Suplizio said.
Three times in the last 20 years, the issue of consolidating the city and township into one government has been on the ballot.
In each case, voters in the city approved the initiative but township voters rejected it.
In order for consolidation to be approved, voters in each municipality must approve it.
Suplizio said the township and city police and fire departments work well together. He added if he has a problem, he doesn't hesitate to pick up the phone to call Castonguay.
Suplizio said he is pro-consolidation.
"I do think bigger is better because that gives us more power," Suplizio said. "Maybe what we do is start out small with a regional police department."
Castonguay, however, is more adamant about complete consolidation.
"Before we can consolidate we have to cooperate in many more things," Castonguay said. "Bigger isn't necessarily better. Small has its value."
At the breakfast, Suplizio cautioned that sometimes what people read in the newspaper isn't "exactly right."
"We (he and Castonguay) do get along. We do go to lunch, so to speak, probably a couple time a month," Suplizio said. "We are moving into the future that way."
|
|
