Sean Kelly – Councillor of City of Belleville, ON

Sean Kelly is a councillor of the City of Belleville for Ward 1, first elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022.

Education

Community involvement

Roles as member of council

Career & business interests

  • Ran as the candidate for the Liberal Party of Ontario in the 2024 Bay of Quinte byelection
  • Elected councillor of the City of Belleville for Ward 1 in the 2022 municipal election
  • Re-elected to council in the City of Belleville in the 2022 municipal election
  • Elected to council in the 2018 municipal election
  • Morning Show Host at MIX 97 radio
  • Director of Programming for QBC (ROCK 107, 800 CJBQ, MIX 97) radio broadcasting
  • Prev. Trustee with the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board – Finance Chair 

Voting history

MotionVoteDateMeetingReport
Councillor Sean KellyMotion to Deny Strong Mayor Powers from the Province of Ontario to the City of Belleville and Proposed Changes to Building Faster FundAgainst25/09/2023MeetingReport
Councillor Sean KellyStrong Mayors LegislationFor25/09/2023MeetingReport
Councillor Sean KellyRecommendation Report, Zoning By-law Amendment (By-law 3014), 20 Blessington Road, City of BellevilleAgainst28/11/2022MeetingReport
Councillor Sean KellyApplication B-77-1113 to amend the City of Belleville Zoning By-law Number 3014, as amended for 20 Blessington RoadFor28/11/2022MeetingReport
Councillor Sean KellyChange meeting time to 7PM - Amendment to Procedural By-lawAgainst12/12/2022MeetingReport
Councillor Sean KellyChange meeting time to 5PM - Amendment to Procedural By-lawAgainst12/12/2022MeetingReport
Councillor Sean KellyBelleville Transit Route 9 cancellationFor13/02/2023MeetingReport
Councillor Sean KellyCity of Belleville Workplace Inclusion Charter
For13/03/2023MeetingReport
Councillor Sean KellySupports resolution of the Corporation of the Town of Grimsby in supporting women in politics and promoting gender equality in all areas of societyFor13/03/2023MeetingReport
Councillor Sean KellyReallocate $1.3M Building Faster Fund funding from Avonlough to The BridgeAbsent27/02/2024MeetingReport
Councillor Sean KellyFunding for 'The Bridge'Absent27/02/2024MeetingReport
Councillor Sean KellySupport use of Strong Mayor Powers as required for 1 Alhambra Square "The Bridge"For12/02/2024MeetingReport
Councillor Sean KellyFire Master Plan 2024Against08/07/2024MeetingReport
Councillor Sean KellyFire Master Plan 2024 - 2For08/07/2024MeetingReport
Councillor Sean KellyValue for Money Review for PolicingAgainst13/05/2024MeetingReport
Councillor Sean KellyConsider four-unit low-rise residential homes on a parcel of urban residential land that compliments neighbourhood characteristicsFor15/04/2024MeetingReport
Councillor Sean KellyCity of Belleville Loans Receivable and Children's Safety Village request.For11/03/2024MeetingReport
Councillor Sean KellyCity of Belleville Housing Pledge - Building Faster FundAgainst11/12/2023MeetingReport
Councillor Sean KellyStrong Mayors Legislation – Impact on the City of BellevilleFor25/09/2023MeetingReport
Councillor Sean KellyMotion to Deny Strong Mayor Powers from the Province of Ontario to the City of Belleville and Proposed Changes to Building Faster Fund
Against25/09/2023MeetingReport
Councillor Sean KellyAutomated Speed Enforcement - Revise Community Safety Zone Policy27/04/2023MeetingReport
Councillor Sean KellyProvincial Gas Tax be used to extend Route 9 service to April 21, 2023For13/02/2023MeetingReport
Councillor Sean KellyBylaw 2023-30 to authorize the purchase of 621 Dundas Street East, Belleville (former Bakelite property) by the Corporation of the City of Belleville from 2255718 Ontario Inc.Against13/02/2023MeetingReport
Councillor Sean KellyBylaw 2023-31 to authorize the transfer of 621 Dundas Street East, Belleville (former Bakelite property) from 2255718 Ontario Inc. to the Corporation of the City of BellevilleAgainst13/02/2023MeetingReport
Councillor Sean KellyApproval of an Updated Community Safety Zone Policy12/06/2023MeetingReport
Councillor Sean KellyRe-evaluation of Community Safety Zones20/06/2023MeetingReport
Councillor Sean KellyChanges CSZ by-law to apply 24/720/06/2023MeetingReport
Councillor Sean KellyRecommendation of a new Community Safety Zone - College Street East
20/06/2023MeetingReport
Councillor Sean KellyReducing speed limit in 5 CSZs from 50-60 km/h down to 40 km/h14/08/2023MeetingReport
Councillor Sean Kelly2024 Pre-Budget Approval of Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) Program14/11/2023MeetingReport
Councillor Sean Kelly$965,020 over 2 years for Centralized Municipal Processing Services by City of Toronto’s Joint Processing Center27/11/2023MeetingReport
Councillor Sean KellyRenting 4 ASE cameras for $733,612 over 5 years11/12/2023MeetingReport
Councillor Sean KellyCultural Heritage Designation under the Ontario Heritage Act 217 Pinnacle Street, Belleville, OntarioAgainst25/04/2022MeetingReport
Councillor Sean KellyWard 2 Transit Service Survey QuestionsFor24/01/2022MeetingReport
Councillor Sean KellyCity of Belleville Workplace Inclusion CharterFor13/03/2023MeetingReport
Councillor Sean KellyRoom Rental in Low Density Residential NeighbourhoodsFor12/09/2022MeetingReport
Councillor Sean Kelly$25,000 for Tiny Shelter Community concept plan
For08/08/2022MeetingReport
Councillor Sean KellyOffer to Sell Lands to City - 621 Dundas East (Former Bakelite Property)For25/07/2022MeetingReport
Councillor Sean KellyFire the Integrity CommissionerFor10/08/2020MeetingReport
Councillor Sean KellyAppointment of Tyler Allsopp to fill the vacant seat of late Councillor Pat CulhaneAgainst14/12/2020MeetingReport
Councillor Sean KellyHear a report from the ad-hoc committee tasked with recommending Jennifer MacTavish to fill the vacant councillor positionAgainst20/01/2021MeetingReport
Councillor Sean KellyAppointment of Tyler Allsopp to fill the vacant seat of late Councillor Pat CulhaneFor25/01/2021MeetingReport
Councillor Sean KellyReplace the current two ward system with four wardsAgainst13/09/2021MeetingReport
Councillor Sean KellyZoning bylaw amendment application by Juan Hernandez of 57 Octavia St. asking to continue his 24/7 community pit stop with eight vending machines.Against13/12/2021MeetingReport

2024 Operating Budget and The Bridge Health Hub

Kelly did not attend the 2024 Operating Budget council meetings as he was on vacation at the time. The meetings decided property tax increases and the funding of the planned Bridge Health Hub project.

2022 – First National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Caribbean Festival

Led the Belleville’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee to mark Belleville’s first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and further collaborated with new international Loyalist College students to celebrate the city’s first Diwali Festival.

Worked with the Caribbean community to host Belleville’s first Caribbean Festival.

2020 – Voting against the appointment of Tyler Allsopp to fill the vacant council seat of late Councillor Pat Culhane

Belleville has traditionally filled seat vacancies by appointing the candidate with most votes who did not win election.

A motion to appoint Tyler Allsopp, who had come 7th in previous election, was defeated 4-4, with Councillor Sean Kelly, along with colleagues Councillor Bill Sandison, Councillor Kelly McCaw, and Mayor Mitch Panciuk, voting against appointing Tyler Allsopp to fill the empty council seat, while Councillor Chris Malette, Councillor Ryan Williams, Councillor Garnet Thompson, and Councillor Paul Carr voted for.

Mayor Mitch Panciuk created an adhoc committee to appoint a member of the public, and their report recommended Jennifer McTavish. After receiving feedback from the public, Sean Kelly changed his stance, saying maybe he got it wrong and voted to reject the committee’s recommendation:

I’ve received lots of emails, phone calls, just a lot of conversation with the residents. It’s their seat and I respect the voters’ opinion. I was hoping for more diversity and more inclusion in our city for everyone and as the Inclusion Committee Chair, I’ve got a lot of work ahead of me in the next two years.

Councillor Sean Kelly

Council later voted again to appoint Tyler Allsopp to the seat and it passed 7-1.

2024 Bay of Quinte by-election

Reason for running

I’m running because I love this community. Our region has so much to offer families and I want to see it succeed.

I look around our community and see so many great things. But, I also see where our community is asking for help. More than 20,000 people can’t find access to primary care, Belleville General has the second-longest wait times in the province, we have a mental health and addictions crisis, and more.

Sean Kelly to The Quinteist

I’ve worked hard for this community and the Bay of Quinte for the last 30 years. Community work, school board trustee, and now my second term at Belleville, at City Hall. I know I’m the best candidate for this with my life experiences.  I want this.  There’s nobody going to outwork me and I just feel it’s my time.  I’ve worked for it and I want to get to the next level.

I wasn’t surprised when the local [PC] candidate had his campaign office at the former Beer Store.

Sean Kelly to Quinte News

Issues and views

Doctor shortage, education support, fixing County Road 49

Education

One major issue that I’d love to address is making our schools better.

Teachers are overworked, often paying out of pocket for supplies while our kids are in overcrowded classrooms. We need more EAs in classrooms, more support staff and the government needs to treat our educators with respect.

Sean Kelly to The Quinteist

Endorsed by Bill Sandison, former Belleville councillor

Sean Kelly … is the real-deal Liberal and he is the candidate that stands heads and shoulders above the others in the race – in terms of his involvement in the community, his passion for people, and his pragmatic approach to dealing with issues. You know where Sean stands on issues because he wears it on his sleeve.

Sean is the candidate who does his research, consults with his constituents and represents their best interests as a councillor on Belleville city council.

Bill Sandison, former Belleville councillor

Endorsed by Picton Gazette

… we have decided to endorse the candidacy of Sean Kelly, who shows the most potential to unite this riding around a progressive agenda.

Mr. Kelly can be that loud, effective booming voice that won’t be ignored. The voice that draws attention to the needs of the region. The voice that holds the government to account during question period. The voice that unifies the community and advocates for every person in the riding.

Picton Gazette

YourTV debate

https://youtu.be/89scDrTMG0c?si=sVPSk0NQjS6V8GEQ&t=114

Chamber of Commerce debate

2022 municipal election

Kelly pledges to continue to press for better medical care and more support for families and the vulnerable population.

What initiative would you support to mitigate the climate emergency as passed by council in 2021?

Received a recommendation from Quinte Labour Council.

2018 municipal election

  • Work towards more people having a doctor – increase health professionals in the area.
  • Do more for mental health with local agencies to offer support.
  • Affordable homes – so family’s can have a great quality of life with a roof over the head.
  • Do more for seniors and youth as far as recreation in the city.

Issues & views

Incident live on air

On February 20, 2024 there was an apparent altercation live on air on Mix 97 between between Kelly and host Lorne Brooker, who have worked together since at least 2000.

When asked about it by InQuinte, Kelly said the matter “was cleared up 20 minutes later” adding the colleagues remain friends and they have “moved on.”

There is nothing to that

The situation was with a colleague in the workplace where sometimes people have disagreements, especially in our business.

There is nothing there. I wouldn’t be in the position where I am now if that was a liability. I have worked hard for the people as a councillor and school board trustee. That incident isn’t reflective of who I am. We all make mistakes. In my particular situation, it was caught on air.

I can tell you the relationship with the individual that was connected to it – there is no issue. We talk every morning and share stories. We have moved on. It’s not personal.

Sean Kelly to InQuinte

I apologized, you apologized to me and we move forward.

Sean Kelly to Lorne Brooker on the Lorne Brooker Show

Personal life

Sean Kelly has two children.

Kelly is a big Toronto Maple Leafs fan, likes Adele and Celtic Music.

Election results

Contact

Over to you

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