JSC Asked: Your Local Councillor Candidates – Ward 6

Carmela Palkowski: I have lived in Caledon for 12 years, specifically Bolton.

A sustainable future for Caledon to me is a vibrant community with proper infrastructure that preserves our History and agricultural heritage.

Cosimo Napoli: I've lived in Bolton for 27 years, and I live in Ward 6, where I raised my family.

To me, a sustainable future means managed and responsible growth, proper infrastructure, protecting our environment and keeping tax increases to a minimum. We need to make sure development pays for itself without putting unnecessary financial pressure on residents. I also believe in protecting our green spaces and building a Caledon that remains a great place to live for future generations.

Carmela Palkowski: The four highest priority concerns for Ward 6 are:

-Road safety, the amount of trucks on the roads coming in and out of the main artery of Town. Warehouses and illegal truck yards have taken over our gateway on Hwy 50. This is extremely concerning, especially when mass development has been planned before road improvements have been made.

-Building infrastructure before mass building of new development. Roads, services, parks, emergency services. Residents do not have answers and they feel uneasy. Will the new residents get what they need in regards to these services or will the existing services be overwhelmed.

-Affordability for seniors and youth. Youth can not afford to stay in Bolton as the price of housing is not affordable, they are leaving Caledon. Also, Seniors want to downsize but don’t have a place to do so unless they move into a long term care facility. They need options.

-Protecting Bolton’s heritage and community character. I do believe we need to preserve our downtown community. We also need to build a stronger education program about our history. Create fun historical events that engage the community. A perfect example would be Be a Christmas light festival and have actors play Bolton historical figures engaging visitors to a show. It would be a fun way of educating the residents about our history and creating tradition. Ensuring our future generations will be engaged in the preservation.

Cosimo Napoli: 1. Traffic and road safety Traffic and safety remain important concerns for residents. I will continue advocating for speed management, better signage, better lighting, school crosswalks and practical improvements that make our neighbourhoods safer.

2. Managed and responsible growth Caledon is growing, and infrastructure must keep pace. We need to make sure development is properly planned and that residents are not left carrying the financial burden of growth.

3. Illegal trucking and land use I will continue working with Town staff, the province and our partners to address illegal trucking yards and illegal land uses. We have made progress, with illegal trucking operations reduced from over 300 in 2022 to 72 in 2026, alongside more than $500,000 in fines issued.

4. Taxes and quality of life Residents work hard for their money, and Council needs to be responsible with tax dollars. My focus is on keeping tax increases to a minimum while maintaining services, supporting local businesses and protecting the quality of life in Ward 6.

Carmela Palkowski: A role of a councillor is a Voice at the Council table. This voice needs to be a true representative of the residents needs, wants and concerns. A councillor should be 100 percent transparent and advocate for the ward by raising concerns when residents experience problems with roads, bylaw enforcement, traffic, parks or other Town services. In the case of Ward 6, a councillor needs advocate for the residents before immense growth comes to their neighbourhood.

Cosimo Napoli: I believe a Councillor's role is to listen to residents, bring their concerns forward and work with Council and Town staff to find solutions. It's about the work you do, the relationships you build and, most importantly, the results you deliver.

I live in Ward 6, where I've called home for 27 years and raised my family. The people I represent aren't just residents, they're my neighbours, friends and members of the community I call home.

Looking back on the past four years, I'm proud of what we've accomplished, from improving traffic safety and bringing an OPP community office to downtown Bolton, to working on illegal trucking, supporting seniors and investing in our community.

I'm running again because I want to continue that work. I care deeply about my neighbours and the community we share. I want to keep listening, working and delivering on the issues that matter to residents, helping make Ward 6 an even better place to live, work and raise a family.

Cosimo Napoli: I believe my greatest accomplishment this term has been listening, working and delivering for my residents. For me, it's not just about what you say at Council meetings, but about the work you do in the community and the results you deliver.

Some of the accomplishments I'm most proud of include:

Bringing the OPP substation to downtown Bolton, helping increase police presence and support community safety.

Improving traffic and road safety by working with residents on speed bumps, stop signs, crosswalks and traffic-calming initiatives.

Taking action on illegal trucking and land use, helping reduce illegal trucking operations from over 300 in 2022 to 72 in 2026.

Collaborating with the Rotary Club to build Rotary Generations Park, creating a place where families and generations of our community can come together.

Serving as Vice Chair and Chair of the Caledon Council Charity Golf Tournament, helping raise funds that support local community organizations and initiatives.

Expanding access to wellness facilities for seniors 65+ and veterans through free community centre memberships.

Supporting the revitalization of downtown Bolton, protecting our Greenbelt, and advocating for improved transportation options, including the Argo transit pilot program.

I've also been proud of my involvement in our community through the Library Board Committee, the Bolton BIA and supporting our seniors.

At the end of the day, my greatest accomplishment is the trust I've built with residents by listening to their concerns, working with them and following through. I live in Ward 6, I've raised my family here, and this community is my home. I'm proud of what we've accomplished together, and I look forward to continuing to listen, work and deliver for the residents of Ward 6.

Carmela Palkowski: For the past two years, I’ve been advocating for road safety as a Co Director of the Caledon Community Road Safety Advocacy Group (CCRSA) at every level of government.

Throughout that advocacy, I’ve watched municipal leaders across the country work with organizations and communities to push for safer roads—and I’ve seen the progress that can happen when municipal leaders take action. That inspired me to bring my advocacy to the municipal level.

I’ve already spent countless hours volunteering, working alongside Town staff, bylaw officers and planners, brainstorming solutions and bringing residents’ concerns forward. As a councillor, I would have the responsibility and the ability to help make the decisions—not just advocate for them. I want to bring the residents’ voices into the room, push for practical solutions and make sure road safety decisions turn into action.

Carmela Palkowski: I do believe that development needs to be planned based as a whole plan - not patched planning, one application at a time. Before approving patched plans, the Town must address how road capacity, traffic safety, storm water, parks, services, natural resources will be affected in existing surrounding communities.

Cosimo Napoli: Yes, I support an ecosystem approach to development applications. We need to look at the broader environmental impact of development, including wetlands, watercourses, drainage, wildlife habitats and surrounding lands.

Responsible growth should consider environmental protection from the beginning. I believe decisions should be based on sound technical information and a balanced approach that allows Caledon to grow while protecting our natural environment.

Carmela Palkowski: If elected, I support strengthening the current fill bylaw. Caledon needs protection from these operations. We do have expert guidance from many of our residents. These individuals need to be part of a team to ensure everybody is comfortable with the bylaw before it moves forward. We already know who these residents are - bring them together with bylaw to protect Caledon.

Cosimo Napoli: My priority is to ensure Caledon has a strong, enforceable bylaw that protects residents, agricultural lands, roads and the environment. I would carefully review the proposed new site alteration bylaw alongside the current fill bylaw and support the approach that provides the most effective protection and enforcement tools.

We need clear rules, proper monitoring and meaningful consequences when those rules are not followed. Residents deserve confidence that fill operations are being managed responsibly and that their concerns are taken seriously.

Carmela Palkowski: More can be done to improve recreational programs in smaller Caledon Towns and villages. We must be creative in offering these services to those residents who live in these smaller areas. As Caledon is geographically so large, it is irresponsible to expect residents to travel 20-30 minutes to attend basic recreation activities. Everybody deserves to have these services locally at their disposal.

Cosimo Napoli: Yes, I believe we can do more. Residents in smaller towns and villages deserve access to recreational opportunities close to home. I would like to continue working with community organizations to identify programming gaps, particularly for seniors, youth and families. We should build on the services we already have and ensure that residents throughout Caledon have opportunities to stay active, connected and involved in their communities.

Carmela Palkowski: Infrastructure is imperative in ward 6 at this time to alleviate existing congestion. The CCRSA has advocated for service roads. We have the space. We need to build these service roads before new development commences. There are one lane roads currently - we can’t build infrastructure after the growth happens. This is backwards planning.

Cosimo Napoli: We need to continue listening to residents and addressing traffic concerns on a location-by-location basis. That includes looking at speed bumps, stop signs, signage, lighting, school crosswalks and enforcement where appropriate.

We also need proper traffic planning as new developments move forward, ensuring roads and infrastructure can handle increased volumes. I will continue working with Town staff, the OPP and regional partners to find practical solutions and advance safety improvements through the budget process.

Carmela Palkowski: This is one of the issues we are facing with Council and staff at this time. Closed session meetings, plans made without public consultation - This is a lack of transparency. Residents of this Town pay taxes, we need visibility to what is happening and we should be involved in the decision making. How many times have residents been told after asking questions during a delegation, thank you for your comments we will get back to you - then hear nothing?

Cosimo Napoli: Yes, transparency and accountability are essential to maintaining public trust. Residents deserve clear information about Council decisions, costs, timelines and the reasons behind them.

I support keeping residents informed and engaged in major decisions that affect their quality of life and livelihoods. My approach is to listen, communicate honestly and make sure residents have an opportunity to be heard, while respecting legal requirements around confidential matters.

Carmela Palkowski: Absolutely - If elected, I would be agreeable to researching a system that enables issues to be resolved without the threat of unnecessary Integrity commissioner complaints. There should be a climate of accountability, respectful discussion without the need of unnecessary drama and intimidation.

Cosimo Napoli: Yes, I would support researching a fair and transparent process that encourages issues to be resolved through respectful communication and appropriate procedures whenever possible.

The Integrity Commissioner must remain independent, and everyone must retain access to the formal complaint process when necessary. The goal should be to resolve misunderstandings and legitimate concerns efficiently, without discouraging people from raising issues or compromising accountability.