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Inside INSPIRED BY MOROCCO
Quinte West
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012
Another Applefest venue.
Page 11
KING TAKES SILVER
Firefit medal goes to senior officer.
Page 14
“SNAP”SHOT
Turtle rescued in Campbellford.
Page B4 SUPER GROVER?
Artisans shine no thanks to Ma Nature.
www.EMCQuinte.ca
Mayor voted The sky is the limit down on review By Ray Yurkowski
Page B13
TOTAL EMC DISTRIBUTION 500,000
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Cruiser Bikes
EMC News - Brighton - An attempt at the old switcheroo sparked a lengthy debate at last week’s municipal council meeting. It started when Mayor Mark Walas withdrew one motion, a call for “an immediate administrative review of all [municipal] departments” and filed a new plan to “suspend the hiring of the manager of public works and complete a municipal services review.” “We need to deal with this as a motion right now,” said Councillor Craig Kerr. The problem was, interviews to fill the position were scheduled to begin the next day and under sections 6.2.1 and 6.10.6 of the procedural bylaw, additions to the agenda can be made for matters of an urgent nature. Normally, a notice of motion would not be discussed until the next meeting. “The urgency is around the hiring and the impact it has on the hiring process,” said Kerr. “We need to settle that question tonight and get on with the hiring and assure ourselves we have a competent person in place.” “I just don’t understand how you can be in a position where you didn’t know the hiring process was under way … before you put in this notice of motion,” Kerr told the mayor. As it became clear the notice of motion would be debated that night, Walas quipped, “the power of democracy.” Walas admitted he conferred with his peers at the annual Association of Municipalities Ontario (AMO) conference last month in Ottawa. “Some I met with were actually key in constructing this new motion, which has been used in other communities,” he said. “You consulted with people at AMO,” said Kerr. “What members of your senior staff or council did you consult before bringing this forward?” “Specifically, none,” answered Walas. “I have a list of at least eight, [reviews] that have either just been com-
pleted or starting within our [Highway] 401 neighbours.” Throughout the discussion Walas referred to a Ministry of Municipal Affairs publication, “Making Choices: A Guide to Service Delivery Review for Municipal Councillors and Senior Staff.” The document was created to help municipalities examine how to improve services, meet new or increased demand from customers for services, assess service levels in the face of competing priorities and/or decreasing revenues, reduce costs and improve revenues. At the end of the discussion, Deputy-mayor Tom Rittwage weighed in. “I looked at the first motion as something intended to box me into a corner, suggesting, if I didn’t support it, I wasn’t fiscally responsible,” he said. “That’s not true. But I have a problem with the presentation. By supporting this motion, we will be taking away the responsibility from staff. “Mayor Walas, you know I’ve been critical of some of the things you’ve done but you talked about Quinte West. I’ve had the opportunity to work with Mayor John Williams and, what I’ve noticed is, he loves his staff. “Everybody there knows what’s going on. The mayor there is a leader … and we’re missing that here. That is what is fundamentally wrong with the job that is being done and what is being put forward here. “Fiscal responsibility: that’s our job, to save money, but at the same time we have to ensure we keep the service level up.” “If we can’t measure it, we can’t improve it,” countered Walas. “It is not brought forward on fault, it’s brought forward on opportunity.” “Instead of spending $50,000 on a consultant, let’s lean on the experts who work for us,” said Rittwage. “Let’s hear what they have to say first.” A little more than 83 minutes later, the motion was defeated.
Peter MacKay tries on a cadet hat offered by glider pilot Jason Moggridge. Photo: Kate Everson See story on page B1
Infrastructure projects include solar panels in Frankford By Kate Everson
EMC News - Quinte West A solar project for the Frankford arena has been approved and ready for installation in October. “Hydro One has approved the project,” said Danny Young, manager of facilities. “The OPA [Ontario Power Authority] has approved the project in principle but we are waiting for a final contract. I will update the committee [Corporate Finance] with an update in October with a project schedule.”
Other solar projects include city hall and the YMCA. Structural engineering is complete. New FIT rules from the OPA will be out in early October. Ainsworth, the city’s solar provider, will be resubmitting in October. Municipal projects that have been submitted in the past will take priority and be fast tracked for approval. Other infrastructure projects include a new generator at city hall, front entrance and sidewalk repairs. The
Sidney office had windows replaced and masonry joints repointed. At the Batawa community centre the tile floor was repaired, electrical upgrades are to be completed in September and the kitchen and bar renovated. A new sound system has been installed in the Trenton arena pad #1 and refrigeration equipment replaced. In Trenton arena pad #2 refrigeration equipment has been replaced. The arena expansion is ongoing. Demolition Please see “Frankford” on page 3
Winter Is Coming!
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