SERVING THE MAPLETON COMMUNITY
THE
COMMUNITY NEWS VOLUME 50 ISSUE 08
DRAYTON, ONTARIO
1 Year GIC - 2.06% 3 Year GIC - 2.15% 5 Year GIC - 2.25% Daily Interest 0.90%
638-3328
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017
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Draft budget would raise 2017 tax levy by 11.4% By Patrick Raftis MAPLETON - Residential taxes would rise by about $15 per $100,000 worth of assessment under the latest draft of the township’s 2017 budget. The budget calls for expenditures of $9,626,413 this year, compared to $8,774,003 budgeted in 2016. The projected tax levy of $6,554,085 is up by $671,849, or about 11.4 per cent from the budgeted 2016 levy of $5,882,236. The budget calls for a tax rate increase of 3.3%, explained Mayor Neil Driscoll at a public open house on the budget on Feb. 15 at the PMD community centre. Blended with county and school board taxes, the tax rate increase is about 2.6%. The township keeps 37 cents out of every property tax dollar collected, with 46 cents going to Wellington County and 17 cents for the education portion. Roads and bridges will consume 44% of the township’s budget, with administration at 14% and parks and recreation at 13% forming the next largest portions. Of the township’s nearly $4.8-million capital budget, a little over $2 million will come from federal and provincial grant funding, about $1.9 million from reserves and $266,700 from debt financing, leaving around $457,000 to be funded through the tax levy. Driscoll told the Community News the levy increase was reduced to 11.4% from around 13% in an earlier draft primarily through decreased contributions to reserves.
On budget - Mapleton Mayor Neil Driscoll presented highlights of the 2017 township budget at a public open house at the PMD arena on Feb. 15. Photo by Patrick Raftis The mayor said the budget takes a strictly utilitarian approach to infrastructure. “This is the bare minimum that we can do,� he said. The operating budget includes additional spending or reserve contributions to roads and bridges of $185,000 combined and $90,000 for the PMD arena. Other operating budget highlights in the draft budget include: - $6,000 for Canada 150th celebrations; - $6,000 for a website redesign, plus anticipated Wellington County Business Retention and Expansion funding for the project; - $20,000 for the implementation of a Community Improvement Plan: and - $15,000 for development of a municipal signage plan and downtown signs. Capital projects include: - $16,000 for computer equipment replacement; - $30,000 for new front
counter and workstations to enhance accessibility; - $1.2 million for McGivern Street improvements in Moorefield; - about $2.5 million in bridge work, including $1.4 million for PB024 in Glen Allan; and - $526,000 for Maryborough Community Centre upgrades (50% funded through Ontario 150 capital grant). CAO Brad McRoberts said no funds were specifically included in the draft budget for video recordings of council meetings for online streaming or posting. However, he noted funds have been carried forward from previous budgets should council decide to implement video recording. He said he is still investigating pricing and equipment. At the public meeting attended by about 10 people aside from council members, staff and press - Driscoll explained the municipality SEE TARGET Âť 6
Alpaca visit - The Seniors’ Centre for Excellence February Congregate Dining Program featured guests from PootCorners Alpacas. The Grade 1/2 class from Maranatha Conservative Mennonite School joined the seniors and got a close-up look at an alpaca led by Jacky Poot. Photo by Caroline Sealey See article on page 3.
Township council defers decision on apartment in semi-detached unit By Patrick Raftis MAPLETON – Township council has deferred a decision on a rezoning application that would allow an accessory apartment in a semi-detached residence. Citing concerns about excessive intensification and potential impact on water and wastewater systems, council approved a resolution to defer the application until the township’s water and wastewater capacity limitations have been dealt with. Richard, Mark and Sue
Mapleton sticks to first-past-the-post voting MAPLETON – The township will stick with the traditional first-past-the-post voting system for the next municipality election in 2018. Council made the decision after being presented with a staff report on Feb. 13 about provincial legislation that allows municipalities to consider using a ranked ballot system.
Bill 181 gives municipalities the option to pass a bylaw authorizing the use of ranked ballots for electing municipal councils for the 2018 election. A bylaw authorizing the change would have to be passed by May 1. In a ranked ballot election, voters rank candidates in order of preference (making a first, second, third choice, etc.) rather than vot-
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ing for a single candidate. The winning candidate must receive a majority of the votes; more than 50 per cent. If the 50% threshold is not met after the first count, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and their ballots are redistributed to one of the remaining candidates according to the next highest choice marked on the ballot. This process of eliminat-
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ing and counting continues until a candidate achieves a majority. In the event that only two candidates remain, the candidate with the most votes is the winner. The staff report notes that all Canadian municipalities currently use the “first-pastthe- post� voting method. “No government in Canada conducts ranked ballots, meaning there is no
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Photo by Dahl
“A politician thinks of the next election. A statesman, of the next generation.� - James Freeman Clarke
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SEE TOWNSHIP Âť 5
WEEKLY WAG
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By Patrick Raftis
Robinson applied for rezoning on a property at 75 Dales Drive in Drayton. The applicants wish to construct an accessory apartment within the basement of the existing semi-detached residential dwelling located on the subject property. The property is zoned R2 Residential which does not currently permit accessory apartments. However, the county Official Plan was recently amended to allow a second unit within semidetached dwellings. Wellington County man-
ager of planning and environment Mark Van Patter explained provincial policy indicates a preference for allowing this type of development where possible. “Bill 140 requires municipalities to allow second units in semi-detached houses unless there are constraints that cannot be addressed such as parking, municipal services and flooding,â€? stated Van Patter in a written report presented at a public meeting on Feb. 7 “If there’s some reason, SEE DECISION Âť 8
THE 2017 COMMUNITY GUIDE
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