THE
SERVING THE MAPLETON COMMUNITY
COMMUNITY NEWS Volume 48 Issue 36
Drayton, Ontario
1 Year GIC - 1.99% 3 Year GIC - 2.21% 5 Year GIC - 2.30% Daily Interest 1.00%
638-3328
Friday, September 4, 2015
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Township aims for late November to have new CAO/clerk in place
by Patrick Raftis MAPLETON - A consultant assisting the township with the hiring of a new CAO/clerk is aiming to have the process completed by late November. Consultant Nigel Bellchamber presented council with a schedule at its Aug. 25 meeting that would see advertising begin for the position shortly, with a closing date of Sept. 22 for applications. Two rounds of interviews would be conducted in early October, with a special meeting of council slated for Oct. 20 to deal with a recommendation from the selection committee. Bellchamber said the successful applicant could probably start about a month later. The selection committee will consist of Mayor Neil Driscoll and councillor Michael Martin. They will interview selected applicants with Bellchamber’s assistance. All four Mapleton councillors volunteered to be on the committee, and Martin was
chosen through a draw, with the appointment confirmed by a resolution of council. Bellchamber recommended any current township department heads who apply for the position be granted interviews. He also suggested Driscoll communicate to all staff that “this is the next step in the process and there aren’t any other shoes waiting to drop.” As part of the process to replace former CAO Patty Sinnamon, who was let go by the township on July 2, Bellchamber has already met with members of council and senior staff. From those meetings, he has compiled a list of position requirements and personal attributes the township is looking for, including excellent communication skills, effective leadership abilities, futureoriented mindset and understanding of the complexities of municipal finance. Bellchamber noted communication skills are critical in the CAO role.
“Communications is a complex subject. It’s not just sending a message ... but it also involves listening,” he stated. “The world’s greatest orator is not necessarily a great communicator unless he or she can hear what the audience is saying.” The consultant also pointed out a CAO needs the ability to “speak truth to power,” so “he or she can give bad news to council if there’s bad news to be given,” or advise council “if they are heading down the wrong path.” Bellchamber said the ability to speak freely comes from both “the person’s confidence,” and “also the terms of their employment contract.” Knowing “when and how to say ‘no’ diplomatically” is another key attribute said Bellchamber. “There are times when things just can’t be done by a municipality. Having said that, that’s after you’ve exhausted all avenues to say ‘yes,’” he commented.
Council ponders hosting debate ahead of Oct. 19 federal election by Patrick Raftis MAPLETON - The township is considering hosting or facilitating an all-candidates meeting to help inform local voters in advance of the Oct. 19 federal election. However, council members want to ensure they won’t be violating any regulations or protocols by doing so. Mayor Neil Driscoll initi-
ated discussion on the idea at the Aug. 25 council meeting. “I would like council’s input. Should we be hosting a federal election all-candidatestype evening?” Driscoll asked. “I think it’s a great idea. Do we as a council get involved in that?” asked councillor Michael Martin. Councillor Dennis Craven wondered if any service clubs
were planning to host such a gathering. Driscoll suggested council put the idea forward and “maybe some service club will step up and say ‘If you have the facility we will host the event.’” Driscoll suggested staff “make sure we’re not crossing any lines,” and report back on possible venues/details.
Alma Car Show - Hundreds of vintage cars lined the parking lot at the Alma Community Centre on Aug. 29, including this 1961 red MGA owned by Greg Foard of Elora. The Alma Optimists hosted the annual car show. More photos on page 4. photo by Olivia Rutt
Rumph wraps up golden summer by Caroline Sealey DRAYTON - A local woman has added a national championship and a Pan Am Games title to her already-impressive softball resume. For the third year in a row, Drayton native Victoria Rumph was chosen to represent Canada at the international and national levels. Rumph, a catcher, played with the slivermedal-winning Canadian women’s national team at the Pan Am Games in Puerto Rico in 2013 and has been an alternate on the team the past two summers. In 2014, she participated in training camps in Ontario prior to the World Championships in the Netherlands. For 2015, Rumph was again selected to be an alternate on the national women’s team. “Although I was an alternate this year, I Continued on page 6
VICTORIA RUMPH
Township to seek help to prepare grant application for bridge project by Patrick Raftis MAPLETON - Township staff have been authorized to seek outside assistance to prepare a grant application for a bridge replacement project. At the Aug. 25 meeting, Mapleton council passed a resolution to authorize staff to submit an expression of interest to the Ontario Community Infrastructure Program for funding for reconstruction of a bowstring arch bridge on Sideroad 17 and to retain the services of a third party to complete the application. Council selected the bridge project, expected to cost about $728,000, from a list of potentially-eligible projects provided in a report by public works director Brad McRoberts, including: - road reconstruction and
servicing improvements on King, Queen, Wortley and Market streets on Drayton at an estimated $1.8 million; - a $500,0000 Moorefield downtown revitalization project; - a wastewater treatment facility upgrade estimated at $2 million; and - a water tower project for $2.25 million. The report notes some of the other projects might be better suited to different grant programs. McRoberts pointed out the Sideroad 17 bridge, located south of the 4th Line, is currently under a two-ton load restriction, which makes the project “a safety issue.” The funding program focuses on roads, bridges, water and wastewater and is a two-stage process, including an expres-
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sion of interest stage followed by a formal application stage for those selected. The report suggests hiring a third party to prepare the application due to the township’s recent lack of success in obtaining federal and provincial grant money. “The third party would ideally specialize in preparing these applications. It may be worthwhile to try these services to see if there is greater success,” the report states. While noting she was unsure “whose responsibility it has been in the past to write expression of interests,” councillor Lori Woodham said, “I’d like to give the opportunity to the staff.” Woodham said she would like to see staff members “empowered to attend a grant
writing workshop or course if need be.” McRoberts suggested in his report that the township’s engineering firm, R.J. Burnside and Associates, might be willing to provide some assistance with applications. “If Burnside is willing to assist us with this no charge I have no problem with that,” said Woodham. McRoberts said the idea is to tailor applications to the expectations of the ministries offering grants. He added, “It was just suggested strategically that it might be advantageous to have a third party do it, just to pick up those key buzzwords.” “Let’s try something different,” suggested councillor Dennis Craven. “Let’s try it two or three times and see if we
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have more success.” Councillor Michael Martin said the township’s strong fiscal position may have had more impact on the failure to land grant money than problems with the applications. “I would struggle to put out additional money without having any idea (how much) it would be ... and have no additional guarantee of success,” said Martin, noting he would feel differently “if we could say definitely our staff aren’t filling out the applications properly.” McRoberts said he didn’t expect the cost of third party assistance to be significant. “I’m not looking at outrageous costs. I’m looking at pretty modest,” he said. Finance director Yufang Du suggested the township try
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to negotiate an arrangement under which the third party would receive a percentage of grant money obtained - and “If we’re not successful, they don’t charge anything.” Martin asked if council was being asked to authorize retaining third party grant writers as an ongoing practice or “a onetime thing.” Mayor Neil Driscoll said the decision would be made separately for each grant application. McRoberts said assistance might only be required for a few applications. “It might be advantageous if we try to go this route and see if we have some success. We can learn what others do, then replicate that process on our own in subsequent applications,” he suggested.
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