THE
SERVING THE MAPLETON COMMUNITY
COMMUNITY NEWS Volume 48 Issue 47
Drayton, Ontario
1 Year GIC - 1.82% 3 Year GIC - 2.00% 5 Year GIC - 2.40% Daily Interest 1.00%
638-3328
Friday, November 20, 2015
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Consultant will be hired to assist with works director recruitment
Sounds good - Tyler Bernier of the First Palmerston Scouts tries out the drum of Glenn Leibeold of the Mount Forest Cameron Highlanders as fellow Scout Kayden Coulter looks on. The Scouts and Highlanders participated in Remembrance Day services in Drayton on Nov. 11. More photos on page 8.
photo by Caroline Sealey
by Patrick Raftis MAPLETON - The township has created a selection committee and authorized it to engage a consultant to assist with recruitment of a new public works director. At the Nov. 10 meeting, Mapleton council authorized the selection committee, consisting of newly-appointed CAO Brad McRoberts and Mayor Neil Driscoll, to spend up to $20,000 to hire a third party to provide recruitment services. McRoberts was promoted from public works director to fill the CAO/clerk position on Nov. 4, creating the current vacancy. His hiring was the result of a search conducted with the assistance of consultant Nigel Bellchamber of Bellchamber and Associates at a cost of around $15,000. McRoberts was originally
hired in June 2014 to replace former public works director Larry Lynch, who was dismissed in December 2013. Bellchamber and Associates was also hired to consult on the hiring of the public works director and a restructuring of the department at that time at a cost estimated by former CAO Patty Sinnamon to be between $15,000 to $20,000. In October of 2014, four public works management positions were eliminated and three new positions were created as a result of the restructuring process. McRoberts said proposals for the consulting position will be requested from the firms considered for the chief administrative officer recruitment. Funds will be drawn from existing budget and/or reserves as required, he explained in a written report.
“Would the world come to an end if we were to hire a director of public works without spending upwards of $20,000 on a consultant?� asked councillor Dennis Craven. “I don’t know if the world would come to an end, but you could end up with an employee who doesn’t have the qualifications for the position,� replied McRoberts. The CAO pointed out consultants are “very key� to the process and skilled at “strategically asking questions that certainly help the recruiters figure out whether those people are appropriate for the positions or not.� While stating he “fully agreed� with McRoberts’ statement, Craven noted, “I had a half-dozen people ask me if we could not do this.� The motion to create a Continued on page 5
Former local pastor invited to attend UN climate change conference DRAYTON - A Mapleton resident has been invited to attend the United Nations Framework Climate Change Conference in Paris, France from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11. Willard Metzger of Drayton, a former local pastor who has served at Bethel, Floradale, and Community (Drayton) Mennonite Churches, is attending on behalf of the Canadian Council of Churches (CCC). In her letter of invitation, CCC president Rev. Dr. Karen Hamilton acknowledged the “valuable voice of the Mennonite family in our ecumenical work,� as well as Metzger’s “unique ability to bridge relationships across the various Christian expressions� in the CCC.
For Metzger, who serves as Mennonite Church Canada executive director and a CCC vice-president, concern for climate justice is a natural extension of the Christian faith. “When people are left hungry, thirsty and homeless, there is no justice and there is no peace,� said Metzger. “When we care for creation, we take fundamental steps toward peace.� Climate change is already impacting people in various parts of the world. After attending the 2011 UN Climate Change Forum in Durban, South Africa, Metzger offered some alarming statistics. Island states like Fiji are losing homes and livelihoods as sea levels rise. Somalia holds
climate change responsible for the deaths of 20,000 children and the malnutrition of 730,000 others in 2011. Thailand lost two-third of its 2011 rice harvest to flooding. In Kenya, rising temperatures, soil erosion and drought has reduced the yield of the food staple maize to five bushels per hectare - just 20 per cent of what it was 50 years ago. More recent reports suggest years of drought and inefficient government responses are behind the war in Syria that is driving so many refugees out of the country. Climate change is widely expected to continue increasing poverty levels by impacting food and water resources and livelihoods, eventually making
some parts of the Earth uninhabitable. Metzger’s pursuit of climate justice has garnered him meetings with a variety of high level politicians over the years, from former Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May and New Democratic Party Leader Tom Mulcair, to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in his years as a Liberal MP. In 2011, Metzger shared his thoughts on climate change with a group of Canadian Senators and members of Parliament in Ottawa prior to attending the 2011 UN Climate Change Forum as an observer for the World Council of Churches (WCC). Continued on page 5
Climate conference - Mennonite Church Canada executive director Willard Metzger of Drayton, together with other faith leaders, participated in a march through the streets of Durban in support of climate justice at the UN Climate Change Forum in 2011. photo by Kaitlin Bardswich
Car wash owner asks council to consider tiered rate system for water by Patrick Raftis
MAPLETON - The owner of a local car wash says the township’s rates under the new metered water system are having a serious impact on his Drayton operation. Henry Brouwer told council on Nov. 10 his water bills for the Drayton car wash were $550 every two months under the previous flat rate system. “I will admit that was probably a really good deal on water,� said Brouwer. However, he pointed out, “I’m now playing $2,000 every two months so I’ve had a (300 per cent) increase on my slow months.�
Brouwer said he had expected his costs to go up, perhaps even double, under the new system. “A (300 per cent) increase on a small business seems pretty extensive,� he said. Noting the township had monitored water usage for about a year before switching to metered billing, Brouwer said he was “curious when you would have noticed my water usage and calculated what my rate was going to be, why a (300 per cent increase) didn’t set off any red flags or concerns?� Brouwer said he expects his costs to rise even higher dur-
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ing the winter months, when it’s necessary to weep water through the lines to keep them from freezing. Councillor Dennis Craven asked how the rates were impacting Brouwer’s Moorefield car wash. Brouwer said costs for the Moorefield business have actually dropped slightly, because the operation has been less busy since the Drayton car wash opened up. Noting some municipalities have different rates for commercial users, Brouwer asked if a two-tiered rate system could be considered in Mapleton. “The way things are right
now I’m not going to be able to keep paying those rates,� he said. Councillor Dennis Craven said, “That certainly seems like a ridiculous increase.� While acknowledging water rates need to cover the cost of the system, Craven stated, “it’s still got to be a reasonable rate, right? And I think that’s why there’s a commercial rate in a lot of townships. “We’ve had a problem in the past in this township of keeping businesses here. If we’re going to have an unreasonable water rate, that’s what’s going to happen. They’re going to go where the water’s cheaper.�
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However, Craven pointed out, “up until we started charging the metered rate, maybe you weren’t paying enough.� Councillor Michael Martin said he feels a tiered rate structure is “worth looking at. “I struggle with higher rates promoting conservation, versus a fixed number council needs to receive for spending and capital projects,� he noted. CAO Brad McRoberts said council could look at the idea of adjusting rates during upcoming budget discussions. Brouwer asked if anything could be done about his high water bills in the interim. McRoberts said the water
rates are established by a bylaw, so it’s unlikely anything could be done in terms of interim relief prior to council considering changes to the bylaw. Craven wondered if future rate relief could be made retroactive. “I wouldn’t think it would be,� said McRoberts. Brouwer also advised council he sells town water in small containers through a vending machine. “Is this something that’s allowed?� he asked. McRoberts said council could amend the bylaws to specifically allow the sale of water in small containers.
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