The Citizen, 2012-05-31, Page 20PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012.
Cuff suggests smaller county council, other changes
Continued from page 1
recommendations, just that they
were recommendations on how the
county can become more efficient
going forward.
One of Cuff’s first
recommendations was that the size
of Huron County Council be revised
so the size is no greater than nine
members, a far cry from the 16 that
currently sit at the table.
Cuff also said he found an overlap
in political and administration,
where councillors were becoming
too involved with the administrative
side of things, not leaving members
of senior staff to do their job. Cuff
said that members of the
administration should report to the
chief administrative officer and the
only staff member councillors
should have input into hiring is the
chief administrative officer.
Council should have enough
confidence in the chief
administrative officer that he should
be able to make decisions without
having to directly consult with
council, Cuff said.
“The CAO should be council’s
only employee,” Cuff said.
He said MacLellan had been very
hands-on when it came to
administration both as a result of
“personal style” and not having
enough confidence in the
administration.
Cuff said the attitude surrounding
council meetings and Committee of
the Whole meetings needed to
change and he called regular council
meetings “a baptismal exercise”
where the decisions made during
Committee of the Whole meetings
were simply approved.
“Council’s meeting should be one
of substance,” Cuff said.
He said the Committee of the
Whole meetings should result in
thoughtful discussion, rather than
the hard decision-making process
that they have turned into.
Cuff suggested that three bodies
be formed for the meetings to
provide for a smoother meeting
process.
He suggested the formation of an
agendas committee where issues
would be considered. If an issue is
important enough to make it to
council, then it will be put on the
agenda, and if not, it will be dealt
with by administration, Cuff said.
Next there would be a governance
and policies committee which would
focus on key issues and meet twice a
month.
Thirdly there would be an audit
committee that would meet twice a
year, once to begin the audit and a
second time to conclude the audit.
Cuff also suggested several
different restructuring options for
departments. His strongest
recommendation was for eight
departments to report to four general
managers, all of whom would report
directly to the CAO.
In terms of leadership for the
county, Cuff said there was merit to
investigating a longer term for the
warden position.
Cuff suggested a possible two-
year term, but admitted that it would
also make sense to go as far as a
four-year term. Cuff’s specific
recommendation, however, was a
two-year term, with a maximum
extension of no more than three
consecutive terms (totalling six
years).
Cuff said the position of warden
has been regarded as an “honourary”
position with no real leadership
attached to it, saying that one
councillor takes his turn and steps
down at the end of the year for the
next councillor to take his turn.
He said that just when a warden is
beginning to get things done, it’s
time to move on and it shouldn’t be
that way.
Cuff said that compared to other
municipalities he has consulted for,
there are a lot of things Huron
County has to work on, but there are
also a lot of good things about the
county, that the councillors and
members of the staff should be
proud of.
Cuff said he has consulted for
municipalities where things were so
bad that “if I told you, you would
have a hard time believing it”.
“You’re blessed with what you
have,” Cuff said.
He said he has been involved in
situations where councillors had it
too good and further action would
run the risk of “messing up a good
thing” he said.
“Those on council treat one
another with respect. That’s not
something to be taken for granted,”
Cuff said of Huron County Council.
He said the warden is respected in
the community and the county is full
of ethical, hard-working people,
which is also something councillors
should not take for granted.
He said the most common reason
he is brought into a municipality is
to investigate potentially unethical
behaviour, which is not something
he came in contact with in Huron
County’s review.
“It could be better,” Cuff said, “but
there are lots of good things
happening.”
The report and its
recommendations will be further
discussed after the conclusion of
Huron County Council’s June 6
meeting. Once the meeting is
finished, council will begin a
strategic planning sessions where
many of the recommendations will
be considered for implementation.
Continued from page 1
results of the survey would be part of
the decision making process but “It’s
not a referendum”, he said.
Deputy-Mayor Jason Brecken-
ridge read from the legal opinion
received from Morris-Turnberry’s
lawyer who said that while there was
nothing illegal about the wording of
the letter, it might be more helpful to
say something like “If this survey is
not returned the council will decide
without your input.”
“Why not just say “Your
comments are important. Please
return it [the survey],” suggested
Warwick.
Councillor Jamie Heffer
questioned why Monday’s meeting
was necessary at all because
councillors had met informally
following Thursday’s meeting and
had already decided to reword the
survey.
Gowing said that had not been a
formal council meeting which was
required to give staff instruction on
how to proceed.
Warwick put forward a motion
with his proposed wording, but
also suggested delaying mailing
the survey for up to two months
to see if new negotiations with
North Huron might be fruitful. The
motion passed.
Nancy Michie, administrator,
clerk-treasurer told council she had
been contacted by the office of the
Ontario Ombudsman regarding a
complaint questioning the legality of
council holding closed meetings to
discuss the purchase of land for
the sites for two proposed fire
stations.
Michie said she was sending the
minutes of those in camera meetings
to the Ombudsman’s office for
review but that the official said the
complainant had been informed that
council had the right to discuss land
purchase in closed session.
M-T fire survey to be delayed,
reworded before being mailed
Councillor resigns
Councillor Alma Conn will be
stepping down from her position on
North Huron Township Council
effective July 3 due to relocation.
The councillor and her husband
will be moving to Owen Sound after
he retires so that the couple can be
closer to their children.
Leaving won’t be easy, according
to Conn, who said she has deep
roots in the area.
“I have a sister and a lot of friends
here,” she said. “I grew up here,
worked nearly 25 years in Blyth as
a veterinarian and have been
involved in the community.”
She said that recent events have
reminded her how fragile life is and
the move will enable her to spend
more time with her family.
“You have to enjoy life all you
can,” she said. “You have to be with
the people you love as often as
possible.”
Conn has been a councillor in
North Huron for five years and feels
that the time to move could be
better as far as her resignation goes
with so many important issues
facing council, but she felt it was
time.
While her career in North Huron
politics may be over, Conn said that
she hasn’t ruled out getting involved
in the Owen Sound area, but it will
be a while before she considers it.
“I’m ready to spend some time at
home and relax,” she said. “Who
knows what the future will hold.”
Conn has two meetings remaining
in June and her resignation will be
official as of July 3.
Council received notice of her
resignation during its May 22
meeting.
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
A trip to Grassland
Grassland, Randy Morrison and the Flat River Band took the stage Friday night at the Blyth
and District Community Centre for the 75th anniversary of Canada’s largest travelling barn
dance. Last week was the 15th annual jamboree campout weekend in Blyth, which packed the
Blyth campground. (Jim Brown photo)
M-T debates cost and value of convention attendanceHow much council should spendon going to conventions and other
meetings was a question debated at
Morris-Turnberry’s May 15 council
meeting.
“I think we should be trimmingthe fat like we tell our staff [to do]”said Deputy-Mayor JasonBreckenridge as council consideredwho might attend the Association of
Municipalities of Ontario (AMO)
conference in Ottawa in August. “I
think that we can skip AMO for a
year.”Mayor Paul Gowing counteredthat he felt it’s important forcouncillors to get to meetings suchas this to hear the informative
speakers present.
Councillor Jamie McCallum
observed that the mileage to go to
Ottawa would be the cost of threedays’ salary.At the end of the discussion nocouncillor had decided whether ornot he would attend as his one paid
conference of the year.
The issue of such expenses came
up again when council considered
whether to attend the annual
meeting of the Huron Manufacturers
Association. Breckenridge
wondered if council had to send
someone to any event for which they
receive an invitation.
“We’re going to have to say no to
some of these meetings eventually,”
he complained.
Council decided not to send
anyone to the meeting.
Council also decided not to
participate in the rib cook-off
competition at Wingham’s Musical
Muskrat Festival on June 9.
***
There was a brisk competition for
the upgrades to the Morris LandfillSite with seven bids received for thework. The contract was awarded toHamilton Construction for$262,284.
Gary Pipe, director of public
works, said 14 companies had
originally expressed interest in
bidding. The lowest tender is
considerably below the engineer’s
estimate.
The tender for paving the B-Line
was awarded to Lavis Contracting
for $143,566.50.
***
A zoning amendment required
for the surplus farmhouse severance
of Leo and Corry Sanders on Morris
Road was passed without comment.
***
Council gave permission for the
Howick and District Lions Club to
hold a voluntary road toll on
May 18 and Aug. 31 from 3 p.m. to
8 p.m.
By Keith RoulstonThe Citizen