HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2007-10-11, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2007.No laptops forM-T councillors
Morris-Turnberry won’t
be buying laptop computers
for councillors in an effort to
cut down on paper use.
That was the consensus of
councillors at their Oct. 2
meeting, following a report
by councillor Mark Beaven
on his experiment with a
paperless agenda over the last
several months.
Using his own laptop,
Beaven had been
downloading the materials for
each meeting through the
internet in a trial to see if it
would save paper (Oct. 2
agenda was about one-inch
thick). He brought the
computer to each meeting and
used it to read the
information.
“I like the fact it’s there as
an option, but I wouldn’t
recommend spending money
on it,” said Beaven. “I
wouldn’t be in favour of
buying laptops.”
If councillors wanted to
buy their own computers, he
suggested it might be
worthwhile providing them
with a stipend for the use of
their machines.
“I’d like to look at it,” said
deputy-mayor Jim Nelemans
of the possibility of including
money in the 2008 budget for
the computers. He said he’d
like to explore the experience
of councils like Central
Huron that have bought
computers as a way of cutting
paper expense and waste.
Cost of photocopying, paper
and delivery of the agendas to
councillors prior to their
meeting has been estimated at$500 per councillor per year.“It’s too expensive to buy
computers,” argued
councillor Bill Thompson.
In a report presented to
council in May, administrator
clerk-treasurer Nancy Michie
had estimated the cost of
purchasing seven laptops at
$7,000. If a councillor didn’t
have a high speed internet
connection at home, this
would cost about $50 a
month. The estimated cost to
install outlets for seven
computers in the council
chamber was $483.
As well, Michie looked at
the cost of a special program
to facilitate access to the
agendas would be $3,900 for
an activation fee and $3,900
per year, though this would
be helpful to the whole office
operation so only a quarter
would be charged up to
council expenses.
The total, with the
computers amortized over
three years, worked out to
$5,175 for 2008 or $740 per
councillor.
Councillor Lynn Hoy
suggested it be left to
councillors to buy their own
laptops if they wanted to.
Mayor Dorothy Kelly
agreed, suggesting some
compensation could be paid
to councillors if this would
save money on preparation
and delivery of the paper
agendas.
Michie said when
preparing the 2008 budget
she would look into a policy
to give councillors a stipend
if they use their own
computer.
Continued from page 1
source protection project,
getting it in place and the big
step was establishing this
committee, and of course, the
whole selection process.”
With the committee finally
being established, and their
first meeting taking place in
late October, work should start
very soon, but as Beaven
explains, it will not happen
overnight.
The idea of the committee is
still a relatively new one and
there will be a lot of learning
involved.
“First of all, there is going to
be a lot of training and
learning for the committee.
It’s not going to be an
overnight success, that’s for
sure. It’s going to be a long
process and there will be a lot
of public consultation and
establishment of working
groups that will report back to
that committee,” Beaven said.
“As well, the individual
conservation authorities will
oversee that committee, so this
is just the beginning of a long
process.”
North Huron councillor
Greg McClinchey, who was at
the meet and greet to welcome
Brown to his position, said he
was there to represent the
municipality and to extend
North Huron’s hand to the
newly-appointed committee
and its chair.
“I’m confident in them. This
is the first step of a very long
journey, but it’s a big step, and
an important one,” he said.
“It’s a big task, that’s going to
require a lot of effort, but
[Brown] is nobody’s fool.”
McClinchey acknowledges
that the committee has a big
job ahead of them and a lot of
space to cover, but he says he
hopes to see them a lot in
North Huron.“To be honest,
I’d like to see a lot of them. I
realize that isn’t always
possible,” he said, “but
definitely, the more the
better.”
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