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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1998-11-18, Page 24This year give a gift that will last all year long 1 YEAR SUBSCRIPTION TO THE CITIZEN FOR ONLY $°,7 00 Li I • SAVE $10.50 from annual newsstand prices q Payment Enclosed Please send a gift card from GIFT ORDER FORM Send a one year subscription for The Citizen to: Name Address City Prov. Postal Code Date to start subscription Send a one year subscription for The Citizen to: Name Address City Prov. Postal Code Date to start subscription Return with payment to: The North Huron Citizen Box 429, Blyth, ON NOM 1,H0 or Box 152, Brussels, ON NOG 1H0 For U.S. and foreign subscription rates call our office at 523-4792 PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1998. Municipalities split on restructuring talks By Brenda Burke Advance-Times Staff Who will live with whom? Local- amalgamation groups are in the midst of defining which municipalities will merge. And the Town of Wingham and Townships of Turnberry, Morris and East Wawanosh seem to be going their separate ways. Turnberry and Mortis made a sudden announcement at a restructuring meeting last week, reflecting the fact they are starting their own amalgamation talks on Jan. 1. Wingham and East WawanoSh have been invited to the table, prior to the deadline. In the meantime, a Nov. 30 meeting has been arranged for Wingham and East Wawanosh, plus the Towns of Blyth and Brussels, and including Grey and Howick Townships. "I can assure you that I personally, and the Town of Wingham, are dedicated to moving forward and consider the six municipalities as a new restructu- ring unit," wrote councillor Archie MacGowan in a letter to all six municipalities. - At the meeting, he plans to bring up the issue of hiring a consultant, a decision, he feels, that would "really move things forward". A recent history of 'hard feelings' has been established by the fact Morris, Wingham, Turnberrx. and East Wawanosh did not invite the other four municipalities to a restructuring meeting in September. At a meeting later that month, representatives of those groups voiced their feelings before leaving the meeting. "Following the unfortunate meeting at the Bluevale Hall on Sept. 29" wrote MacGowan to the affected municipalities, "I do regret the impressions given that youand your municipality --were. not welcome in the restructuring -talks. I regret that time has been wasted that could be better utilized in getting down to the task of negotiating and discussing the proposal." „_ MacGowan states the Turnberry/Morris announcement does not affect the original intent to discuss a restructuring proposal covering most of the North Huron area. BrusselS and Grey have decided to start their own talks as well, with the option of letting other municipalities join in. (Howick has stated it isn't interested in joining talks with either group). "We reached the pint where we were tired of tailing," Grey Township Reeve Robin Dunbar informed those at a Nov. 10 restructuring meeting in Wingham. His impression following the "super" Bluevale meeting was that the "Wescast four" wanted to be together. MacGowan, who has chaired the past two meetings, concluded the latest meeting on a positive note. "It seems like some of the groups are already falling into place...It's taking a direction, which is nice to see for a change." In the meantime, Blyth was to make its restructuring decision at a council meeting on Tuesday night. East Wawanosh councillor Judith Gaunt expresses her feeling that Blyth, which has always been involved with North Huron restructuring talks, should be included in such an amalgamation. Blyth has recently met with the Clinton/Hullett/Goderich Township restructuring group, explained Blyth Clerk- Treasurer John Stewart. The village is invited to the group's Dec. 2 meeting, at which time its decision is expected to be voiced. Stewart explains how the Bluevale meeting indicated the north wanted to work in a smaller group, one that appeared to leave out Blyth, which recently met with the Hullett group and was very impressed with its positive outlook. "We are hopeful that we can come to a consensus among ourselves," said MacGowan. WELLINGTON EXPERIENCE At the Nov. 10 meeting, Jim Andrews, chief administrative Officer/Clerk for the County of Dufferin, presented his views based on restructuring experience he's recently had with Wellington County. In November 1997, Wellington's deal was made official after being notified in the fall of 1996, that if municipalities didn't get `a move on', a commission would step in and make decisions for them. In May 1997, consultants were hired and the process was under way. In the beginning, Andrews said, the Wellington area was not keen on restructuring. "It wasn't well accepted, to be quite frank with you, and it sat on the shelf." The decision wasn't shelved for long, however, due to the commission threat. Andrews believed, if it wasn't for this push, area restructuring would have stalled. "It'll be done for us if we don't do it ourselves," Andrews reasoned. "The gun was cocked beside yotir head. It's a great motivator." Although Andrews admits it's a frightening notion that one person has so much power in such a decision, he describes the Chatham-Kent amalgamation, which was 'forced' in a similar manner, as a very successful money-saver. In the Wellington area, restructuring reduced 21 munici- palities to seven. Consultants were hired, their report was adopted almost in its entirety and according to Andrews, they determined the success of the process. "I think that's what makes it or breaks it." There was open communication and staff was involved very early in the process, with clerk-treasurers urging consultants to get on with restructuring. Each council had its own private meeting with the consultants in an effort to get "a pretty good idea who would live with who." Without county influence, consultants also met with functional groups such as road superintendents, fire chiefs, and clerks and treasurers. Key details were put in place very early and an attempt was made to avoid getting bogged down with details such as services (with the exception of policing and hydro) and consultants' terms of reference. The Wellington area public apparently has no interest in the entire process. Out of three meetings, noted Andrews, less than 100 citizens showed up, leaving most of the talk to local politicians. Andrews adviged the group there is not a magic population number needed in order to restructure. The feeling is to avoid having a dominant area, he explained. MacGowan expresses the fear that smaller areas would feel lost within a large amalgamated area. New boundaries would include new wards for representation on local councils, explained Andrews. "I think it's important not to follow the old boundaries because you're bringing the old baggage to the table again." As far as capital expenditures go, he adds, they become assets of the new municipality, with the exception of those reserved for specific purposes. What about cost savings? "There was no specific savings identified," said Andrews. "It was looked at more generally." In the Wellington experience, the economics were looked at hastily, yet big-ticket items such as graders were considered. Does a larger municipality have better grant access? Yes, said Andrews, but in a subtle way, due to other factors involved. Overall, he adds, a larger municipality would attract more expertise from a larger pool of people and the public would be attracted to a larger municipality due to growth-potential. When Grey Twp. asked for suggestions for municipalities trying to restructure in a `piece- meal' fashion, Andrews replied, "The ones that were done piece- meal, quite frankly, were the ones that weren't too successful. It certainly created a lot of hard feelings between municipalities (in central Wellingon)." However, he added later, restructuring relationships with willing partners could very well spell success. "That's probably better than nothing happening at all." A definite consensus is needed between municipalities about to amalgamate, he advised. Andrews explained how must restructuring requests appear to be stalled, and will not be considered until after an election. When a meeting participant wonders if the public will get good municipal representation once restructuring takes place, Andrews replied, "There's certainly no doubt, the larger you are, the more you'll have to rely on bureaucrats." He stressed this is not necessarily a negative move, due to better quality representation. Since amalgamation, he added, the relations-hip between local municipalities and the county has been strengthened. The biggest task, he added, was getting the proposal in order to get the minister to sign the deal. The most controversial issue, he added, is the decision on where to locate a centralized office. "A lot of these offices are relatively new. It will be interesting to know what will happen to them."