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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2013-06-12, Page 6-.111....•••• ••••• 6 Lakeshore Advance • Wednesday, June 12, 2013 . , ............�.oraw «.-.........-Vo••...r..•1•6.....imp_ . • • Councilor blames consultant for tardy CAO hire Deputy mayor says there has been an "unexpected development" Lynda HIIIman-Rapley Lakeshore Advance Another extension has come and gone for acting CAO Janet Ferguson who will continue wearing two hats until a new Lambton Shores CAO is hired. Ferguson, who is the Lambton Shores treasurer, took on the responsibility after former CAO John Byrne was let go in a mutual agreement with financial com- pensation last November. Con- sultant Nigel Bellchamber was hired to help with the hiring process and he came to council in May to explain the committee was in the home stretch and the person would probably be hired by the first week of June. That timeline has also come and gone. Because the hiring committee meetings are in camera, the rea- sons for the delay have not been made public and that angers councilor Doug Bonesteel who said he did not think it was fair. Deputy mayor Elizabeth Davis- Dagg (who was acting mayor as Bill Weber is at the Canadian Federation of Municipalities conference) said, " 1 appreciate your concerns and in due time you will understand." She told another QMI paper, "We have had some unexpected developments" At the June 6th meeting Fergu- son was being asked if she would continue in this position and Bonesteel said this was not fair to her or the staff or the municipality and he is "appalled it is taking so long" "This council has not been apprised and it is very disap- pointing that we keep asking this very competent person to do this job. We need to put a time frame on this" He said the issues are being "heard at 'the north end coffee shop' that we are not good to work for." We said June and we are not being apprised." The CAO hire committee is made up of mayor Bill Weber, deputy mayor Elizabeth Davis- Dagg and council member Mar- tin Underwood and Bellchamber and it was suggested last month there could be a hire by June 1st. Bellchamber explained in open council at that May meeting they had gone from 42 applicants to two finals and that they would be meeting with the final applicant for the hiring process soon after that. When that did not happen, the deputy told a QMI reporter that "The reasons why (the person did not begin June 1) are hard to articulate because of confidentiality issues and things are beyond our control. We have some unexpected developments." She said the committee has been able to "narrow down the slate of candidates" but was unable to say when council members would be meeting the preferred candi- date. The committee was scheduled to meet again this week. Bonesteel said Ferguson should be returned to her position of treasurer and they "should light a fire under the con- sultant and get someone hired." "You don't know why we have not hired someone;" said Underwood in defiance that maybe it is not the con- sultant's doing. "There would be issues if we hired someone too quickly. There would be talk in the community no mat- ter what you do. We have to go through a process. Just give us more time." Lynda HIIIman-Rapley Lakeshore Advance Consultant Nigel Bellchamber } "1 am not accusing," said Bonesteel, "I am expressing my frustration and I hope we can impress upon this committee that there is someone in place by the end of the month. "That is not unreasonable, but I can't comment;" said Underwood. Majority of Lambton Shores charged up for green highway Lynda HIIlman-Rapley Lakeshore Advance While the majority of Lambton Shores council was ready to jump on the green highway bandwagon, council member Doug Bonesteel thinks they may be jumping the gun. At the May 22nd regular meet- ing mayor Bill Weber mentioned the idea of bringing EV charging to the community. At the June 6th meeting Christopher Misch, Vice President of Sun Country Highway Ltd. presented council with infor- mation about his company. The cost to Lambton Shores for pur- chasing the charging station is $2,483 not including taxes, and the current proposal is to provide elec- tric vehicle charging at no cost, but it could be user pay. Sun Country Highway Ltd is a progressive Canadian owned com- pany leading the electric vehicle movement across the nation by raising awareness and promoting the adoption of zero ernissioh transportation. Founded by presi- dent, Kent Rathwell, Sun Country Highway was created to build the most sustainable electric vehicle infrastructure in the world. Their mission says Misch is to to create the most 'earth -friendly' country in the world. "Our aim is to empower Canadians to make choices that promote economic and environmental sustainability; we want to help green Canada's highways by fostering a culture shift toward greener living" In a report from Brent Kittmer, Director of Community Services, he said, "Two locations have been considered for the station: the Ontario Street Parking Lot, and the Gill Road Parking Lot. Currently neither location has a working electricity service, and these upgrades would need to be made at Lambton Shores' cost to accom- modate a charging station. "At the Ontario Street Lot the cost to provide an electrical service is estimated at $4,000. The total LIVING IN LAMBTON SHORES... A weekly Update on the Municipal Events in your Community Administration Department - 7883 Amtelecom Parkway, Forest, Ontario NON 1JO TM. 1.877.788.2336, 619.788.2335 Fax 519.7862135 Emart administration elembbnslares.cs Vee our Web See at www lambionshores.ca Canada bay Celebrations FIREWORKS - JULY 1" Esti Dodge Conservation Area a Grand Bend Beach Notic• to Property Owners ... DESTROY WEEDS In accordance with the Weed Control Act, R.S.O. 1990, c W.5, Sections 3, 13, 16, 23, notice Is given to all persons in possession of land that unless noxious weeds growing on their lands, within the Municipality of Lambton Shores, are destroyed by June 15, 2013 end throughout the season, the Municipality may enter upon the said lands and have the weeds destroyed, charging the costs against the land, as set out In the Act, The co-operation of all citizens is appreciated. Glenn Bell, Weed Inspects., BY-LAW ENFORCEMENT CONTACT INFORMATION 11 you have concerns respecting Municipal by. law enforcement, please contact the appropriate enforcement officer at the following numbers North of Ktondyke Road - Keith Crawford 238.5246 Including Southoott Fines. Huron Woods & Grand Bend South of Kk ndyke Road - Glenn Bell 381.9099 Including Pon Franks, Ipperwash, Thedfo d and Arkona NOT 1_. There 1•, only one Cuunr rl nleetincf '.r.heklcrIecl for the nrrrntlt., of July and Aurlu•.t. F2CMINUER: All Lambton Shores Council and Committee meetings :ere hr•Icl .it the Legacy Centre in Thedfurcl, unlit.', othelvvisio noted. cost of establishing and electric vehicle charging station at this location is approx- imately $6,500 plus taxes, and this does not include the cost of free electricity that is provided. The cost of electricity would be included as an operating cost for the parking lot, which would be offset by parking fees that are collected as the vehi- cle owner would be required to pay for parking while charging," said Kittmer's report. At the Gill Road Lot the cost to provide an electrical service is estimated at $2,500. 'the total cost of establishing and electric vehicle charging station at this location is approximately $5,000 plus taxes, and this does not include the cost of free elec- tricity that is provided. The cost of electric- ity would be included as an operating cost for the parking lot, "but this would not be offset by parking fees as the Gill Road lot is a free parking lot:' Kittmer explained that presently there are not any funds included in the capital budget to pay for these costs, nor any funds included in the operating budget to pay for electricity costs. "Should Council decide to move forward on this proposal, staff recommends that the capital portion of the project be funded from the Com- munity Services Vehicle & Equip- ment reserve. The operating costs would have to be accommodated within the cur- rently approved budget, and staff would monitor electricity consumption to deter- mine the actual cost of the program:' '1.. there is a funding program available for establishing these type of charging sta- tions at a vehicle owner's home, however this funding program would not apply to the municipality;' he said. After Misch's presentation council member John Russell said this charger addresses economic development and environment and he fully endorses but does not think they should restrict them selves from only having it in (rand Bend. ""this is brilliant:' said council member Martin Underwood. Ile said if Grand Bend gets one- Forest should get one too. Council member Louie Scott said they should "go full hog" throughout the municipality. Bonesteel said his concern was when municipalities go into profit company deals- where does the revenue come from. Misch said they sell infra- structure all over Canada. Bonesteel said he wanted this referred to the 2014 budget and a staff report. Ile said this would be a public private partnership. Ile asked about potential costs and maintenance. "I am not against this," Bonesteel said, ':..but when you use public dollars there has to be due diligence." Acting CAO Janet Ferguson asked how he saw this as a public private partnership and Bonesteel said they are buying from a for profit partner and he wants to know what the warranty was. "We need to know these things before we jump on the band- wagon," he said. Misch said this was no different than the computers they were using or the light bulbs they bought --all from for profit companies' that guarantee their products. "Anything you bury is from a private com- pany," he sug- gested, adding they have a warranty and maintain their product and offer customer support " and understand due diligence" "I just want to know what we are getting into," said Bonesteel.