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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1997-10-22, Page 71 111111111111111111111111111111111 • 1. The library is a very important part of our heritage and must bemaintainedas such. It would be great to be able to add on to the east side of the building to make it wheelchair accessible. This would take considerable finances that the town, at this stage, does not have. Grants are also not available at this time. Town staff have been asked to obtain quotes to address the concerns raised in this question. • 2. Several years ago, i suggested to the former P.U.C. manager that we should have meters in Exeter. He replied that it would be very expensive. In 1997, the cost would be approximately $400,000.00 or $200.00 per household. With 2400 customers it would cost .30 a month to read each meter. No grants are available at this time. I agree that the present system is not fair. Three years ago, we started a pilot project in which 30 homes were equipped with various water conservation devices and the water meters read regularly. This is a four year project. 3. I am sure Exeter will play a major role in any future discussions on amalgamation. We have the strength and dedicated members in our community to bring our concerns to the table. We proved this last year when we said we would not support amalgamation if it was not in our best interests. Presently, internal restructuring is our number one priority in which to.save costs. 4. This issue was talked about many times during our amalgamation meetings, although without success from Exeter's standpoint. Our consulting engineers tell us our landfill site is good for 60 years with the purchase of the farm to the east of our landfill. 5. Last year the K.P.M.G. consultants suggested great savings in reducing senior management positions. In serving a larger area, however, higher salaries would be paid to these positions and each - senior manager might have one or two assistants. Money would be saved..How much? Who knows. 6. Every municipality would like to see more industry in -their area. I.am proud of the growth of our industries that we. have: Nabisco, Andex, Kongskilde, Northlander, United Plastics, Syfilco, Veri Trucking; Exeter Produce, just to name some that have experienced expansion. Several years ago attempts were made to attract foreign industry to Exeter without success. 7. Perhaps it was a mistake for the town to get into real estate in the first place, thereby competingwith the private sector. We did sell the last remaining parcel of land to Andex Ltd. this summer. Yes, I agree it would have been nice to have attracted new industry with the land in question, but this did not happen. 1 8. 8 i disagree with your suggestion that only a small percentage of our total population urs our recreational facilities. Almost 500 I_ young people play soccer alone. Many others are involved in. baseball, swimming , tennis, lawn bowling, ringette and hockey. I I 9. The easy answer is tonsure our rate payer that there will not I I be a cutback in services. i aminot prepared to make a promise that i might npt be able to keep but I Htill /work and serve to the best of my abilit,'. 1 10. As mayor, I hive alwalys presented council's position at the commission meetings. As a member of the P.U.C. I must use my • • own best judgment and my 30 years of business experience in any of the issues that we have had to deal with. I don't see this as a conflict of interest but a'must. A conflict of interest must be . 1 declared on any issue concerning personal monetary gain. I 11. Let's not forget that we live in a farming community and it is unfair to put the blame solely on. Nabisco. Our relationship with Nabisco is great. It has been my experience that they are working very closely lvith our public works dept( anytime there have peen complaints. 1 12. There are no more dump passes. I believe most council members would support one large pickup in the spring that 1 would include junk, old furniture, etc. with at least another pickup in the fall to rid home owners of garden waste. 13. Our council and past council have always recognized the importance of providing recreation for all, especially our young people. Should we charge more? Perhaps. When the South Huron Rec board was first created, an agreement should have been put in place that would have seen our neighbours share in any deficits I and capital expenditures. 14. The uncertainty of the Farm Tax Rebate and the concerns of the "who does what" are the main reasons why our council is not I interested in talking amalgamation Lt this time. These issues must be clarified by Municipal Affairs Minister Al Leach. 15. Council is currently revising job descriptions for several employees including Mr. Hundy, Mrs. Bell and others as a direct result of downsizing. Mr. Hundy's title of C.A.O./clerk makes him directly responsible to council. Council's jurisdiction is to establish policy. We are accountable to the ratepayers. Keep in mind that running the town is a big business and needs some stability. Councils come and go. 16. This issue has been around for more than 25 years. Yes it would be nice if all our employees lived in town. Let's not forget that some of our residents work in other municipalities. To my knowledge there are no laws in Ontario that would support making our employees reside in Exeter. 17. The Exeter P.U.C. agrees with your statement. The commission is also very interested in the study it did last year that would see our P.U.C. expand into the Townships of Usbome and Stephen taking over customers presently served by Ontario Hydro. This should show a savings of approximately 1500.00/household in the townships over 5 years. This would generate a tremendous cash flow into our community. ('ANI)Ii),Al ISS QUI S II() The response by Exeter voters with questions for the candidates for Mayor was excellent. A couple of questions which showed bias for one candidate have been omitted. Although sono editing was necessary because of the length of some questions, the following is how Mr. Hoogenboom and Mr. Shaw have responded to your concerns. • What would you do about the Exeter library? The entire building inside and out is in disrepair. Peeling paint, ragged carpet in the children's area, old dingy bathroom are just a flew of the things that need attention. For your information here area few statistics: In an average week 619 people visit the branch and borrow 1,028 items. The library has internet access and there are 5,564 registered borrowers. A lot of voters in this group. 2 • As Mayor of the town of Exeter you become a Public Utilities Commissioner. What is your point of view on having water meters installed on all water services in town? I am of the opinion that a person should pay for the. water which he or she uses. A dwelling with one person • pays the same amount for water as a family of any number (very unfair). If there was a dollar value . attached to the amount of water being used, people - would be more concerned of water being wasted, such as dripping faucets, toilets continually running, excessive watering of lawns and gardens, etc. 3 • What is your vision of howExeterwill fit into a newly- amalgamated area? • 4 • How does one rationalize assets during amalgamation discussions? For instance, I understand that our landfill site has a remaining life of approximately 100 years. This is a valuable resource which has been paid for by the residents of Exeter. Are we expected to share it without remuneration?- 5 • It seems logical that Exeter, Usborne, Stephen and Hay could_ be one community. Do you envision -this area being served by one administrator, one clerk -treasurer, one works supervisor and one building inspector? 6 • Other towns have been successful in getting new industry? What do you feel Exeter has been doing wrong in this vital area? What do you suggest should be done to try and bring more growth to town? 7. • At one point the Town of Exeter developed and owned several industrial lots along Highway 83. Many of these lots (in fact, just about all of them) have been sold for non -industrial purposes? Can you explain this? 8 • The provision of recreational services is a big expenditure item which benefits a relatively small percentage of the total population of Exeter and surrounding area. Is there a better way of providing this service in a more fair and equitable manner given the limited recreational needs of the majority? 9 • Can you make a commitment to ensure the level of town -provided services is not lowered? • An example of a cutback being considered is cutting out big garbage pickup back to once a year. 1 10 • Having followed the news articles concerning the town and the Public Utilities Commission, I am deeply concerned about the position the Mayor has taken. It seems to me to make comments depending on what you are wearing undermines the principles of democracy. If the Mayor, by his position, is required to sit as a Commissioner would it not be possible for him to declare a conflict of interest when an issue concerns both Council and the Utility? 11 • Re: new sewage treatment facilities - Are you or will you be working with the canning factory (Nabisco) to eliminate the odor from their waste irrigation system? We don't want- to be another Cornwall or Espanola. 12 • Paying for a dump pass is like -buying a stamp at the post office and having to deliver the letter yourself. Would you see that we get a twice yearly pickup of junk (as well as garden waste) and eliminate the dump pass for householders? 13 • Should our recreation programs be totally self- supporting or should tax dollars ease the burden of providing a good recreation and sports environment for our citizens' 14 • As it relates to municipal amalgamations, what impact would the elimination of the Farm Tax Rebate have on urban centres like Exeter, if a significant impact is expected, would this not be viewed as a deterrent to proceed with amalgamations? 15 • Do you not think the planner's (CAO) job is redundant? Mr. Hundey was brought to Exeter"as a planner, not a manager. The Mayor and/or council and Mrs. Liz Bell are all we need as 'managers" . Why not save the taxpayers $60,000 (plus) a year in taxes by downsizing from the top? Do you agree or disagree? 16 • Why do some employees have to live In town and some don't? 17 • If the PUC is self-sufficient, why not leave them alone? Times -Advocate, October 22, 1997 Page 7 1. The library must be brought into the 21st century. Council should appoint a body to spearhead a re -building programme. We built an arena without local tax dollars, and we should attempt to do the same with our library. All of South Huron should be the target base. 2. We are fat cats in Exeter. We have all the water we need, and most of us conserve little. There is a decided element of unfairness as well. The last figure 1 had, however, was that one meter would cost $300+ to install. With 2000 meters, that would be $600,000. Does the PUC bear the cost and increase.rates, or does each customer pay the charge? We should have meters by all rights, but can we afford them? 3. There are so many 'ifs', but 'if' we amalgamate with our nearest neighbours either willingly or under duress, we will, I think, fit in well. It will be necessary to negotiate fair representation, protection of our assets, distribution of services, allocation of staff and a means of dispute resolution. It will not be easy, and negotiations will be tough, and, of course, the new liabilities assessed against the townships will I come into play. The key is Exeter must have a strong, united voice! 4. No. Again, the key lies in successful negotiating. This is probably our single most tangible asset that is desired by others. We've paid considerable money for this property, and the interests of the Exeter taxpayers will have to be protected fully. 5. Yes! I wrote a lengthy article two years ago on amalgamation for our part of the county and stressed that significant savings will come inexactly these areas. We do not need all these positions in a new municipality. An added benefit, of course, is fewer politicians! I I I. I 6. Industry demands good transportation, a reliable work force, excellent hard services and a supportive community. A cornmunity can provide much of those needs, but it also needs luck and the advantage of location. i don't know that we've"done anything 'wrong'; we've I promoted the town, hosted potential investors and created an I ' ' excellent infrastructure to support industry. Our closeness to Huron Park is not necessarily an advantage. On thelpositive side, many of our businesses are expanding. Other than doing more of what has already . been done, I have no suggestions. II 7. the businesses located there, I believe, all qualify for industrial zoning, but you are right - they aren't all 'industries'. Probably they I were bought by interests that needed sites, and with no larger industries on the horizon seeking land, they were sold. Council opted I for the bird in the hand, rather than the trio in the bush. to be positive, ' if industry does decide to locate in Exeter, the acquisition of land, I'm assured, will not be a problem. I' I + 8: We can no longer afford to subsidize adult recreation programmes, and neither can we neglect our young people, many of whom have parents who cannot afford the full cost of patticipation.II've always believed that kids invblvedin sports and organized activities are not- getting into trouble. we must, in nay view, bite the bullet, promote participation and financially assist minor sports and clubs. t I 9. No. No one in his (or her) right mind can today commit to maintaining present services. With the Government reorganizing who does what and my believe that we cannot raise taxes, we must examine carefully all the services we provide, and when necessary reduce those that are 'expendable'. Two pick-ups are ideal. Can we I maintain them? I don't know. What else Might we have to sacrifice to I keep two collections? I • ' i I 10. Yes. The conflict of interest isn't in the usual sense, where money is involved, but there are times when there are conflicts in philosophy. if Council decides on a course of action that the Mayor cannot support, the Mayor, as spokesman for the Council, must remain silent on the issue, ask to be replaced, even temporarily on the secondary body so that he may speak, or he must resign as Mayor. Best of all, he or she should attempt to mediate a fair resolution to the conflict. 11. Yes. I think 'the Canners' have made great strides in the last 30 years when some of us can remember the stench which started in June and lasted intermittently until September. More can be done, and we can help. 1 I 12. Excellent comparison. The passlis a means of controlling access and generating revenue to pay the costs of disposal. i don't know of another way around the use of passes. I personally support the idea of twice -yearly pick-ups, but'as I've said before, I can't guarantee that . will be the case. 13. As I've said, we probably will be doing some 6f both: Self- supporting where adults are concerned and community support for minor programmes. 14. Definitely! When I first wrote about amalgamations two years ago, there was no talk about farm tax rebates. if it is expected that towns and villages will pick up any portion of the farm tax rebate, I will oppose amalgamation. If those costs can be absorbed by the townships and we can still realize mutual cost benefits, I would support amalgamation or, at least, the sharing of services and personnel. 15. Yes, I agree. We needed a CAO as did most Ontario municipalities. Anyone on the 'inside' of local politics knows that the task of administering a large township, a town or a city could not be done by a clerk and a part-time mayor - those days disappeared in the early 70's - the job just got too big: Maximizing grants, writing grant proposals, furnishing Council with background, completing Ministry reports, finding economies. We will never go back to the mayor and clerk managing the town, BUT we can shares the skills of a CAO with others. As I've said before, the 7 municipalities in our area could share ONE CAO. 16. At one time local boards and councils could demand local residency as a condition of employment. As far as I know, that requirement, if not illegal, is unenforceable. 17. I believe that the PUC is not only self-sufficient, but as I'm led to believe, an effective business operation. i haven't been a party to the deliberations, but it appears to me that there should be lots more to discuss. Everyone has to realize that the times are changing. If taxes can be held down and services maintained without touching the PUC - good, but I don't know that just as I don't know that a merger between the Town and the PUC will be an economic benefit. I will have to be sold on the advantages of one over the other or perhaps even a third option.