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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1996-03-06, Page 3TT Times -Advocate, March 6,1996 Page 3 Former mayor offers proposal for the restructuring of Huron ,County Beane Shaw 'All change of habits of life and thought is irksome. The dif- ference in this respect between the wealthy and the common run of mankind lies not so much in the motive which prompts to cdnservatism as in the degree of exposure to the economic forces that urge a change.' This observation uttered a hundred years ago speaks to us today. Grange must be made, and the reason for that change is driven by our fi- nancial plight: we can no longer afford to to things as we have if we want to'escape the impending disaster of a major depression or economic chaos. As a result of seeing what is so obvious,.I offer this proposal as an at- tempt to steer us into the next century where our municipalities will be vi- able political and administrative entities capable of meeting our needs ef- ficiently and effectively. This proposal is based on four assumptions: i) the Provincial Government is sincere about spending cuts and will do everything possible to support local restruc- turing and will oppose impediments that are based on politics rather than economic.; ii) the recognition that there is an optimum size for local, responsive government; iii) the need for political change is imperative and iriunediate and geographic boundaries, whether county or local may be adjusted; and iv) there are too many politicians and too many 'tiers' of gov- ernment. This document looks specifically at Huron County, but the model could easily be replicated in other counties in the Province. In examining all as- pects of municipal restructuring, it is imperative that artificial barriers such as county lines not obstruct the aim of providing meaningful local government. As well, if local politicians think that the time for action has passed and that it is now time for endless bickering, those politicians should be side -lined by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and, if nec- essary, replaced by an arbitrator. Now is the time for courage, imagina- tion and vision, all qualities that are necessary in creating a better form of local government. THE PROPOSAL Dissolve the political entity known as Huron County and re -organize the geographic area into four new political 'communities of interest' with the possibility of including parts of Lambton, Perth, Bruce and Mid- dlesex. (By the same token, if there is a general restructuring across the Province, parts of Huron may indeed join other counties.) It is assumed at the outset that the composition of the following four new areas of govern- ance is flexible, and some border municipalities might be better located with another neighbor: AREA I - the north - Ashfield, Brussels, Grey, East and West Wawanash, Howick, Morris, Wingham (and possibly Lucknow) AREA II - west -central - Bayfield, Colborne, Goderich, Goderich Township and Stanley AREA III - central - Blyth, Clinton, Hullet, McKillop, Seaforth, Tuckersmith (and possibly Hibbert, Dublin and St. Columban) AREA IV - the south - Exeter, Hay, Hensall, Stephen, Usbome, Zurich (and possibly Grand Bend, McGillivray, Biddulph and Lucan) The present number of municipalities in Huron County, and probably most counties in Ontario, is no longer viable during this time of reduced provincial grants. In fact, the present 'collective waste' in the financing of local government is appalling! The taxpayer bemoans the fact that prop- erty taxes are so high but accepts the explanation that local government is already the most efficient administration of services (and indeed, it is), BUT it is still wasteful and expensive. Simply put, there are too many people representing their municipalities in public works, recreation, ad- ministration, protective services and public utilities. (This proposal, in the interest of time, does not touch on education, social services and health care, but as we advance in our ability to deal with the real costs of gov- erning and servicing our people, these areas must be included as well). There is duplication of service and gross inefficiency of operations if the total cost of government in any of the four proposed areas is considered. As well, there are close to 150 politicians and two tiers of municipal gov- ernment - that last observation should be enough to spark a revolution. If we assume the present number of municipalities (26) is too many, then surely one is totally unacceptable. Re- gional government in other parts of the Province has def- inite problems, and County councils in the past and present have demonstrated an inability to meet local needs as they try to balance too many political agendas and centralize decision-making In many cases it has be- come a forum for the 'rural -urban split' syndrome and is pres- ently, through it administration, attempting to concentrate power in the hands of a few at the expense of the local governments - a process that runs counter to all contemporary theories of shared decision-making and effective administration. As well, decisions are made with impunity as there is no political accountability to the citizenry. (County Councilors are elected indirectly as representatives of their local municipalities. As a result their reliance on county staff is significent. Indeed, some say, 'the tail wags the dog'.) There mul be local, direct accountability to the tax- payer. The four areas are small enough geographically to meet that need, and with a modest population (probably around 15,000 people) each will be able to support responsive, effective local government. If we examine one area, the south, in detail, we can see specifically the fmancial implications of a sensible restructuring. (A similar study should be conducted in each of the other three areas.) A THE MODEL The south's 'community of interest' is larger than any combination of two or three municipalities, and the economies are greater, of course, with the entire south forming one new municipality. The following chart demonstrates the present (1994 - the 1995 figures for Huron are similar) human and financial cost of 'doing business' in the south. EXETER HAY HENSALL STEPHEN USBORNE ZURICH 5 GRAND,BEND 5 TO'j ALS . . 39 LOCAL LOCAL TAXES TO PAY POLTCIANS EMPLOYEES COUNTY LEVY 9 20.5 $624,600 190,000 56,700 5 12 $478,600 145,900 43,500 5 6 $179,300 54,700 16,300 5 12 $786,300 239,800 71,400 5 5 $350,500 106,900 31,800 3 $ 65,600 20,000 5,900 6 , $365,000 111,300* 33,200* PART OF COUNTY LEVY ROADS PLANNING A cursory examination of the figures leads one to conclude a) there should be one CAO/Clerk-Treasurer, not 7 b) there should be one department head for each function, not many c) there will be a significant reduction in the number of employees d) there are far too many politicians - 9 should be sufficient e) there are obvious savings to be made in roads and planning, at least, since they on be provided locally f) the levy sent to the County will be eliminated as i) most services (roads, planning, etc.) will be provided locally, and ii) some services will have to be 'contracted out' as partner- ships are created between and among other communities of interest (public health, social services, etc.) D IMPLEMENTATION Negotiations among the existing municipalities should begin immedi- ately to determine where the boundary lines should be drawn and what communities (or what parts of communities) are to be included. Within a very short period of time (probably one month), subsequent. talks, which are simple, straight -forward and honest, should be initiated with one fun- damental criterion established at the outset: every municipality will sur- render its 'turf - there is absolutely no time or patience for petty politics and mindless squabbling. The issues to be resolved are few: • i) the creation of a mechanism for determining exactly what services and what stats' are required, ii) the establishment of a protocol for dealing with redundant - staff with the aim of dealing with staff humanely, if possible there may have to be an early retirement package created and a re-training programme initiated, iii) the selection of an implementation team (composed not necessarily of politicians) that will determine the composition of the new council and how its members will be elected in 1997 CONCLUSION John Dewey said, 'Itis demonstrable that many of the obstacles to change which have, been attributed to human nature are in fact due to the inertia of institutions and to the voluntary desire of powerful classes to maintain the existing status.' Certainly, in our region, one of the greatest obstacles will be the surrendering of power and control, but there is no room or tolerance for the pettiness that is all too frequently exhibited by politicians. Those involved in the deliberations must come to the realization that each day of dithering costs thousands of dollars! The taxpayer should de- mand action! They must also realize that people, generally, could not care less about some of the issues that vex politicians; the taxpayer wants low- cost, approachable government that services the community's needs and has a vision for the future. In a word, the process should begin immediately. Reluctant politicians who cannot see the absolute necessity of this restructuring should not im- pede the process or the investigation, at least, of doing business differ- ently. (Rumors abound that the County may have a veto on any re- structuring. Toronto must realize that County Council has neither the competence nor the integrity to adjudicate in such matters; it would be akin to asking the fox to design the hen -house.) Let's get on with it!! Bruce Shaw is a former Mani- of th4 Trwn of Exeter g ul jq a of 64,5..42,84%900 $757,600 258,800 tespondeht fot[h1' Y -Ads ' 'll!• "March for Jesus" vs Santa Claus parade EXETER - Lots of discussion re- volved around the "March for Je- sus" request that came to council Monday night. Organizers wanted to close Main Street for 20 min- utes of May 25 so that Exeter could join similar walks being held around the world. The staff report recommended that the route not include Main Street for a variety of reasons: safe- ly, inconvenience, hardship and risk. The suggests included either a crossing of Main Street at two lo- cations and a route that would by- pass Main Street altogether. Harold De Vries addressed coun- cil on behalf of the organizers and answered questions. Councillor Wendy Boyle asked if Main Street were absolutely necessary in that very heavy truck traffic would be directed down William Street. " I would rather have 300 people walking down William Street than 300 transports driving down ' the street," said Boyle. De Vries responded the parade route traditionally selected for San- ta Claus should be good enough for Jesus. " Other streets are good enough. We aren't there to protest any- thing; we're here to proclaim our faith in Jesus and hope that others watching on the streets will shout 'Hallelujah' and 'Praise the Lord," he said. Councillor Thom Hughes was concerned people would be trapped in their cars or in stores while the parade moved along Main Street. Councillor Roy Triebner, who act- ed as chair of the meeting re- marked, "The 'trapped' would be short-lived in that the march would be only 20 minutes." Councillors Robert Drummond and Joe Rider suggested the route should be the traditional route, that is from Huron Street to Victoria and then from Andrew to the Park. OPP Officer Benue Miedema also addressed council and assured the members, that the police had no problem with the proposed route and would, as usual, assist with en- • suring an orderly and well - organized parade. Council eventually approved the suggested route WI the delight of the large delegation that attended the meeting in support of the re- quest. County "shafts" Exeter again EXETER- The County Council Library Board reported to Exeter Council Monday ' . "Doesn't the night although it had been short-changing Ex- eter for over 20 years (according to Clerk- owner of the Treasurer Elizabeth Bell) because the square- property usual - footage upon which the rent is based was in- ly determine correct, there would be, in effect, a rent re- the rent, not the duction because it is not a Class I library. Councillor Thom Hughes asked, "Doesn't renter?" the owner of the property usually determine the rent, not the renter?" Councillor Robert Drummond offered a dos- ing remark: "Another example of the county shafting us again." Where Are Th acv Where Are Now? is an extended series on South Huron District High Sciwol graduates and their career choices MIMS Pau/ Kicpp: firming th /and HAY TOWNSHIP - "After I graduated (from high school) I thought I would always come back (to) farming," said Paul Klopp. After completing a two-year agricultural business management course at Centralia College, then working at Co-op stores in Chatham and Thamesville and eventually becoming a member of Parliament, Klopp has returned to his love of farming. "I liked farming...I thought (it) was a good profession," said Klopp, who is involved with the mixed farming of pork, cattle and beans. ' Although while in school he was advised not to adopt this style of farming, he felt it was the natural way to approach agriculture and agrees more fanners are "getting themselves diversified." "I could never see myself doing just one thing," he explained. "If you're a little bit into everything the (price) cycles are a little easier to take." He attributes what he's learned in the industry to his family farming background, which has provided him with a solid base, as well as his education, which has supplied information on issues such as crop fertility. He feels fanners need experience and long-term plans as well as the ability to set concrete goals. Take chances and keep alert, he advises, learn all you can about various subjects, don't compare yourself with neighbors and friends and be determined and flexible. BUt most importantly, he said, learn to deal with circtunstances out of your control, such as the weather. "You can do all die right things on paper but when mother nature comes along it doesn't "There's also a lot to learn from history," he said, admitting it as well as auto mechanics and electronics classes were his favorite high school subjects. "I think that's probably what kept me in school was the elecuical...it made me understand why I needed math." At one point in high school he was considering whether to , choose a fanning or electrician career. While he attended SHDHS in the early 70's, it was a time of many changes. The credit system was being established, soccer teams were forming and bussing routes were put in place. After college, his move to the Chatham co-op proved surprising. "It was quite a move because everybody expected me to stay home; said Klopp, who travelled home on weekends to fann and ended up returning to farm full-time in 1978. Considering community. involvement important, he found himself involved with the Federation of Agriculture, the Zurich Agricultural Society and eventually political parties. 'The politics side of me was not planned at all," he admitted. "You just find yourself in these places." "Politics to me isn't a dirty word," he added. In 1980 he became a member of the NDP party. "Instead of sitting in the coffee shop complaining, I thought I better put my name in," he said. After running for the provincial MPP seat three times, he became Huron MPP in 1990 while in his early 30's. At that point, be admitted, there was no time for farming. "Everything stopped for five years." But when his political career ended last June, he once again retuned to fanning as a full-time career. He was glad, he said, to get "back home...back to me." After being absent from the business, it was politics, he claimed, that helped him to understand the pressures of agriculture from a different perspective. With the NDP needing a new provincial leader, Klopp plans to get involved at the local level. His ultimate goal involves preparing his farm business for the next generation. "It's a family business too," he said. "People should try to do what they like to do." Klopp lives on the outskirts of Zurich with Ids wife, Heather, and two children, T.J. and Heidi. His hobbies include recreational hockey and softball.