The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2018-02-22, Page 11THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2018. PAGE 11. 1ST BRUSSELS BROWNIES — Back row, from left: Guiders 1ST BRUSSELS GUIDES — from left: Laura Van Nes, Guider Kat Dreyer and Kelsey Rathwell. Middle: Charlie Dryer, Abigail Andrea Van Nes, Johanna Van Nes. McLaren. Front: Nora Pennington, Sarah Van Nes. 1ST BRUSSELS PATHFINDERS — from left: Rose VanNes, Guider Mady Deitner, Benetta Van Nes. ijCentral Hui', The Municipality of Central Huron 519-482-3997 www.centralhuron.com Howson & Howson Ltd. Flour Mill Blyth 519-523-4241 le .tel,''tiend a( Youth. Optimist Club of Brussels Gas Station and Express Mart Open 6 am to 10 pm 39977 Blyth Rd., Blyth 519-523-9090 Proud supporter of our Youth! The Citizenitural Voice Blyth Brussels Blyth 519-523-4792 519-887-9114 519-523-4311 North Huron Council seeks further budget cuts Continued from page 1 that the development committee doesn't meet until March 1 and the Festival needed an answer sooner than that. Council approved the $15,000 proposal after being told the amount was identical to what had been requested in previous years. COUNCIL PAY Inspired by a request from Ritesma-Teeninga at council's Feb. 5 meeting to attend a second conference this year, council considered reviewing its entire honoraria and pay bylaw. Ritesma-Teeninga's request saw Reeve Neil Vincent suggest going to a dollar amount instead of the current system which caps councillors at one conference per year. Seip suggested staff bring a report back on the issue which found support with council. The bylaw hasn't been reviewed in eight years. SUMMIT DRIVE LED LIGHTS North Huron Township's street lights are undergoing replacement with cost-saving LED variants, however the North Huron Public Works Department has run into some issues with the project. The LED lights, which will be paid for through the utility and maintenance savings created by switching, are already installed in several locations throughout North Huron including Blyth's main street, however installation on Summit Drive in Wingham has proven problematic. Director of Public Works Sean McGhee requested that $40,000 be made available to relocate the lights on Summit Drive off of private propety. The increased costs would extend the amount of time it would take for the savings to pay back the project. Council requested that McGhee bring a report on the issue to a future meeting before approval. BUDGET CUTS White explained there were several large cuts as well as many smaller cuts that were made to the budget to get it down to the 7.11 per cent increase. Such cuts include the Public Works Department not replacing one of its rural operators no longer with the municipality. By shifting responsibilities and hiring an administrative assistant, the move will save $20,000. Council decided, during a budget meeting in January, to not repair the bridge along the Blyth Greenway Trail, cutting $38,300 from the budget. Reserves will be utilized to offset most of the engineering costs of the daycare building roof. The process was set to cost $25,000 and be part of general taxation. The original budget also included $18,750 to be put in reserves to start saving to repair the roof. The reserve funds were removed from the budget and $18,750 will be taken from reserves to cover most of the aforementioned $25,000 engineering costs. Repairs to the Wingham police station roof, which will be immediately necessary if council decides to continue providing Wingham policing through the Wingham Police Service, will mostly be covered by a transfer from reserves. Twenty -thousand dollars will be taken from reserves to offset the estimated $26,000 cost of the repair. A new trackless vehicle for snow removal and other public works projects was removed from the budget and replaced with a suitable used unit. The used unit will cost $101,760 as opposed to a new one that would cost $179,000. "That's a big chunk of savings," White explained. "However, then [the municipality may] run into equipment repairs sooner, rather than later by purchasing used." TREE PROGRAM While the Feb. 8 budget meeting was focused on the 2018 budget process, some thought was given to future savings that could be realized. White pointed to the municipality's tree program which provides free ready -to -plant trees to ratepayers and businesses. "For 2018, council agreed to purchase the trees," she said, referring to a discussion in 2017 during which some council members suggested scrapping the program. "We do want to consider changing the pick-up procedure." White explained the current program, which includes available delivery of the trees, is very labour- intensive for the municipality. "If you're getting the tree for free, you should be able to come pick it up during working hours," she said, adding that would prevent any overtime hours. "That's a change for 2018." White said that, in 2019, charging for trees may be considered. White also wanted to address concerns brought up in the 2017 discussion, saying she was only suggesting charging for trees that ratepayers wanted. "Roadside planting is a totally different issue than what this is," she said. "This is for residential or non - municipal -property trees. We feel people should pay for their trees in 2019" In an e-mail to The Citizen, White explained that delivery was never intended to be a part of the tree program, however it evolved that way. This year, delivery will not be offered as directed by council. FACILITY CLEANING Two different facilities could be under new cleaning regimens as part of North Huron staff trying to save money for the municipality in 2018. Cleaning of the Wingham Police Services building, which is currently cleaned by a contracted company, will be brought in house. Over a full year, the move could save the municipality $2,600, however those savings will be truncated in 2018 as the change will be made mid -year. Council also approved the purchase of cleaning equipment that will primarily be used at the North Huron Wescast Complex, but could see use throughout the municipality. Currently, the municipality pays a company to use pressure washers to clean parts of the facility including changing rooms and showers. By purchasing the equipment and having part-time hours expanded after hours, Director of Recreation and Facilities Pat Newson says savings could be realized in less than two years. The pressure washer would cost approximately $6,500 and result in an annual savings of $3,362 for the complex change rooms alone. The purchase price will come from reserves, which will be paid back through the savings. "Customers notice a difference if we do [this style of cleaning] regularly," Newson said. The changes were approved by council. HANGING FLOWERS A debate centred around hanging flower baskets in Wingham and Blyth during a 2017 budget meeting encouraged another potential change for the 2019 budget. White explained that council had already committed to the flowers for 2018, but said that cutting the purchase of flowers and related maintenance from the 2019 budget could save $19,246. Council took no action regarding the suggestion. OFFICE HOURS REDUCED Newson suggested that council could consider cutting hours at the recreation office in Wingham as cost-saving initiative. By reducing hours and staff time, Newson said the municipality could save $2,700 per year. Office hours will be reduced from May until June. Previously, the office was open 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Fridays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays. The new hours for May to June will see the office open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays. The office will close on Sundays. From July to August, the hours will be the same as above, however the office will be closed Saturdays as well as Sundays. Office hours during the ice -use season will remain unchanged. Newson said the change shouldn't be a significant problem for ratepayers as many of the recreation and facilities department's programs can now be signed up for online. Council moved to reduce weekly hours at the site from May to August. a Necu 9 Let everyone know about your new bundle of joy! Call for prices and details 519-523-4792 or 519-887-9114 The Citizen