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Serving the Mapleton Community
Community News Volume 47 Issue 13
Drayton, Ontario
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Friday, March 28, 2014
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Mapleton Rodeo On Ice - The Drayton Figure Skating Club staged its annual skating carnival on the weekend, with two performances on March 22. This year’s theme was Mapleton Rodeo On Ice, providing club members with the opportunity to sport Stetsons, clown suits and other rodeo-related apparel for their numbers. ABOVE: Skaters rehearse the opening number on March 21. photos by Patrick Raftis More skating carnival photos on pages 3 and 12.
Mapleton council directs staff to increase budget to boost reserves by Patrick Raftis MAPLETON - Township council has directed staff to raise the local tax rate in order to increase reserve contributions. A draft budget as presented at a special meeting on March 20 called for a tax levy of $4,350,441, an increase of $350,352 over the 2013 levy. If passed as presented, the draft would result in a township preliminary budget levy increase of 8.76 per cent and tax rate increase of 2.19%. However, after considerable discussion on the state of local roads and bridges, council directed staff to present a budget with a tax rate increase of 4%. Mayor Bruce Whale estimated that would allow the township to place an additional $100,000 in reserves. Whale pointed out that with Wellington County council
passing a 2.2% budget increase (resulting in an anticipated tax increase of just $14 per $100,000 of assessment) lower tier municipalities have additional room to raise taxes. Whale said part of the thinking at the county level was to leave municipalities room to build reserves in order to deal with looming infrastructure expenditures. The mayor suggested that window of opportunity might not last long. “One of the big discussions going on at county right now is a request for additional funding for hospitals in Wellington County,” said Whale, in reference to a request for a county contribution of $9 million toward construction projects at hospitals in Fergus, Palmerston and Mount Forest. “We may not have that opportunity again to take advantage of that room at
the county to help build our reserves.” Whale said the 4% tax rate increase would be in keeping with recent budgetary practice. “My feeling is a 4% rate is not out of line. We’ve been in that range the last couple of years trying to build reserves,” Whale stated. “I don’t think we have a choice. I support that,” said councillor Andy Knetsch. “Yes. Me too,” agreed councillor Jim Curry. Councillor Neil Driscoll said, “We have to be concerned with the taxes or levy, but people have an expectation of a certain level of service as well.” Councillor Mike Downey suggested council should be looking closer at wages and administration costs in the budget. “We keep talking about bridges but what does it cost
Hospitals seeking cash from county by Kris Svela GUELPH - County council is considering a $9-million cash infusion to three Wellington hospitals: Groves Memorial in Fergus, Louise Marshall (LMH) in Mount Forest and Palmerston District Hospital (PDH) in Palmerston. Council debated the joint funding request from Jerome Quenneville, CEO of the three hospitals, at a special meeting on March 18. The issue of hospital funding was raised at the county late last year - prior to the formal request for $9 million - and resulted in the formation of an ad hoc hospital committee to discuss funding. Warden Chris White told
council the request is for $5 million for the construction of the new Groves hospital and $4 million split between LMH and PDH for hospital upgrades, including a new emergency room in Mount Forest and an 11,000-square-foot health centre in Palmerston. The county has already committed $5 million to the Groves project. Mapleton Mayor Bruce Whale cautioned against using tax money for health care, which is “supposed to be federal-provincially funded.” “I’m not sure property taxes were ever meant to fund health care,” Whale said. “I struggle with where our responsibility starts.”
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County councillor John Green noted the medical facility in Drayton was also built by “public fundraising” and he noted hospitals in the county raise money for upgrading equipment annually. LMH and PDH provide specialty services that have not always been available in the northern part of the county, said Green, the administration, finance and personnel committee chairman. He added any contribution from the county will not come in one lump sum. “The raising of $9 million is not going to be in the writing of one cheque,” Green said. “We can probably raise this money over five years. That makes the Continued on page 10
to run this place in terms of wages? That keeps going up every year,” said Downey. “It’s pretty substantial the dollars that we’re spending on wages that don’t really reflect on service delivery.” Downey stated, “Annual increases are one thing, but we keep adding positions.” The draft budget projects an increase of about $30,000 in 2014 over actual township wages in 2013, which totaled $2,068,835. Actual wages in 2013 were over budget by slightly more than $30,000. The budget draft notes that administration wages increased in 2013 due to the addition of an administrative assistant part-way through the year to assist with economic development projects, a move CAO Patty Sinnamon noted had been under discussion for several years. Recreation wages were up due to the hiring of an
additional summer student, firefighter remuneration was up due to additional training, and the roads department staff was increased by keeping a seasonal employee on through the summer. “They’ve all been a decision of this council,” Whale pointed out. “Whenever we have come forward with these requests to increase staff, we are asked to justify these changes,” noted Sinnamon. “It’s always easier to add than it is to take away. But what do the taxpayers want? You look at roads - they expect a lot more than they used to,” said Whale. Downey said, “To me its just general administration that’s gone up. I’m looking for the dollars and cents as to what it’s costing to run this municipality and how that’s continually rising.”
Whale pointed out township wages, broken down by department, have been provided on each draft of the budget. However, Whale said council could ask for a more detailed breakdown. Also included in the draft budget figures is $50,000 representing the estimated cost of joining the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System. The figure represents the cost based on an expectation a number of employees would opt out of joining OMERS. An additional $30,000 would be needed if all Mapleton employees opted to join the system. No decision has been made on joining OMERS and a presentation for council from officials of the pension organization is being scheduled. Whale said council anticipates passing the finalized budget at the regular meeting on April 8 at 7pm.
Township hires consultant to assist with restructuring by Patrick Raftis MAPLETON - Council here has engaged a consultant to assist with an organizational restructuring of municipal operations. The township initiated the organizational review after the dismissal of former public works superintendent Larry Lynch in December. CAO Patty Sinnamon said council agreed to hire consultant Nigel Bellchamber during an in-camera session on March 4. The process includes meeting with public works staff to “engage in discussion and feedback on what is working, what’s not working and what is needed to move forward,” said Sinnamon. Bellchamber met with council at an incamera session following the March 20 regular council meeting, after which council passed
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the following resolution: “That council directs the CAO to proceed with the recruitment process of hiring a director of public works; and further authorizes the CAO to engage the services of Nigel Bellchamber to assist in the recruitment process.” Sinnamon said Bellchamber indicated the cost will be in the $15,000 to $20,000 range, including approximately $5,000 for advertising. Bellchamber has held a variety of municipal jobs, including clerk, treasurer, commissioner of finance and administration, and chief administrative officer. Since 2001 his firm, N.G. Bellchamber and Associates, has consulted with municipalities, local boards and provincial organizations on organizational reviews, asset management, planning, staff recruitment, governance, and financial management.
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