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In Penetanguishene
Dec 5th, 2010
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By DOUGLAS GLYNN Midland Free Press December 1 2010
PENETANGUISHENE — After knocking on the door of every house in this town and losing 13 pounds in the process, Gerry Marshall took a day off Oct. 26.
Supercharged by the overwhelming support of voters, the former coach of the Penetang Kings has been working every day since then to get “up to speed” for his new job.
Being Mayor -a job he officially starts today -is not “like punching in at 9 and out at 5,” he says. “It’s pretty much 24-7.”
He’s busied himself by engaging the community in planning summer and winter activities, reaching out to business people and meeting one on one with council members; most of whom -like himself -are rookie politicians.
“Council’s not totally without experienced people,” he says, noting that Deputy Mayor Pat Marion brings depth to the table, Michel Mayotte has served before and Brad Saunders has school board background.
The plus, he adds, “is that as diverse as the group is we seem to think along similar lines. The council members are in tune with different segments of the community and each brings something special to the table.”
His short-term goals?
“A zero tax increase. We hope to freeze taxes for a year so we can get some economic development going and attract businesses to help offset the burden on homeowners. Right now,” he points out, “85 per cent of the town’s revenues come from residential taxes.”
How can he freeze taxes and still do something about what he describes as the “horrible” roads in town?
“It’s a matter of allocating our capital spending differently,” he says. “I especially want to see our main street fixed; I’d like to make that happen.”
Finalizing the urban node status for Penetanguishene and Midland is also high on his to do list. He sees the potential for a number of positive spin-o ffs and is interested in exploring opportunities for sharing some services -not just with Midland -but with Tiny and Tay Townships as well.
Marshall foresees the possibility of a North Simcoe coalition that could share services and cut costs.
“Look at Kitchener-Waterloo!” her says. “They share services, but retain their unique identities.
“We all replicate efforts, such as collecting taxes. We do a lot individually, but one wonders whether there is a an opportunity to do some things on a regional level.
“Do I see the probability of us doing something together? Absolutely! I’d be amazed if we don’t do something together.”
He’s interested in talking with Midland about a backup water supply, because Penetanguishene could face serious problems if anything happened to disrupt the supply from its single well.
At the same time, he wants some answers from the Environment Ministr y and Simcoe County about leachate supposedly leaking from the former Midland-Penetanguishene-Tiny (MPT) landfill on Golf Link Rd. that closed in the 1970s.
“If I don’t need to be concerned, why not? If I need to be concerned, why should I be concerned? I need answers.
“We need a truthful explanation of what’s going on. Somebody has to take ownership of that and say, here’s the issues; here’s the answers. The MOE needs to step forward and provide answers, independent of the county.”
On the economic development front he plans to use his business contacts in Canada and the United States to interest firms in coming to Penetanguishene.
“I’m also looking at creating an advisory group to help us with economic development. We have some premier business people in town who could help us attract business, help us execute and achieve our goals.
“To be successful as a coach, or at anything else,” Marshall says, “you have to surround yourself with really excellent people. Some of them will be a lot smarter than you are in a lot areas. That’s fine. Bring them to the table and use their intelligence, their connections, their experience to your advantage. That’s what it’s all about.”
He also wants to engage the larger community, , including high school students. I can’t speak to the formality of how it would work, but I would welcome an advisory group of young people.”
“I think people will tell me what they want to talk about and I’ll make myself and council available. “There might be a point at which they say, give it a rest.”
Keep Penetanguishene Secondary School is another priority.
“I won’t let it go quietly into the night,” he says. “It’s an issue we have to stay on top of. I need to chat with the principal and the school board to see how else can we use the building; how we can make it more a part of our community.”
His to do list is long and includes a dog park.
He sat down Monday with his council for a brain-storming session to set some objectives. The results of those discussions will unfold in the coming months.
Meantime, what changes does he foresee four years down the road?
“I think we will see a revitalized downtown core. We will be more engaged in economic development, not in terms of what’s happening in the town itself, but reaching out beyond our borders, saying, hey, look at us, come here and set up shop employ people; be a part of our community.
H e also believes the town’s population will grow.
“Some people think growing by 600 people a year is a challenge, but I think it’s a realistic target.
There are 31 million people across Canada.
“Can we convince 600 of them that Penetanguishene is the place to live, work and play? Absolutely! I think we can do that.”

 

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