Members support NVCA board reduction

Highlights of the September 23 board meeting

News release from the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority

Next Board Meeting: October 28, 2016, at Barrie City Hall
For the full meeting agenda including documents and reports, visit nvca.on.ca/about/boardofdirectors

Following a nine-month pilot project that saw the number of NVCA board members reduced from 27 to 18, the board of directors supported making the reduction permanent. The board directed Chair Lougheed to circulate a request for municipal resolutions of support for the reduction to all 18 watershed councils. A final report will be presented to the board in December 2016.

NVCA’s 2017 draft budget and capital levy to be circulated for municipal review

The board received NVCA’s 2017 Draft Budget, which sets total revenues/expenses at $4.77 million (compared to $4.99 million in 2016). The budget contains a 2.26% increase to the overall municipal levy. This amounts to an increase of $48,600 to be shared by all 18 member municipalities.

At their August meeting, the board received NVCA’s Asset Management Plan which details capital needs for the next ten years. To support this plan, the board received a 2017 Draft Capital Levy request in the amount of $129,926.

The draft budget and capital levy will now be circulated to member municipalities for a 30-day review period. It is also available on the NVCA website.

Board member tour watershed project sites

Following their meeting, board members and guests toured the northern part of the watershed to see firsthand NVCA projects and programs including:

· Black Ash Creek Restoration and invasive Phragmites mapping and removal in Collingwood,

· On-farm stream restoration and forestry projects in Clearview, and

· Nearshore Monitoring and Georgian Bay Shoreline mapping projects in Wasaga Beach.

This tour was part of the board’s ongoing education initiative.