No more free lunch for Collingwood council, staff

Council meal break gets the axe
By MORGAN IAN ADAMS Collignwood Enterprise Bulletin January 14 2011
COLLINGWOOD — Councillors made their first budget cut, Monday night, chopping the pre-meeting meal that ate up $10,000 on an annual basis.

The expense was split between an account of mayor and council, and an administration account.
The lone dissenter was Councillor Ian Chadwick, who said the opportunity to chow down prior to a council meeting was a team-building opportunity for politicians and staff.
Chadwick said the cost represented a pittance for the average property taxpayer — about 10 cents.
“I don’t think the taxpayer would begrudge 10 cents if it meant a better team,” said Chadwick. “It’s that time we had traditionally before a meeting, that we had more time for staff and council to interact and socialize.
“We want to maximize opportunities to interact, not minimize.”
The councillor also expressed a concern the decision was being made outside the budget process, and had essentially been “decided and implemented” prior to Monday night.
Any public decision, he said, was “just windowdressing.”
He also pointed out the money wasn’t going directly to councillors, but to the downtown restaurants that provided the food.
“They’ve already had their source of revenue hurt by the patio decision… I don’t want to hurt their revenue stream again,” he said.
Council passed the motion by an 8-1 vote, with one codicil — if the chair and CAO decide a lengthy meeting is in order that food can still be brought in.
“I can see if there are marathon meetings, that we would need some sustenance,” said Councillor Mike Edwards, referencing the numerous meetings in the previous term that stretched four and five hours in duration.
However, Deputy-mayor Rick Lloyd chimed in, noting he expects Mayor Sandra Cooper will run a tight ship when it comes to how long meetings last.
In other council news from Monday:
* Councillors passed part of its service fee schedule, with the adoption of water and sewer rates for 2011.
Both rates will increase by 2%
Public works executive director and Collus president Ed Houghton outlined the proposal for the rates, which is expected to fund the operating and capital costs for water and sewer services. A 2% increase in water rates works out to an extra 59 cents per month on an average bill, while sewer rates will go up by $1.07 a month.
Houghton said the original proposal was for a 4% hike in sewer rates; how-e ve r, in light of economic circum-stances, a way was found to “smooth the rate out”. Under the original schedule set down in the rate study passed by council last year, sewer rates were scheduled to increase by 4% annually until 2018.
Councillor Dale West noted he was “very happy” with the rate proposal, noting he had already circulated an email to his fellow council members pitching the idea that rates only increase by the rate of inflation.
* Councillors also approved a site plan agreement for the Esso property on First Street. The property’s owner, Pioneer Petroleums — Esso, was proposing to build a car wash on the site and renovate the existing convenience store to include a drive-through restaurant.
The company was also expanding the existing site to include a piece of property immediately to the south of the existing First Street gas station.
Some concern was expressed about the drive-through, and whether it would result in back-ups on First Street; acting planning director Nancy Farrer said the drive-through has ‘stacking’ capacity of 10 vehicles, and it would be likely that vehicles using the drive-through would be coming off the Cedar Street entrance.
One of the two existing entrances to First Street — the one closest to the intersection at Cedar — was also being closed.
* Council also designated two buildings as having “cultural value and heritage”: a private residence on Ninth Street, and the Collingwood Curling Club.
The only question on the curling club designation came from Councillor Mike Edwards, who wanted to ensure the designation didn’t affect anything else the town may wish to do with the Central Park property.
Ron Martin, the town’s deputy-chief building official, indicated while the bylaw identifies the entire property, only the curling club building — constructed in 1909 — is contemplated as having heritage value. He also noted the heritage designation only refers to the exterior of the building, and would not affect any plans for the interior.

Council cuts meals
By John Edwards Simcoe.com Jan 14, 2011
Collingwood council voted on Monday to stop providing meals for council and staff before meetings.
The vote was 8-1, with Councillor Ian Chadwick being the only naysayer. Food can be provided at the discretion of the CAO and would likely be done when council holds daylong budget sessions.
Mayor Sandra Cooper said last year the town spent close to $10,000 on food.
Councillor Ian Chadwick took issue with the process. He said the decision was made before it came to council and he believed it should be made at the budget process.
“My primary concern is that I believe this should be a budget issue,” he said. “I’m a little disappointed this has been decided and implemented. Anything we do now is window dressing.”
Chadwick said the cost would be 10 cents on the average tax bill. Chadwick said he was also disappointed that they would be taking away revenue from local businesses.
Chadwick said getting together before the meetings helps build teamwork.
“The time we have had traditionally before meetings, has been one of the rare occasions for council and staff to interact socially. I don’t think taxpayers are going to begrudge 10 cents a year. If we cut one roundabout, we can save 50 years worth of meals.”
Deputy Mayor Rick Lloyd said it’s important for council to set an example for staff and the community that council is willing to tighten its belt.
Lloyd said if the meetings were chaired efficiently, council and staff would be home faster.
“Your worship, I will hold you to holding short meetings so we don’t get hungry,” he said.