Councillors say ‘no’ to hiring Parks & Rec consultant

By MORGAN IAN ADAMS Collingwood Enterprise Bulletin Janury 28 2011
COLLINGWOOD–Town councillors have turned down a staff report asking that a consultant be hired to undertake a ‘strategic review’ of the direction for the parks, recreation and culture department.

However, while council balked — unanimously — at spending the anticipated $30,000-to-$50,000 costs, they appeared to wholeheartedly endorse the idea of a review with the work being done in-house under the direction of department director Marta Proctor.
Several councillors expressed their concern at the cost ; Councillor Mike Edwards noted it would be the third-such review of department facilities and programming since 2002.
Proctor told council that any report would not replace the master plan for the department — finalized in 2008 — “but would build on the recommendations and re-evaluate them under today’s circumstances.”
She noted there were several projects and facilities in limbo, notably the upgrades to Heritage Park and the aborted plans to build a wellness facility there to replace the Contact Fitness Centre on Napier Street; the future of the Napier Street facility in light of its shutdown because of building deficiencies; and whether the municipality would proceed with putting a roof over the outdoor rink at Central Park, or whether it would be more appropriate to look at the broader issue of the needs and demands on the town’s existing rink facilities and its users.
Proctor also noted council also has to resolve the issue of whether it financially supports the Collingwood YMCA’s second phase of expansion (see related story, Page ??).
“Some very difficult decisions need some resolution, and the question is how to (manage) the time appropriately to allocate (to a study),” she said.
She cautioned council that if such an undertaking were put in the hands of staff, it would take longer than her anticipated deadline of having a report complete by early June.
To a councillor, each expressed a concern that the perception of the town hiring a consultant would not go over well with the public, as well as the request coming outside of the budget process.
“The thought of another consultant’s report is not sitting well with people,” said Councillor Dale West, who noted that seemed to be the overwhelming response he got over the weekend.
Councillor Ian Chadwick suggested a group of community individuals could undertake the work, and Councillor Kevin Lloyd noted he didn’t believe “another consultant could prepare a better report than what our internal people could do.
“To hire another consultant would go against my grain,” he said.
Councillor Keith Hull, however, while acknowledging the hiring of a consultant would not be politically popular, cautioned against losing the essence of Proctor’s report.
He said the town needed an independent third party to perhaps overlook a process to ensure “special interests are not running the show” — and that an average user had a voice in the process.
“I would be the first to admit that I’m not an expert, and we should bring someone in to at least guide the ship,” he said.
Hull also suggested that the process be widened, and the town’s neighbouring municipalities invited to talk about the strengths and weaknesses of recreational facilities and programs on a regional basis.
Proctor, who took on the job of Parks, Recreation and Culture director about five months ago, said her thought to bringing in a consultant was because “I’m new to the community, and I’m trying to be sensitive (to the community’s opinions).”
However, West noted that made Proctor the perfect candidate to guide the process, as she could “look at the issues with an emotional detachment” that someone such as himself — with his connections to minor hockey and the Eddie Bush Memorial Arena — wouldn’t.