Midland mayor nixed for waste subcommittee

Budget approved with 1.5 per cent levy increase, Penetang mayor loses bid to defer
By Kate Harries AWARE Simcoe January 26 2011
An attempt to get Midland Mayor Gord McKay appointed to Simcoe County’s waste management subcommittee went down to defeat yesterday.
McKay has played a leadership role in local waste issues in recent years, first as a founding member and chair of Zero Waste Simcoe. Last year he helped shape the county’s waste management strategy as a citizen member of the now-defunct waste strategy steering committee.
McKay’s unique experience would make him an important asset for the subcommittee, Tiny Mayor Ray Millar told county council, urging that the committee be expanded with the appointment of a member at large.
“I think there is perhaps an oversight, and an opportunity for us to expand input on that committee,” Millar said.
The issue arose because McKay was nominated, but not present, at the Jan. 13 meeting of the performance management committee which gave the nod instead to Mary Small Brett (Adjala-Tosorontio), who spoke of her experience participating in anti-waste initiatives in her township.
Millar said his motion was not aimed at removing Small Brett, but adding McKay.
The subcommittee is made up of Warden Cal Patterson (Wasaga Beach), corporate services committee chair Ken Ferguson (Clearview) – both ex-officio – with an appointee from each of the three standing committees, which chose Ramara’s Bill Duffy (human services), Tiny’s George Lawrence (corporate services) as well as Small Brett
Performance management chair Basil Clarke (Ramara) opposed any change to the structure of the subcommittee, stating that all issues it decides will come to the council floor, and every councillor can raise issues with their standing committee representative.
Among those who agreed with Clarke was George Lawrence. Other members of council are interested and knowledgeable, the Tiny deputy mayor said, and the process provides for “safety nets” so that any issues can be revisited by county council.
McKay said he had sympathy with those who are reluctant to change the structure of the committee. However, he noted that he has “a different view of waste, I hope it’s a helpful view.” The three appointed candidates are excellent, he added, but if one more would be helpful, he would be prepared to serve.
Ferguson opposed any change. The subcommittee needs to come up with solutions, he said. “We can’t get bogged down. A bigger committee gets more bogged down.”
The Jan. 13 performance management committee decision not to appoint McKay had dismayed citizen observers who had been on hand for last year’s waste strategy proceedings, and who feel his knowledge and experience would allow subcommittee members to operate more efficiently and be less reliant on Simcoe County staff.
Over the last week, a number of residents, including some AWARE Simcoe members, contacted their councillors urging that the subcommittee be expanded to include the Midland mayor. These efforts were viewed with disfavour by a number of councillors, including McKay, who emailed an apology to his colleagues for the unsolicited public participation.
Voting in favour of expanding the committee were McKay, Millar, Dan Davidson (Innisfil), Rob Keffer (Bradford West Gwillimbury), Stephan Kramp (Midland), Patrick Marion (Penetanguishene), Gerry Marshall (Penetanguishene), and Scott Warnock (Tay). All others voted against, with the exception of Alicia Savage (Clearview) and Tom Walsh (Adjala-Tosorontio) who were absent.
Penetanguishene Mayor Gerry Marshall was similarly unsuccessful in having final approval of the budget deferred to March 25.
“At  the end of the day it is the 32 of us in this room that are specifically responsible for it,” he told councillors, expressing discomfort at making a decision after “one guided tour” at the special council meeting Jan. 5, and discussion at a subsequent committee meeting for a couple of hours. As for one-on-one answers from staff, Marshal said he would have no way of knowing if the answers to concerns raised by other councillors were persuasive.
Basil Clarke opposed any extension, explaining that just because money is in the budget, it doesn’t have to be spent – council can change its mind at any time through the year.
Clarke stressed the importance of getting tenders on capital projects early to get competitive pricing. That point resonated also for Small Brett, Rick Lloyd (Collingwood), Doug White (Bradford West Gwillimbury) and Bill Rawson (Tay).
“We have to put some faith in the council of the last term.” Rawson said. “This budget was prepared by people with four years of council experience.”
Marshall suggested that the previous council approval came in the midst of an election campaign so “they were a little bit distracted.”
Millar and Lawrence asked how much money is saved by early tendering. CAO Mark Aitken said the savings are substantial but he would not be able to provide specific figures.
Sandra Cooper (Collingwood) thanked staff for presenting the budget and answering questions promptly. Linda Collins (Springwater) said she has trust in staff and “I don’t believe in stalling.” Small Brett said a f1.5 per cent increase is responsible.
McKay said the amount of the increase is a red herring. “Unless these monies are spent with the informed consent of this council, they are misapplied… I’ve been asked to accept (the budget) on a matter of trust.” But he wasn’t elected to take things on trust, he said. “I was elected to ask questions and get answers.”
McKay said he has two pages of substantive questions after going through the budget again on the weehend.
Rob Keffer noted that council has asked for more information on some issues and approval should await the staff reports.
Council defeated Marshall’s motion. It then approved the budget, with only a handful of votes against.
After the vote, Dan McLean (Springwater) – who is a zero increase proponent in his own municipality – said he hadn’t supported extending the approval process because he thought there was a will among councillors to accept the budget.
In other matters:
-The recently advertised $160,000 position of general manager, corporate performance, is not a new position, it is a new title, Aitken told councillors. The person hired will fill the Chief Financial Officer position (that has been vacant for more than a year). The scope of the position has been expanded, Aitken said.
-A $200,000 payment to Hospice Simcoe has been declined because the agency has closed its capital funding campaign.
– Gord McKay questioned a report from the corporate services committee recommending reduction of tippage fees at transfer stations, resulting in a decrease of $568,000 in revenue in 2011 compared to 2010. This is an incentive for more garbage, McKay pointed out. The matter was referred back to the committee.
-Also on garbage, Dan McLean asked why the county’s waste audits, that track the county’s performance on diversion, are done by a consultant. They should be done by staff, he suggested. The matter was referred back.
-There’s a new way of dealing with in-camera items. Warden Cal Patterson asked council if they had any questions on the confidential matters. When they didn’t, the items – including a labour union contract settlement – were approved in public, without discussion or disclosure of details.
If you wish to receive these AWARE Simcoe reports on Simcoe County news, contact mrcinc@interlog.com and ask to be added to the email list. To access agenda material, go to the Simcoe County website, click on government and then on the County Council agenda for January 25. Reports are embedded in the agenda.