Brouhaha at NVCA

By Kate Harries AWARE Simcoe November 3 2011

It’s a dispute that has dragged on for two years and cost the taxpayers untold thousands of dollars in staff time as well as more thousands on legal and consultants’ fees.

In the end, Oro-Medonte got its way.

At their Oct. 28 meeting, members of the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority board of directors voted to approve a memorandum of agreement and pay Oro-Medonte $29,450.

There was no great enthusiasm for the deal, but it appears board members weren’t about to spend any more time on what was described as a “rancourous” dispute. Whether the suggestion that Oro-Medonte would pull out of the NVCA was a factor isn’t clear – such a move would be unprecedented and require provincial approval. 

“It’s a very difficult decision to make,” said New Tecumseth Councillor Joan Sutherland, the board’s vice-chair. “To have one party say it’s either our way or no way, to me that’s not negotiation – I feel like we’re being buillied.”

The $29,450 represents the cost of services that are provided by the Severn Sound Environmental Association. The township’s concern has been that it is paying twice for the same work. 

All parties agreed that there’s a need for an MOU to delineate each agency’s responsibilities. The sticking point was the amount of the refund.

While the cost can be substantiated by the bills submitted by the SSEA, it’s whether this represented the true value of the agency’s service that was a matter of controversy. Its charge to O-M rose 24 per cent this year, former O-M councillor Sandy Agnew pointed out in a presentation to the board.

“We don’t know what the number should be,” said Mono Councillor Fred Nix. “The number that Oro-Medonte pays to the SSEA has no bearing on what the cost charges to NVCA should be.”

Nix, seconded by New Tecumseth Councillor Bob Marrs, proposed that the rebate be set at $18,000, to be revised annually. Nix noted that the detailed reporting by staff that will be needed to arrive at a valid figure is estimated to add an extra $10,000 in administration costs in the coming year.

Collingwood Councillor Kevin Lloyd and Adjala-Tosorontio Deputy Mayor Mary Small-Brett refused to accept the change as a friendly amendment to their motion regarding the MOU and the $29,450

When it came to a vote, only four were in favour of the reduction to $18,000 – Nix, Marrs, Sutherland and Amaranth Councillor Percy Way.

After the amendment was defeated, CAO Wayne Wilson was asked the value of the service the NVCA will no longer be providing in the area covered by the SSEA. He estimated it at $24,000. Whether that’s the value of the service the SSEA is providing instead, is another matter – there’s a difference between the work of the two agencies. 

Oro-Medonte Deputy Mayor Ralph Hough asked for a recorded vote. The directors voted unanimously in favour of the MOU and the $29,450 rebate

NVCA agenda with staff reports and draft MOU (scroll down)

Oro-Medonte intent on conservation authority levy reduction, hires consultant