BWG council votes down mayor-supported bid to set 2015 tax rate

By Meade Helman AWARE News Network October 16 2013
TAXES: Bradford West Gwillimbury Finance dept. introduced a report that included the recommendation that “Council adopts in principle the 2015 budget average tax increase of 2.7% for property taxes and an overall increase of 3.2% for water and wastewater.” Councillor Leduc lead the dissent on this issue.

Mayor Doug White strongly supported the motion but the councillors opposed agreed that it was improper to set tax rates for what will be a newly elected council. This clause was struck from the resolution that passed. Note The bylaw setting out the 2014 tax rates has yet to be passed.
DENSITY: Councillor Carl Hordyk brought forward a motion to change the zoning of the Solamar site at Professor Day and Line 8 from multi-unit to semi-detached single family homes. Town Planner Geoff McKnight had opposed this due to the town being behind on its density targets as required by the Province. The resolution was defeated 4-4. (In council, ties are a loss)
SINGLE SOURCING: Council previously passed a new purchasing by-law that was to put a stop to single-source purchasing but that practice seems to have continued in all departments of the town. The latest is a $98,000 contract awarded last night to RJ Burnside and Associates, for the design of Melbourne Street. The town manager Jay Courier said that the single sourcing saved the town money over doing a bidding process. Both Councillors Lamb and Leduc expressed concern with using this company again. EDITORIAL COMMENT:  There have been a number of issues with RJ Burnside and Associates, most notable being involved with the Dissette Debacle. As Councillor Lamb said, “There are a lot of good construction companies we could be using.”
LATE FEES: In previous council meetings, council was surprised to learn that the town finance department was charging late fees to residents who paid on time at the bank but the bank was tardy in forwarding the money. Finance director Ian Goodfellow announced a 3-day grace period policy that should end the unfair late charges.
CONDOMINIUMS: Council granted approval for a conditional site plan at 128 Barrie St for a residential condominium to GCHIAR Enterprise Inc. EDITORIAL COMMENT: This is good news on a number of levels. It is re-development rather than new development on farmland. It increases density and it is adjacent to the “downtown” that is sorely in need of development. And the town is sorely in need of something other than single-family homes.
COMMUNITY GARDENS: Deputy Mayor Rob Keffer ask for a staff report on the potential for a community garden at a previous council meeting. Staff brought forward a report outlining the challenges of a community garden but council seemed to be generally in favor of this imitative. Staff was instructed to explore ways to make it work.