NVCA readies for renewed effort to eliminate 10 directors

New Tecumseh Free Press Online

An implementation update on the progress of 26 recommendations contained within the Service Delivery and Operational Review of the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority (NVCA), notes an expected August tabling of a draft report that seeks to “reduce Board size to match median of the comparator group at 16” down from 26 who represent its 18 member municipalities.

New Tecumseth, Essa, and Innisfil are among the eight watershed communities which each have two representatives on the Board, (based on assessment value of property that falls within the NVCA jurisdiction) while Adjala-Tosorontio and Bradford West Gwillimbury have one. Each director has one vote.

A companion recommendation to off-set the reducation in board composition while retaining a weighted vote measure, would “implement a new voting protocol for the Board in order to achieve fairer representation of Member Municipalities in terms of levy contributions,” according to the review. “The nine largest levy contributors would have two votes and the balance, a single vote with the exception of the three Municipalities (Amaranth, Mono, Mulmur) making the smallest levy contributions. The latter group would have a single vote or be represented by one of the other Member Municipalities.”

Seven of the 26 recommendations are deemed “completed,” including “Expand the use of career paths to eliminate/reduce the number of deadend jobs at NVCA, contributing to retention of qualified staff members, career paths example: Planning Technician, Planner I, Planner II,
Senior Planner, Manager Planning and Regulations.”

Slated for action in 2016 is “working with a seconded financial expert (one from the Member
Municipalities or other sources), charge the CAO and Senior Management Team to develop a sustainable funding model and mechanism with pilot project implementation.”

New Tecumseth council has recently awarded a contract for a similar review of its municipal operations at a cost of about $93,000 to KPMG Consulting. It’s working title is Foundation for Excellence and its “emphasis on seven elements – leadership, corporate planning, financial management, process development, employee engagement, citizen/client focus and community partner relationships.”

KPMG is expected to submit its final report in December.