Happy New Year. 2012 is almost over. 2013 looms a few hours away. I wish you all the best of times in the upcoming year. What a year it’s been. For council, we flailed around in the tar-baby issues of the … Continue reading →
Continue readingTag: Council
Chadwick's Blog & Commentary: A Council Christmas Carol – Part 2
STAVE TWO (continued from Part 1). THE FIRST OF THE THREE SPIRITS. I awoke in the dark, late Friday night. Winter days are so short that sometimes it seems a mere moment passes between sunrise and sunset. The day had whizzed by, … Continue reading →
Continue readingChadwick's Blog & Commentary: The Municipal Machiavelli is online
I’ve spent much of the past few days putting online my book in which I assess and rewrite Niccolo Machiavelli’s famous (or infamous) work, The Prince, in a WordPress format. I wrote this book earlier this year, but was unable to find a publisher … Continue reading →
Continue readingChadwick's Blog & Commentary: Explaining Council Expenses
Tip of the hat to Ian Adams for clearing up any misrepresentation of council’s expenses and clarifying some information, in his most recent blog post. The total council expense allotment is well under budget this year. It usually is; we … Continue reading →
Continue readingChadwick's Blog & Commentary: Gambling and the local economy part 2
Seventy three dollars. It’s not a large amount if you’re middle class, certainly not if you’re Conrad Black. But for others it can be significant. If you’re on minimum wage, it’s a full day’s wage, before taxes. If you’re a senior on a … Continue reading →
Continue readingChadwick's Blog & Commentary: Conspiracies, Secret Meetings and Backroom Deals
As the year comes to a close, I think it’s about time I ‘fessed up about the conspiracies, secret meetings, backroom deals, hidden commissions and other underhanded dealings council has had this term. There haven’t been any. Sorry about that. … Continue reading →
Continue readingChadwick's Blog & Commentary: Do We Need a CAO to Run Town Hall?
One of the comments in a rather lengthy letter presented to council recently was about hiring a CAO. The author demanded a “panel of qualified citizens appointed by an independent body* to oversee the recruitment, participate in intervi…
Continue readingArt Threat: City of Vancouver launches Arts & Culture Policy Council
The City of Vancouver is now home to an Arts and Culture Policy Council which will advise City Council on civic programs relating to arts and culture. The creation of the council was announced back in February, but last week members of the council were finally announced. The 15-member council
Continue readingThanks for Nothing: KPMG and the Review that Wasn’t
When asked by Councillor Mary Fragedakis if they had considered the long-term costs of cutting support to BIAs or the economic benefits of arts funding or social services, KPMG’s answer was a short and not so sweet,no, we weren’t asked to consi…
Continue readingHaldimand's Unheard Voice: Haldimand "Haldimand County 100k Club"
Every Year Ontario Municipalities are legislated to make public any employee of a local Municipality that is paid $100,000.00 or more a year. This is the amount that is on the individuals T4 slip for tax purposes. I have been waiting for the local newspapers to report these findings as
Continue readingHaldimand's Unheard Voice: Haldimand "Haldimand County 100k Club"
Every Year Ontario Municipalities are legislated to make public any employee of a local Municipality that is paid $100,000.00 or more a year. This is the amount that is on the individuals T4 slip for tax purposes. I have been waiting for the local newspapers to report these findings as
Continue readingHaldimand's Unheard Voice: Haldimand "Haldimand County 100k Club"
Every Year Ontario Municipalities are legislated to make public any employee of a local Municipality that is paid $100,000.00 or more a year. This is the amount that is on the individuals T4 slip for tax purposes.
I have been waiting for the local newspapers to report these findings as I know that these numbers come out usually in mid March of each year. After reading nothing of this in the local newspapers I went to the Haldimand County website.
Here is the following information that I found from a staff report dated February 16, 2010, that was presented to Council on March 1,2010.
This report was received by Haldimand County Council on March 1, 2010 Recommendation #5, and passed by Resolution #57-10 on March 8, 2010.
Below is our Haldimand County “100k Club”.
I put in brackets last years numbers for salary earned in 2008. These numbers are what these individuals earned in 2009. First figure is salary and the second figure below is their taxable benefits.
This is also from the staff report; Each person to whom Haldimand County provided a 2009 T4 slip is considered an employee. For employees paid $100,000 or more, exclusive of taxable benefits, a “Record of Employees’ 2009 Salaries and Benefits” report must be submitted to the funding ministry, in our case, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, not later than March 5, 2010.
BOYLE DONALD CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
$156,666.48 $6,892.20 ($149,765.34 $7,053.00)
HANLY B. HUGH GM, COMMUNITY SERVICES
$128,490.84 $761.37 ($129,245.47 $880.18)
GENERAL KAREN GM, CORPORATE SERVICES
$140,863.34 $808.97 ($134,780.24, $954.74)
MANLEY CRAIG GM PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
$123,586.41 $743.78 ($120,588.68 $833.38)
RAE GEOFFREY GM, PUBLIC WORKS
$117,032.75 $701.89 ($111,357.17 $793.26)
MUNGAR PAUL MANAGER, ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
$102,759.71 $618.25
OAKES WRAY MANAGER, ROADS OPERATIONS
$103,258.29 $624.54
WITTIG DONALD MANAGER, FLEET & FACILITIES
$103,258.28 $624.54
Haldimand's Unheard Voice: Haldimand "Dunnville are there any Unheard Voices Out there"?
Have you ever asked yourself any of these questions? Why should I vote? Will my vote really make a difference? Does my one vote really count? Have you ever felt like an Unheard Voice? Well I hope that in the upcoming months I can inspire you to go out and
Continue readingHaldimand's Unheard Voice: Haldimand "Dunnville are there any Unheard Voices Out there"?
Have you ever asked yourself any of these questions? Why should I vote? Will my vote really make a difference? Does my one vote really count? Have you ever felt like an Unheard Voice? Well I hope that in the upcoming months I can inspire you to go out and
Continue readingHaldimand's Unheard Voice: Haldimand "Dunnville are there any Unheard Voices Out there"?
Have you ever asked yourself any of these questions? Why should I vote? Will my vote really make a difference? Does my one vote really count?
Have you ever felt like an Unheard Voice?
Well I hope that in the upcoming months I can inspire you to go out and “Vote”, “Change the norm”, and “help you understand that your vote does count. Your voice will and can be heard!
I registered in early January as a candidate for Ward 6 (Dunnville) for the upcoming Municipal Elections that will be held this coming October. For some of you this may be a bit soon to be talking about an election that is months away, but for me it will probably takes months to get the word out on the street that I am running for Council.
I have heard so many people say, “When was that issue discussed”? “How come I never heard about that one”? “When was that open house”? “Why doesn’t anyone hold “Town Hall” meetings anymore?
I personally feel that we have a communication problem here in Haldimand County and it is not of our own making.
Our newspapers are weekly, so if you miss reading one paper you can miss very vital information that could affect you and your taxes.
Many of us do not get cable so we cannot access Council Meetings.
Many of us are still on dial up internet (I AM!) and cannot access vital County information because the files are too big and we get timed out.
Most of us are too busy to attend a Council Meeting.
And the most important communication problem is that currently there are no “Town Hall” meetings in the Dunnville area, in fact there are currently no “Town Hall” meetings anywhere in Haldimand County.
Can you tell that I am a big fan of “Town Hall” meetings?
I seriously wonder how a member of council could know what people are concerned about if they do not give residents a regular time and place to have their voices heard. Of course there will be some that will say that it is up to “You” to keep up to date on local issues.
I believe that “Town Hall” meetings are vital and necessary for the community. What harm can a meet and greet coffee night every say three months do?
Your Vote does count! Your voice can be heard!
Please feel free to post any issues that are of a concern to you here.
If you wish to contact me you can call me at 905-701-1627 or email me at dpitcher@sympatico.ca
Continue readingHaldimand's Unheard Voice: Haldimand "Pitcher First to File for Elections"
I want to thank Cathy Pelletier for a great article!For the past ten months I have been writing for the Dunnville Chronicle covering Haldimand County Council meetings and local politics. It has been a great learning experience for me and I am very fort…
Continue readingHaldimand's Unheard Voice: Haldimand "Pitcher First to File for Elections"
I want to thank Cathy Pelletier for a great article! For the past ten months I have been writing for the Dunnville Chronicle covering Haldimand County Council meetings and local politics. It has been a great learning experience for me and I am very fortunate that Bob Liddycoat (past editor
Continue readingHaldimand's Unheard Voice: Haldimand "Pitcher First to File for Elections"
I want to thank Cathy Pelletier for a great article! For the past ten months I have been writing for the Dunnville Chronicle covering Haldimand County Council meetings and local politics. It has been a great learning experience for me and I am very fortunate that Bob Liddycoat (past editor
Continue readingHaldimand's Unheard Voice: Haldimand "OPP Contract will Increase Taxes"
Donna Pitcher
Chronicle Staff Writer
December 9, 2009
Policing issues will not be a major issue in the upcoming 2010 Municipal Election. Once the OPP contract renewal is accepted by Haldimand County Council, it will not renew until 2014.
During the 2006 Haldimand County Municipal Election Campaign, policing services for Haldimand County was one of the major election issues.
Several councillors and candidates promised if elected they would replace the OPP, some opted to at least look into the issue. This option turned out to be a no option due to either lack of interest from surrounding agencies or the costs to the County to go back to their own force.
Negotiations have been ongoing since September 30, 2008 when the contract with the OPP expired. The new OPP contract will be for a five-year term starting on October 1, 2009.
The increase to taxpayers will be substantial states staffs report.
At last Monday’s Council in Committee meeting, Carl Butler from the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) presented Haldimand County Council with an overview of the details related to the renewal of the current OPP Contact. Butler invited questions and concerns from council members in regards to the contract renewal.
One question was asked in relation to by-law enforcement. Butler clarified that the by-law enforcement that the OPP engages in is that of “police related by-laws”.
Under General Provisions of the new OPP contract it states;
“For the purposes of s. 10(6) of the Police Services Act, the O.P.P. shall provide police services to the Municipality, including the enforcement of mutually agreed upon by-laws. The parties shall annually review this part of the Agreement with a view to revising or updating the list of by-laws requiring O.P.P. enforcement”.
“Municipal Building Code violations overseen by the Municipality’s Building Code inspector and those by-laws related to animal control will not form part of this Agreement”.
The above OPP General Provision for By-law enforcement is exactly the same as the agreement that was signed by Haldimand County on September 22, 2003.
In 2008 the base amount for policing was $7,198,676.00, for 2010 there are two options, the first option is $8,307,976.00 (an increase of $1,109,300.00) and option two is $8,005,080 (an increase of $806,404.00).
The difference between Option #1 and Option #2, is, Option #2 is a reduction of 3,257 hours in the guaranteed minimum service level, which equates to less than 9 hours per day.
Haldimand County General Manager of Corporate Services Karen General is recommending Council accepts and enters into a five-year contract with the OPP at the Option #2 level.
Service levels Options #1 and #2 were presented to the Haldimand County Police Services Board on December 2, 2009 due to their responsibilities under the contract and per the Police Services Act.
Following the discussion the Haldimand County Police Services Board passed the following motion:
“That Haldimand County Police Services Board supports Option #1 and is not supportive of officer reductions as per Option #2 and this position be relayed to Haldimand County Council immediately”.
Both Haldimand County Staff and the solicitor disagree with the position of the Haldimand County Police Services Board.
The main issue of disagreement according to the staff report is that although Option #1 would provide an enhanced level of policing service beyond the “minimum” required level at a cost of over $300,000.00 per year. Given the economic challenges facing the municipality and its taxpayers, this is difficult to justify given the issue of bodies and hours as outlined in the contract, states the report.
The above increases under option one or two are substantial; a tax levy increase of 2.4% and 1.75% respectively would be required.
The report goes on to further state regardless of the service option approved by council there will be a significant levy impact to be absorbed in 2010.
This will significantly affect the ability to meet the target “2%” overall tax increase that Council has established as a budget guideline for all County Services. Staff will need to determine a means of dealing with this increase; a significant tax levy impact should be expected states the report.
Haldimand County paid an estimated $5,559,872.00 for policing in 2002 and when the contract was negotiated in 2003 the cost for policing was estimated at $5,847,954.00.
Haldimand County Council will vote on the OPP contract on Thursday December 10th at the Budget Meeting that starts at 9:30am.
http://www.dunnvillechronicle.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2212507
Continue readingHaldimand's Unheard Voice: Haldimand "OPP Contract will Increase Taxes"
Donna PitcherChronicle Staff WriterDecember 9, 2009 Policing issues will not be a major issue in the upcoming 2010 Municipal Election. Once the OPP contract renewal is accepted by Haldimand County Council, it will not renew until 2014. During the 2006 Haldimand County Municipal Election Campaign, policing services for Haldimand County
Continue reading