Letters to the Editor

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Township Governance

Having sat through all of Central Frontenac Council's budget meetings and a number of regular meetings, I cannot let the exchange at last week's meeting (The battle for mayor is joined in Central Frontenac, August 17, 2006) pass without comment.

Authority for the hiring of consultants triggered the discussion but as Jeff Green points out, township governance is the real issue.

Is council in full control? Could they improve their governance of our township?

Let's not worry about who hired the engineering firm to advise on the condition of the Oso fire hall. The important question is, why was the water damage discovered only one month before the fire hall was condemned? Buildings do not deteriorate that fast. Could a planned inspection and maintenance program have avoided it needing to be replaced? What is the condition of the rest of the township's infrastructure? Is it being routinely inspected and properly maintained? Do other surprises await council and the taxpayer?

Projects have not been included in the budget, have not been started, or have been delayed because staff with the necessary expertise were too busy. The budget exercise needs to include resource planning.

Council, in consultation with the residents and business people of Central Frontenac, have articulated their vision for the township in the Official Plan, a plan that is now being reviewed and is about to be updated. The achievement of this vision can only be helped by the development of an operational plan which keeps it clearly in sight.

Several of our councilors recognize that they are governing in a reactionary mode. They do not have the benefit of long term planning to guide their decision making, nor do they have sufficient direct interaction with senior staff to keep abreast of township operations.

From time to time, councilors have suggested ways of improving township governance. Not all have been enthusiastically received. New ideas should not trigger a defence; they should be welcomed, and if beneficial, adopted.

Council has been faced with many issues and challenges since the township was established - challenges they and township staff have, for the most part, successfully met and overcome. Many more challenges lie ahead. I cannot accept, however, that the pressure from these challenges be allowed to prevent the township from long term planning. Surely, when faced with such pressure it is more important than ever to take stock, review objectives, define priorities and goals, and plan ahead. Planning takes time - but it is a very worthwhile investment.

The annual budget process is clearly in need of review. In recent years, discussions have not started until March, and the budget has not been finalized until the year is one third over. There has been limited opportunity to influence the current year’s spending. Further, the budgets have been prepared without the benefit of long term planning. The budget process should start much earlier and should include the development of viable plans to meet the stated objectives. Perhaps there should be a more formal discussion of objectives and more guidance given to staff before the first draft budget is prepared.

Senior staff have a responsibility to keep council informed of the status of township operations, the key issues facing the township and to ensure recommendations are brought before council. Reporting through the township clerk and the mayor provides an efficient framework within which to administer day-to-day operations but, unfortunately, it does not afford individual councilors an opportunity to ask their own questions of senior staff. This could be addressed by requiring department heads to meet with council perhaps every second or third month, thereby allowing councilors to be more proactive in the development of township plans and the monitoring of township activities.

Governance is an important issue affecting the township's success in meeting the expectations of its citizens. It merits thoughtful discussion during the lead up to this year’s elections.

- Michael Wise

Sydenham Water, what they don’t want you to know

The Sydenham water system is now operational. Residents who have the pipe in front of their house have 9 months from June 06 to hook up.

Some are saying they will pay the $41.76 estimated charge per month (starting September1st, 2006) but do not want to hook up. They are waiting for Sydenham to force them. Some say "they can’t just come on my property and force me, I’d like to see them try" Well folks, they don’t have too, all they do is turn you over to the courts and you will be forced by the judge to comply with the local by-law.

Some of the myths of our water system. First, South Frontenac Township , who did not pay for the treatment plant, will own it, and maybe receive any profits from its operation. Second, it will eliminate the school board of any future liability for polluting our water table with 1,500 plus toilet flushes per school day.

I volunteered to help and was the MC for our Water Aid concert in Sydenham last August when, thanks to Dan Aykroyd , we raised around $25,000 to help locals who will soon lose their home or have to sell it because they don’t have the $8,000 to $25,000 it will cost them to hook up. We can only raise so much money. So I wrote Leona Dombrowsky M.P.P. and Scott Reid’s office (M.P.) as well as the Ontario Ombudsman.

Leona sent a letter saying she was led to believe that the cost would be shared over South Frontenac and is very disappointed with the local politicians’ attitude, Scott Reid’s office told me to make this a political issue as this is an election year. I’m still waiting for the Ontario Ombudsman to reply, I have since sent them another letter.

We need people to step up and run for council and mayor’s office so we can make changes to stop this type of event from happening again. If we don’t have a huge change in council, nothing will change and they will know they can just force any additional expenses on us that they please. Before you know it, we will be charged for the footage in front of our house for the snow removal (which is currently included in our taxes now).

We can’t go on as residents with our head in the sand and expect someone else to take care of it for us. If you do nothing, you can’t complain about your woes. Even our mayor, Bill Lake , said in Sydenham, "Locals don’t even volunteer for community events and planning here", so why can’t they just ram whatever they like down our throats.

Dick Monroe, who passed away, was the driving force behind the Sydenham Safe Water Group and when he died, I believe the drive he had to make this group happen, disappeared. We need to keep up the momentum Dick started and not stop until we get what we are after.

Don Wiskin

The Grand Opening (or should that be Grand Apology?) of the Sydenham Water Plant

This weekend the Sydehnam Water Plant was opened. The list of speakers included the mayor, the engineer, and representation from the various contractors who built the system.

Absent from the list of speakers was anyone representing the people. And when the people asked if they could say a few words, the mayor replied 'We're not here for a bitch session'. I suppose that is one way to deal with a majority opposition Mr. Mayor.

From the beginning, this project has had many flaws, and many people have questioned the need for such an expensive system for so few people. There are cheaper alternatives. But every time the people have raised issues with the project, Mayor Lake and certain members of our council have ignored the people. But the evidence is mounting.

Four separate groups have now raised the same concerns. First, the people of Sydenham.

Second, the Province of Ontario . They commissioned an expert panel to examine the financial and manageability issues with small water and sewage systems.

Third, that commission produced a report (The Watertight Report) with many recommendations for small municipalities, including the advice to not build systems for less than 10,000 people. Sydenham has 273.

Fourth, the Association of Municipalities for Ontario is now banding together to ask the province for additional funding for small municipal systems because they are failing and they can't afford to maintain them.

Apparently Mayor Lake thinks he knows better than the people, the province, the expert commission, and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario.

This project is a financial disaster. Let's examine the facts. The original estimate for this project from the Township's original application for funding was $5.6 million with the people paying $844,500. Then, AFTER council had approved the go ahead of this project, more accurate costs came in and our council had to go back to the government for additional financing, causing a very large delay.

The revised numbers are around $7.7 million with the people's share at an incredible $2.8 million. In addition, we have to pay 100% of the cost to hook up, 100% of the operating costs, and 100% of the capital replacement costs. And what is even more ironic is that after spending $7.7 million of the taxpayer's money, we still have a contaminated aquifer. So the people around the periphery of the village will be drawing on contaminated water.

A real leader would have admitted his mistakes, and taken full responsibility for his actions. But not our mayor. He continues to tell us that the people, the province, the expert panel, and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario are all wrong, and he is right.

- David Waugh