Allan McPhail

Sep 25, 2014

Mayor

Allan McPhail – Bringing Council together

Allan McPhail has been a member of South Frontenac Council for eight years, and before that he ran for council twice.

He was active in party politics before switching his focus to the municipal world, as a union local president at Queen's University, where he worked in the Department of Mechanical Engineering for 26 years, and with the local NDP riding association. He even ran for provincial office in 1999 under the NDP banner.

McPhail thinks that political affiliations, with right or left- wing tendencies, “don't tend to have any impact at council. Generally their thorny edges wear out over time in the face of the pressures of council and the issues municipalities face,” he said.

He said that he is not running for mayor in order to push an issue or an agenda, but rather because he thinks he is suited to the role and he has the time. “I think I have the leadership skills to help bring the council together. I have a background on council now, and knowledge of the issues, and I believe I can be an asset to the township as a whole.”

He would like to see Council take a more active role in the decision-making process. “We have gotten ourselves into a bit of a mess of charging for the use of township halls by sitting back and letting it happen. I think we should have debated this earlier, before the recreation committee looked at it. It would have saved a lot of trouble later on.”

In the end, McPhail feels that the halls should be free for community based groups. “The basic idea is that the township is providing these halls as a service, cut and dried. If you want community you have provide something” he said.

He would also like to see Council informed earlier in the process when it comes to planning issues, such as plans of subdivision or vacant land condominium.

“We might consider instituting a planning committee, or just have earlier reporting to council, before a formal application is before us and we are under the gun to make a decision,” he said.

His attitude toward the township's role in Frontenac County is similar to the one taken by South Frontenac politicians over the years.

“I think the county’s role should be well defined in relation to the townships, and we should be wary of increasing any of its responsibilities,” he said.

He also thinks that if other townships use the County planning services, then the actual costs need to be determined and paid for by these townships.

“We owe that to South Frontenac ratepayers,” he said.

He has experience working with the county on the K&P Trail project and on the county trails committee.

“There is a lot of value to the K&P, and I am optimistic it can be extended not only to Sharbot Lake, but through North Frontenac,” he said, “and I see that since it has been completed through Verona to White Lake Road the use of the trail has increased. It is a good example of a county-wide project supported by the townships.”

Allan McPhail has been the township representative to the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority (CRCA) for a number of years and is currently the Chair of the Board with the CRCA.

“Sitting on the board has given me an understanding of the shoreline issues, and of a wider range of issues of concern to our waterfront residents, and has helped me understand the impacts of development,” he said.

McPhail stated also he will not be seeking reappointment to the CRCA Board if elected as mayor.