Cf_review_08-06

Jeff Green | Feb 14, 2008

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Consultant Bill Winegard started off his presentation to Central Frontenac concerning an organizational review his company has just completed by praising the township.

“This is a very well-run municipality. We’ve worked in municipalities that have more problems than this one. It is a matter of making a good thing better,” he said.

Then, along with his colleague Hans Muntz, he proceeded to delineate some serious deficiencies in the township’s operations.

Much attention was given to the public works department. It was recommended that the township immediately hire a public works manager, a process that is already underway. The second recommendation is that a supervisor of operations and a supervisor of construction be appointed, and that the two existing lead hand and one mechanic position be retained.

Hans Muntz said that Central Frontenac is “spending 25% more than your peer group on road maintenance, which is more than you need to.”

He suggested that the township set a limit of $40,000 per kilometre for road repairs, and improve a number of kilometres each year, as opposed to spending more money bringing a small number of roads to a high standard.

“You don’t have to bring the roads way up, just make them better than they are; they need work,” he said.

In interviews with staff, Muntz also identified a morale problem. “It’s getting to where the naysayers are setting the tone of the workplace,” he said, “and that is something you need to act on.”

The organizational review was received by council. Many of the recommendations are slated for implementation over time.