The first of three Centre Wellington Township all-candidates meetings held here brought forth a number of comments from candidates about tax cutting and, by the end of the night, spending more wisely.
But the audience itself had a number of other concerns, and when it had its chance following campaign speeches, the questions started with termite control and ranged through parking issues, electing a county warden, the Elora transfer station, and restoration of the Victoria Street walking bridge. It was only as the meeting wound down that questions about finance came up.
Mayoral candidate Bob Foster led off and said it is “abundantly clear the township government has a spending problem.” He cited a $600,000 economic development budget and an $800,000 information technology budget.
“This township spends far too much on operating the office and not enough on people.”
If elected, he would control costs, have a hiring freeze in 2011 and eliminate five jobs through “attrition and retirement.” He added he would put a moratorium on borrowing, and said there is $13-million owing and the township borrowed another $9-million this year.
Incumbent Joanne Ross-Zuj said the township did not borrow any money at all this year and the current debt is from a previous council. She said through partnership and grants, and using the slots fund profits, the township managed to obtain $2 in infrastructure cash for every dollar of slots cash it used. The money was all used for infrastructure projects.
Ross-Zuj said the township “used what we could afford” and that there was no borrowing.”
She said the township has fixed five bridges in critical condition, done a number of roads and replaced water and sewer lines, and spent cash on the Fergus Grand Theatre and on the Sportsplex.
She said with the township’s population to grow to 40,000 by 3031, it must protect the environment, water supply, trails and trees.
Ward 1 candidate Kelly Linton said the township must find new ways of engaging citizens, demonstrate good stewardship, “work to keep taxes down,” and put citizens and local business first.
Ward 1 candidate Ian Rice wants to see the township grow in “a careful and considerate manner.” He cited his work with the Rotary Club of Centre Wellington, Habitat for Humanity, Neighbourwoods, the Elora Community Theatre and the Elora Festival, and said he understands local issues.
Ward 2 incumbent Kirk McElwain cited his work of the past four years, including the Elora BIA, the Fergus Elora Business Alliance, working with economic development to bring knowledge based business to the community, and high speed internet for rural areas.
He hopes to return to continue that work, and noted his priorities are manageable government, fiscal responsibility, and safety of citizens.
Ward 2 candidate Eric Van Grootheest said he believes in fiscal responsibility with a social conscience. As a realtor, he said he has had a lot of seniors come to him to sell their homes because of high taxes.
“It’s not right. We have to stop increasing our taxes,” he said. He said he is a new candidate, and if people are happy, they can stay with their current council. If not, there are a lot of new candidates running.
County Ward 5 incumbent Jean Innes said when she got to county council, she was “horrified by the way they spent money. She noted that in 2010, the tax increase was 2.5 per cent, but it once was over 13.
She said people need a county councillor who will protect the environment, especially with the Green Belt forcing Wellington to grow in certain areas.
“One deterrent is high taxes,” she said of growth.
She also took issue with opponent Bob Wilson’s signs, which asked them to “re-elect” him.
“I am the one and only incumbent in Ward 5 she said. “I would like you to re-elect me.”
County Ward 5 candidate Bob Wilson said Centre Wellington is the hub of the county, and it has done well over the years. He cited a new Wellington Terrace seniors home, a renovated Elora Library with plans for renovations in Fergus, the new Wellington Archives in Aboyne, and a new police station in Aboyne.
As for the economy, “The county has weathered the storm very well” but, he added, “The worst may be yet to come.”
He said the county needs to be flexible.
Wilson said it also needs to rationalize its road systems with those of the townships.
He warned citizens that if they support people who promise tax cuts, “They are flirting with disaster. In my 25 years in municipal government … No one has every asked me to cut services.”
Questions
Resident Pat Ellis asked about how council could control termites.
Ross-Zuj said education is one way, and there will be pamphlets to inform people how to prevent them that are coming in the next hydro bills.
She said it is difficult when the upper levels of government have cut back on pesticides that might control or kill them, and she understand the issue because she deals with them at her home.
Foster said it is important to “get the science right” and he would like to see a couple of people from the building department trained so they can help citizens. He also said people should avoid piling stove wood against their houses, and cut back on wood mulch.
“Our building inspectors are a key part of the solution,” he concluded.
One woman asked if the county will ever elect a warden at large.
Foster said people choose a mayor, and “They should also choose a warden.”
Ross-Zuj said there has been no agreement at county council, but there have been some moves for change. The term is now two years, instead of one, and she promised, “It will be an issue the next term.”
Resident Nancy Scott said she had heard there are plans to close the Elora transfer station, and wanted to know if that is true.
Wilson, who has been chairman of the county’s solid waste services committee for many years said the place is the “busiest in the county and also the noisiest.” He said neighbours have suggested the county should look for another site, but, “There is no thought of moving the Elora transfer station at all. It’s there until the neighbours chase it out.”
Bob Hill asked what the township can do for farmers, and particularly about turbines.
Ross-Zuj said the township has designated its urban borders and there are no plans to expand them into agricultural areas. At the county, she cited a number of programs, including the Rural Water Quality Program.
As for turbines, the province has taken away municipal power over them, but the county has hired a lawyer to look into ways to address turbine issues.
Foster said one way to help farmers is to improve the grading on rural roads.
He said the township can work with the Ministry of Agriculture, too. He added that beef and pork prices seemed to finally be stronger than they were last year.
Township Ward 2 candidate Van Grootheest spent some time on the Wellington Pork Board. He said, “If a farmer is being restricted, I will stick up for the farmer.”
Restaurateur Resa Lent asked what the township can do about parking problems in Fergus and Elora downtowns. She also heard parking at the Little Folks site in Elora will soon be gone.
Van Grootheest suggested the former PetroCanada station at Mill and Metcalfe in Elora might be a good place to start, now that it is closed.
Ross-Zuj said the township has created a parking committee and is trying to consider all the issues. She stated firmly the south side parking is land owned by the township and it is going to remain for parking.
She said the township might consider a balance of parking and greenspace.
Linton said in one sense, if the parking is scarce, it means the downtowns are busy.
Rice agreed, and said, “If it’s happening in Elora, that’s a good thing.”
But, he agreed, something needs to be done.
McElwain is the chairman of the township parking committee, and said it has not identified any solutions yet. He said there could be spaces “at a cost,” but people need to consider “where that money is going to come from.”
He said the PetroCan station property might be a start, but what if the company wants more for the land than the township is willing to pay.
He added, “There is significant parking if people are willing to walk more than a block.” While the downtown is full, the uptown has spaces and so does the block behind the main street.
McElwain said the towns need good signs and there will be a report for the next council.
Foster said all the comments are good ideas, and said the township might need to consider ways to get store employees to park away from the downtown so spaces are left for customers.
Someone asked a question on the economy.
Foster said there is no doubt that taxes are high. He said development charges are so high that it could cost developers up to $100,000 before they buy land or put a shovel in the ground. He said the charge is $8.26 per square foot and that is too high.
He believes the high development charges are “why we’re getting little business development.”
Ross-Zuj said there is a choice with development charges. Either the developer pays, or residential taxpayers pay to make up for that lost cash.
“It has always been my belief that we do not subsidize developers’ profits on the backs of the taxpayers,” she said.
Marty Van Vliet asked if the township is ever going to restore the Victoria Street pedestrian bridge.
Ross-Zuj said it is on the list of top ten projects to do, and she admitted “It is sorely missed.”
She is looking for partnerships to help pay that cost.
Van Grootheest said there should be no new walking bridge unless the township can find money it can use from another project in the budget. He said the township should do projects as it can afford them.
Rice said the priority for that bridge is “very high,” and partnerships might be the best way to get the funding.
Linton said citizens want to reduce spending, and council should determine what they want. “If we have a top ten list, I’d like to see it.”
McElwain said the bridge has been a problem since a proposed development plan fell through. He, too, said the township has to find a partnership to get the bridge rebuilt.
Dan Wright asked who paid for the roundabout at the top end of Metcalfe Street.
Ross-Zuj said that was a county project and the county paid for it.
Wright then asked why a house in Woolwich Township’s rural area is the same size as his, but the owner pays half the taxes.
Ross-Zuj said, “You’ve answered your own question. It’s rural.”
Wayne Garvin asked about the Bissell Park project.
Foster said he did not support it. “It made no sense to make a new theatre or rink there.”
Ross-Zuj said the question is moot because that project is “off the table” because the township would do it only with grants, and those applications were denied.
