The all candidates’ meeting here on Sept. 29 offered over 150 residents the opportunity to hear presentations for candidates in Wards 3, 4, 5, and 6 in Centre Wellington Township.
Each candidate was given a set amount of time for an introduction and to state a platform.
Ward 3
This is the largest race for a ward council seat since Centre Wellington was formed, with four candidates.
Frederick De Vries told the audience he has travelled all over the world and, “We are the envy of a lot of places.”
De Vries hates the idea of high taxes and being in debt. “That’s gotta change,” he said.
But he wants a reality check approach to spending promises.
“Let’s all be realistic,” he said. “Be very careful when someone suggests we can cut services and save taxes. Do the math. We need more than a platform of tax and slash.
De Vries said council will have at least three new members after the election, and the downtown needs to be revitalized. “We need more than spit and polish.”
Candidate Vinnie Green has been chairman of the township’s planning advisory committee. The most important issue is to reduce taxes in 2011.
He stated the economic development department and parks and recreation department have issues. Parks and recreation runs a $450,000 deficit at the Sportsplex and economic development spends up to $600,000
Green said council needs to undertake an economic forum, and commercial and industrial development charges drive away business. Since charges that are reduced or not collected at all end up being paid by residents, he offered a way of easing the burden on them – having them paid in installments instead of the full amount up front before building permits are issued.
He said PetroCanada has left the community with two eyesores in Fergus and Elora, and the community should seek compensation.
Mary Lloyd told the audience she loves Fergus “from top to bottom.”
She said she was named Citizen-of-the-Year in 2009 and decided then she would run for council to give back to the community.
She is concerned about the termite issue and is concerned about high business taxes. She said, “I see what’s happening to those storefronts” and council should determine what keeps the successful stores operating.
Lloyd said it is time the promised hospital is brought to the community, and noted the seniors’ centre is bursting at the seams with activity.
She said it is time council addresses “soft services.”
Jeremy Vink lives in Ward 3 and has a degree in urban and regional planning.
He is concerned with the downtown and said it needs to be made stronger, and council can help make a better com–munity. “We’re at this cusp,” he said.
He heard lots of concerns about how things are going in the township, and, “I understand the concerns of spending.”
He would work with business and look at the long term.
“We have to do wise spending,” he concluded.
Ward 4
Ward 4 Incumbent Fred Morris said the township is a “strong and vibrant community,” and council has dealt with arts and culture, rural issues, economic growth, and development.
He said he has “a positive and consistent record for working with residents to protect heritage and natural landscapes, safe roads and bridges, and clean water.”
Morris said of provincial cuts, “We could be facing a revenue shortfall of $700,000, which is “a serious problem. This is where experience is going to count. I will do everything in my power to avoid passing on the shortfall.”
Jason Weeks described the new ward boundaries and cited his education in computers plus his role as a volunteer and coach in the Fergus Elora District Soccer.
He is “a frustrated taxpayer” and is concerned over the current council’s denial of “a spending problem,” which he said, is “a bit insulting to be told otherwise. I plan to cut wasteful spending.”
He concluded “Centre Wellington has one of the biggest tax rates in all of Canada.”
Ward 5
Candidate John Ortt said he would run council “like a business. It is a business.”
He said a threatened short–fall of $700,000 in provincial grants “is not a lot of money to cut out of a budget.”
He concluded, “We’ve got a spending problem in this township. Vote John Ortt for change.”
Incumbent councillor Walt Visser said there are lots of complaints about frivolous spending in Centre Wellington, but only one candidate has ac–tually asked to see the budget.
He has worked full time for the last ten years on council, and it has set up five- and ten-year forecasts and done strategic planning for each department. He cited a large number of road and bridge projects that have been completed over the last year alone, plus sidewalks, his work to get the Russell building reopened as a thriving business in the Fergus downtown to attract people
He cited his success on the doctor recruitment committee to recruit health professionals to the community, with success in double digits, and said Fergus has the only medical clinic in the county that is paid for “by doctors – not the taxpayer.”
Ward 6
Steven VanLeeuwen said he owns a business and is well aware of revenue and expenses in order to be successful.
“I feel I understand the needs of the people,” he said. “You can hold me accountable.”
He said there are differences between “needs and wants.”
Mike Wisniewski said he is “ready to serve.” He cited his experience on the Chamber of Commerce, and at the Centre Wellington Food Bank.
He said he lives in the ward, and at council, he would insist on recorded votes so people know where everyone stands.
Ward 3
The chamber of commerce said people shop where the work and asked how councillors would attract jobs so people would shop here.
De Vries said the council should revitalize the downtown and not reject big box stores. He wants the downtown to become a meeting place.
Green said the township doesn’t “attract business very well. He said people in the 20 to 40 age group are the ones that spend, but are also the first to be laid off. He would like to attract a college, and improve transportation, such as busses.
Lloyd said local jobs do not necessarily mean residents will hold them because people are used to driving everywhere. She said tourists travel four to six hours to come to the community, and various at–tractions bring people to the downtown, but there is a disconnect.
“You need customers for success,” she said.
Vink said he could not disagree with any of the state–ments, but noted the issue has gone on in downtown Fergus for ten years.
He said one way to attract people to the downtown is the be careful what uses are allowed outside of town.
Ward 4
Morris said it is not just the downtown. He voted in favour of the purchase of Templin Gardens off the main street, a
“prime property and trail system.” He said now that it is public land, council can turn it into a “gathering place.”
He added the township has sold 30 acres of industrial land, and is now considering buying another 50 to encourage new business and expansion. “This council has worked very hard,” he said.
Weeks said it is easy to attract people to the community because “Mother nature did it.”
He said small business is “doing a great job” but there are “a heck of a lot of for sale signs.” He blames high taxes.
He added high fees against business means they are not creating jobs. “It bugs me people say we don’t have a tax issue.”
Ward 5
John Ortt said buying Templin Gardens for $70,000 was “frivolous spending” and the township pays too much in interest on its debt.
Visser said council has done a lot.
He cited his work on the Fergus Business Improvement Association, sign programs for business, the Fergus Elora Ratepayers Association and Savour Fergus Elora. He added the township is trying to attract knowledge based jobs, and people are also considering a radio station.
Ward 6
Vanleeuwen said he sees a lot of small business sector people come through his business. When he asks what brought them here, it was a job. Why do they move? For a job.
He said business cannot afford development charges.
Wisniewski said township spending should “respect the taxpayer.” He added it is necessary to encourage private development.
Final statements
In the final statements, each candidate was allowed to sum up his platform.
Ward 6
Wisniewski said, “Taxpayers don’t have bottomless pockets.”
Vanleeuwen said “Decisions need to be gone over with a fine tooth comb.”
Ward 5
Visser said people know his record. “I’ve always spoken up for you. I always get you an answer.”
Ortt said, “We still have a spending problem.” He then challenged each councillor to give up one year’s council salary to help pay down the township debt.
Ward 4
Weeks said he has fought the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation successfully twice to reduce his taxes, but they are still twice as much as they were seven years ago. “There’s a spending problem.”
Morris had one of the fieriest conclusions. He said there seems to be “two very different visions” being presented by candidates. He said government has changed with many more demands on it by the province, and, “Do not be fooled by illogical thinking … The simplistic methods of the past will not work in the present.”
He added the “spending problem” that he hears are “vague, one-off incidences.” He said there have been repeated complaints about the roundabout in Elora, but “Not a single tax dollar paid to Centre Wellington has gone into that project. How can you trust this township to those whose minds are closed off?”
Ward 3
Vink said there seems to be a lot of issues and a lot of “miscommunications” and “People don’t know where it’s going.”
He said people will need to work together, “And I know how things work.” He said he will try to find solutions to make a better community.
Lloyd said the community is just outside the Greater Toronto Area and needs to get ready for a large amount of growth. She said council will need to “control taxes and be mindful of services. She promised to visit residents in the ward once a year if elected to hear their concerns.
Green said he has seen the township books, and with all the forced spending, “There is no way to balance the books in 2011.” He noted Morris, as budget chief, has watched spending.
“You can make false promises – it was $3-million the other night. The affect on the tax rate would be 0.5%.
DeVries said he does not know “the exact truth” about all the claims, but, he said, “Sometimes the answers aren’t what we ant them to be.” He said he would work with everyone to get the right answers.
