Council here remains reluctant to sign on to a plan to share a source water risk management official (RMO) with other Wellington County municipalities, despite assurances the county will be funding the position on an ongoing basis.
Council defeated a motion at its June 11 meeting to support a proposal that would see Centre Wellington recruit an RMO to service all seven lower tier municipalities, with the cost of the position funded by the county.
The risk management position is mandatory for all municipalities beginning in 2013 under the provincial government’s Clean Water Act.
At the March 5 council meeting, CAO Patty Sinnamon reported on a proposal that would see the county temporarily fund a risk management official, who would be officially employed by Centre Wellington, but would provide service to all seven municipalities.
Council declined to approve the proposal at that meeting, after councillor Mike Downey expressed concerns the county was only committed to funding the program through 2013 and part of 2014.
At the June 11 meeting, Sinnamon recommended acceptance of the proposal in light of correspondence from county planning director Gary Cousins indicating the county now intends to fund the RMO position on an ongoing basis.
“All other lower tier municipalities have now endorsed the proposal put forward by Centre Wellington.
“Given the assurance of the county to continue funding the position, it would now be appropriate for Mapleton to also support the proposal,” Sinnamon stated.
However councillor Neil Driscoll expressed concern there was no information provided on potential costs of a risk management official.
“So we have no idea what this person could cost us?” he asked.
“There is no cost to us,” said Mayor Bruce Whale, stressing the county was funding the position 100 per cent.
However, Driscoll noted, local taxpayers would still be paying for the position through their county taxes.
Pressed for more specific information on the cost of the RMO position, Whale responded, “I really don’t know and I don’t think the county knows.”
Whale said the position would be reviewed after the first year “and we might find out we need one person for three counties.”
Whale pointed out municipalities are mandated to have an RMO, “and the object of the county is to have one so each individual municipality doesn’t have to go out and hire one on their own.”
Sinnamon explained the position would be full-time, requiring specialized training, “probably an engineer.” She noted the RMO position would provide comments on development proposals potentially affecting source water, similar to the way the county planning department comments on local development.
“As soon as you say specialist and engineer I think Sunshine Club,” said Driscoll, in reference to the list of public sector employees making over $100,000 per year that the province makes public annually.
With his concerns about ongoing funding answered, Downey was supportive of the proposal to share an official. He pointed out that declining to participate could mean Mapleton taxpayers will be paying for an RMO they are not using.
“If we opt to go on our own and the other six municipalities decide to go ahead with it, we’re still paying for that. If it’s going to cost $80,000 (for an RMO), that $80,000 is going to be spread out across Wellington County and then if we have to spend another $20,000 (to hire a separate RMO) that $20,000 will have to be raised locally,” he explained.
A motion to support the revised proposal was defeated by a 3-1 vote.
Councillors Jim Curry. Andy Knetsch and Driscoll were opposed, while only Downey voted in favour of the resolution.
Whale agreed to seek more information on proposed costs of the position, including a salary range.
