Wellington North mayoral candidates faced off recently with incumbent mayor Broom-head is once more seeking the mayor’s position.
“I enjoy every opportunity to be involved in our great community.”
His introduction focussed on his 21 consecutive years in municipal politics and the accomplishments over those years.
He noted the high success of council in obtaining additional funds for various infrastructure projects.
Because of that, Broomhead maintained council was able to achieve much without putting an unnecessary strain on taxpayers.
“Our community is strong, vibrant and moving forward. Continuity counts.”
He said he would be proud to continue as an ambassador “for this outstanding community.”
Ross Chaulk
Chaulk, too has considerable experience at the council table, having served 11 years as a municipal councillor.
“I believe that change is required,” Chaulk said.
Chaulk commented on his ties to both the Arthur and Mount Forest communities.
“It helps to give me a township wide perspective on the issues. The Township of Wellington North is a multi-million dollar business. It is time the township was run like a business.”
His priorities include a business plan, debt repayments, fiscal responsibility, and openness in government.
He proposed that in addition to the annual debt payment, that any year-end municipal surplus also be applied towards debt repayment.
Chaulk maintained that if the debt is repaid quickly, there is the potential to save hundreds of thousands of dollars in interest charges.
Janice Lewis
Lewis welcomed members of Canada’s Most Patriotic Village.
“I believe Arthur is the economic doorway to our success.”
She wants to see an enhanced downtown business sector, stating that small and medium sized businesses are the engines of the Canadian economy.
Lewis said the municipality needs to support industry as well, to create more jobs.
She also wants to see the creation of more jobs for both youth and adults.
Lewis also advocated the municipality acting as a liaison to protect agricultural lands as well.
She also advocated a residential and business tax refunds to stimulate investment and growth, although no mention was provided as to where the money for those refunds would originate.
Ray Tout
Tout offered his candidacy for mayor “because I believe we can make Wellington North a better place.”
He said he has a proven record of leadership, financial experience, and bringing people together.
“Leadership is more than just holding the top job. It is about listening, communicating, and taking action on the issues that matter.”
His job involves helping people manage their finances. “These are the skills we need to bring fiscal responsibility to this municipality.”
Tout also said he had a proven record of bringing people together.
“Only through open and clear dialogue with our municipal employees and all the citizens of Wellington North will we find a solution to the challenges ahead.
Questions and answers
Mayoral candidates were asked for their opinions regarding the ongoing issue of the Wilson Quarry near Monck, currently under an Ontario Municipal Board appeal.
Tout said the Wilson Quarry is a proposal to extract limestone from a quarry in Monck.
“This issue has gone on for many years,” Tout said.
He believed a decision on this is still pending.
“I have serious concerns about the impact on local residents and the impact on the Luther Marsh, which is one of the province’s most significant wetlands.”
Lewis agreed that this is a significant wetland and one of the largest such wetlands in southern Ontario.
She believed if the quarry goes ahead, it will cause disruptions to the ecosystem.
“The Luther Marsh must exist.”
Chaulk stated “Unfortunately, the province wants gravel – no doubt about it.”
But, he explained, this proposal is at the OMB stage.
Chaulk suggested if this proposal had been initially brought forward during the current term of council, things would be different.
The problem, Chaulk said, is that the proposal has been grandfathered from a long time ago, and that is why it has taken so long to wind its way through the system.
“We all have concerns, but I greatly fear that at the end of the day, the province will just steamroll this through and it will happen. We have concerns, but we have no control over what will happen.”
Of the quarry issue, Broomhead said the council of the day did not believe the proper studies were undertaken. He explained that the proponents were unhappy with council’s response, “They bypassed us and went directly to an OMB hearing.”
For that reason, Broomhead said it is a touchy issue to take a stand, since he will be involved in that case.
However, “I will take a stand that we need to look after our environment and that it is a significant wetland area.”
What should be cut?
Mayoral candidates were asked what items or programs could be cut to bring costs down, or what items or programs should be added.
Broomhead contended the thing to be considered is not necessarily a specific line within the budget. “What we need is to have a good solid plan in place to pay back the debt. There’s many ways we can do that.”
But he agreed there is a need to pay down that debt.
“We need to move on to enhance our community, but we needed to have the infrastructure in place.”
He maintained the projects are not frivolous, with some replacing infrastructure 40 to 50 years old.
Broomhead used the example in Arthur of council setting aside money for the creation of a new sewage effluent pond. He said there is also over $1-million in reserves to purchase industrial lands.
Chaulk said the part of the budget that concerns him the most is the debt. He explained the two biggest expenses in the municipality are recreation and public works.
“If you are going to run a fiscal household, then you have to watch what you spend. That means we’ll have to look very carefully at both recreation and roads in the future.”
He said that could mean instead of buying new equipment, it may need to look at making the existing equipment last a bit longer.
Lewis skirted the question with a response that the municipality needs to encourage, rather than discourage building.
“We need as many taxpayers as we can afford, without changing the concept of small town community; therefore we would still have all the services we require.”
She contended one of the problems is a stagnant population, and thinking outside the box is required.
She believed economic development should move a little faster and a little wiser than in the past.
Tout said long and short term priorities are needed to deal with the budget.
Those priorities, he said, must be consistent with those in the community.
Another priority is to present that information in plain language “and let the people have their say. What we need is a plan, priorities and a clear vision of what we want to do – and what we can afford – in this community.”
