Questions were as varied as the candidates answering them at the sportplex in Wellington North Township here on Sept. 30.
With four wards, plus three or four candidates in most wards, little time was on the slate for candidates to present platforms for the years ahead, and answer questions from the audience.
It was the answers that gave residents a glimpse into how candidates see similar issues.
Ward One
In the running are Derek Bridgwater, Shawn McLeod, and incumbent Dan Yake
With taxes having risen higher than the rate of inflation, and the township debt at a record level, what approach would you take to bring taxes down for all?
Yake said over the past few years, Wellington North was very fortunate being able to take advantage of federal and provincial monies.
“That money is no longer going to be available, so over the next few years, council is going to have to watch its spending, and just keep it under control.”
Bridgwater said council needs to have a capital plan, with public input and open up the bank accounts for council and the public to make those decisions.
McLeod said “I’ve always tried my very best to live within my means – and I think council needs to learn the same thing. That’s what we’ll do.”
Do you feel the current ward system is effective, or should council consider moving to elections at large?
McLeod said “I think the ward system guarantees a balance between the two communities, and I think that balance is a good idea so that it doesn’t seem to be one-sided.”
He said “If one side feels the other has more representation, it will cause nothing but harm.”
Bridgwater’s response is to keep the status quo.
Yake said the ward system needs to be looked at and adjusted. But, he said, that is something all of council and the community needs to consider.
He said one of the most frequent questions he’s had over the past few weeks is “What ward do I live in?”
That is why Yake said some adjustments are needed.
Ward Two
Ward Two are Sherry Burke, Ron Forrest, and Steve Leask.
If you were elected would you want to institute user fees for non-residents using local Sports facilities?
“Absolutely not,” said Leask. “Our community centres are meant for one thing, and that is our community.”
He said local fundraising committees need to come together.
“We need to keep the costs down. Let me make it clear, I’m proud of what council has done before, but maybe we need to make it a little more efficient, more productive and deal with the costs involved.”
Forrest responded that if the individuals are not taxpayers and want to use local facilities, “I would definitely say there should be some sort of fee charged.”
Burke agreed with Forrest.
“If you are not a taxpayer in this municipality, I do not believe it should be the burden of the ratepayers of Wellington North to support the use of our Sports complex et cetera on an ongoing basis.”
What would you do to attract more industry, and maintain the business that Wellington North does have?
Burke said because she sits on the economic development committee, she is aware someone was recently hired to develop a report about business retention.
She also believes a review of development charges would assist in bringing industries to Wellington North.
Forrest said “If I was elected to council, jobs will not come to us, nor will industry come to us – we have to go after it.”
He recommended a specific committee be created, “And if we have to go out of the country to attract jobs, we go out of the country – to bring the jobs and industry to Mount Forest – the infrastructure is all set for it. And Arthur.”
Leask agreed with the other candidates.
“We need to look at the development costs. We need to draw some jobs into this town.”
Leask also proposed tax breaks over a limited number of years, but also to make sure that when that time is up, “They don’t just jump ship and move elsewhere.”
Ward Three
In the running are Kevin Bodz, Mark Goetz, and Lisa Hern.
What would you do to help businesses in your ward?
Hern said part of the answer is possibly decreasing some of the development charges, but ensuring the infrastructure is there.
“I know there is a number of ag businesses that would love to come to Wellington North, but need us to bring in the infrastructure.
Goetz said one of the factors is, “We need to support our local businesses ourselves and not expect everyone else to support them.”
He added that other municipalities have programs in place to support local business.
Bodz believed the municipality has some of the means in place to attract people to the area. He suggested part of the answer might be to give them the funds or resources to attract more people and businesses to the area.
Have you any ideas how to make Wellington North feel more amalgamated or unified?
“Ideas – no,” but Bodz then cited the example of the high school closure in Arthur.
“It may sound bad, but my kids have really enjoyed the friendships they’ve made with the kids from the other areas. I don’t know how you can make this any better.”
Goetz said this was one of the reasons he is running, “to bring all the communities in Wellington North together.”
“There is a bit of a divide still, and it needs to be brought together.”
Hern offered the approach that “the answer is strong leadership and accessibility. The unity, with the leadership and being accessible to listen to people, it all comes from the people.”
Ward Four
In the running are Barry Dishart, George Johnstone, Andy Lennox, and incumbent John Matusinec.
With poverty levels in Wellington North increasing immensely with the past few years, and costs such as rent, and transportation skyrocketting, what would you propose to do to help these people survive in this economy?
Dishart said, “I’m afraid unfortunately with the way of the whole economy, poverty is not just an issue in Wellington North, it’s across the world. Poverty is an issue we’re all going to have to address.
“The $12 per hour jobs that are there do not take into account for the $25 per hour jobs that used to be there. So we have to work within our means.”
Johnstone, too, agreed he was not sure it is something that can be solved at a municipal level.
“There is no easy way,” but he said bringing in and attracting business would, in turn, bring more jobs.
Matusinec agreed that while it is not a municipal problem, “The biggest thing we can do as a municipality is support our food banks and service clubs.”
Lennox agreed, “Poverty is a very serious issue for our communities and for the people affected by it. Unfortunately with our local municipality, we have very few tools to aid in poverty. We do need to provide space for the food banks and try to facilitate those groups that are working to help those in need.”
What is your stance on development charges?
“My stance on development charges is that I believe they are a necessary evil in our municipality,” Lennox said.
At the same time, he believes they should be looked at carefully, to ensure the municipality remains competitive “and that we’re not pricing ourselves out of the marketplace.”
Matusinec said, “They are definitely necessary. Anything not collected or supported through development charges goes onto the tax bill.”
Without those charges the costs for development end up on the taxpayer.
Johnstone too, believed that development charges are necessary, but they need to be reviewed.
Dishart suggested that while unfortunately development charges are here, he questions why they could not be used as any other tool, and perhaps lowered to entice new business to the community.
