Some Centre Wellington councillors might still like the idea of a community radio station, but they made it clear on Monday the not-for-profit operation is really on its own.
Centre Wellington received approval from the Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission for a community radio station, but council simply endorsed the group’s application.
When Economic Development Officer Dave Rushton presented his strategic plan to the committee of the whole on June 13, some councillors had concerns over the item that stated, “Establish a community radio station The Grand@92.9.”
Councillor Mary Lloyd said the station is being run by a not-for-profit group but, “It sounds like us.”
Rushton had been a part of that group, but eventually withdrew from being on the station’s board. He told Lloyd and council, “I’ve been working on it for two-and-a-half years as part of my job.”
He said if the station appears to be in line for ongoing funding “take it off” the list.
Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj said, “This is not the municipality establishing a radio station. The township only sent a letter of support to the CRTC.”
Rushton said the radio group did partner with the Chamber of Commerce for the past 18 months, but the group had worked the previous year before that for a station.
Ross-Zuj, though, made it clear the station is on its own. “It’s an outside organization,” she said.
Lloyd said of Rushton’s including it in the strategic plan, “It looks like support from council.”
A section of the strategic plan immediately following the radio station recommendation was that economic development organize and plan a corporate communication plan for the township.
Ross-Zuj said that would involve TV and print, and “not just radio.” She said council should change the radio station recommendation to ensure the township uses all the communication tools available to it.
Rushton said the station was the “creation of a channel of communication we did not have available.”
Councillor Walt Visser has been opposed to a number of proposals from the economic development department. He told council, “I’ve been trying to keep quiet about this for some time.”
Then, he added, “There are two Newspapers [in the township] working very hard to stay afloat. I’m concerned how it looks to two Newspapers.”
He said it looks like the township is sponsoring the radio station.
Visser added there are a lot of people in the community who have talked to him about the station, and they have major questions about it, and council’s involvement.
Councillor Kelly Linton said the township’s relationship “could be seen as a partnership.”
But, Lloyd told him, “Be careful of ‘partnership’.”
Ross-Zuj said the township could support “a tool of communication, but it has to be separate from the township. This township is not doing this radio station.”
Linton then stated he had concerns about Rushton’s second recommendation about corporate communications.
“We have a pretty broad scope already,” he said. He wondered who should actually head the corporate communications.
Ross-Zuj said council is currently preparing a corporate strategic plan, and the radio station and the corporate communications strategy should be included there.
She said it will be up to council to see how they fit in, and who runs them.
Councillor Kirk McElwain said his concern is that someone must oversee the communication issues, and currently that is economic development. He said he wants to make sure that issue does not get lost.
Ross-Zuj said there had been some difficulty seeing where communication fits into the corporate structure.
Councillor Steve Vanleeuwen said council is trying to see if there is a need, and he, too, does not want the issue lost.
Ross-Zuj agreed and said economic development can promote a corporate communications plan for the township.
Council then approved the plan. Councillor Fred Morris was absent.
In question period, the mayor said there has been no discussion about hiring a communications officer for the township.
