-by Jon Farmer
In the absence of the Hub's Editor, I sat in on Owen Sound council and made the following observations:
The majority of councilors arrived dressed down to look cool in the heat. I've never seen so many delightfully ugly shirts on elected officials.
•First the City Council checked its mail:
-A letter from the provincial Ministry of Transportation letting the city know that money will be available for road construction through the Connecting Links Program. Council quizzed the Director of Operations and City Manager to find out more about the program. Councilor McManaman asked if retaining walls might qualify – citing 10th street. Councilor Lemon asked if the province would want special control over the roads its money helped to build.
-A letter from Tweed asking for money to help with their recent flooding disaster. Council unanimously declined, citing insufficient funds and our failure to raise disaster relief from the province. The Deputy Mayor suggested we decline politely.
-An invitation from the Grey Sauble Conservation Authority inviting councilors to attend a September bus tour to better know Grey Sauble properties and programs.
•The Manager of Economic Development and Tourism presented a report summarizing the Harbour Divestiture Process. The Manager presented a map outlining the Federally owned portions of the Owen Sound Harbour which are small and divided. The largest and apparently most useful parcel is currently leased for soccer fields. Transport Canada's divestiture program seems generally confusing and council appeared leary of assuming liability along with the parcels of land. The City is moving forward with the divestiture process following 7 established principles, however participation does not equal buying the harbor.
•The City Manager presented Owen Sound's new Strategic Plan. It features "new and improved" goals and measurable outcomes that he assured Council would in fact be measured annually.
-The Mayor was happy with public participation rates.
-The Deputy Mayor lamented that the plan is too much of a good news story and not enough of a challenge. The City Manager responded that while the start of the report describes what is currently going well, the end of the report digs down into direct challenges.
-Councillor Grieg hoped that the reports would be more than a formality and proposed a motion that staff report on the successes and failures of the 2012 Strategic plan. The motion was defeated with various other councilors suggesting staff time be better spent looking forward and correcting a process with which Council was evidently disappointed.
•The By-law Coordinator presented a report on the City's granting policy
-Councillor Thomas moved an amendment that all recipients of City grants of $5,000 or more be required to submit basic financial information. After some debate Council adjusted the amount to $3,000 and passed the motion.
•The By-law Coordinator presented a report on the Municipal Elections Act Review including 3rd party advertisement regulations and a clear explanation of ranked ballot systems. The Deputy Mayor suggested an amendment to clarify plebiscites.
•The Director of Community Services proposed that Council extend what is proving to be an effective Community Improvement Plan.
•Council approved a historical reenactment group's request to use City land for a camp while recreating voyageur trading routes.
•The Fall Fair requested noise by-law exceptions and requested alcohol permitting.
•Update by Councillor Thomas
-The Library's transition to an integrated customer service model is receiving positive reviews
-The Library needs to waterproof the elevator shaft
•Update by Councillor O'Leary
-The Fire Services Committee is trying to sell a problem-plagued mini-pumper and replace it with a truck that will fulfill all the current uses (towing stuff around) of the mini-pumper.
•Councillor Lemon described his time touring the area with descendants of the City's namesake Admiral Owen. Summary: the descendants enjoyed themselves.
•Councillor Grieg made Council aware of a funding program for cycling infrastructure that may fund road repair and expansion, moving that staff research the program and submit an expression of interest if appropriate.
•The Mayor updated Council following a meeting with provincial representatives seeking money to help fund the frozen water main repairs. The meeting was unsuccessful, putting the costs "back on to the backs of the tax payers".
•Council awarded a single pencil and package of tic-tacs as an award to the ugliest novelty shirt. The award went to Councillor McManaman who was dressed in a tasteful suit.
