-by Hub staff

The City of Owen Sound is hosting a public forum Monday, May 9 to give the public a look at the 63 recommendations from its Service Review.
Although the city's website says the forum scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Harry Lumley Bayshore is to "discuss Council's approach to explore service delivery", the evening will not include any public give-and-take with councillors or staff according to City Manager Wayne Ritchie. When he outlined the format at last Monday's council meeting, inviting councillors to attend, Ritchie said it would include a presentation of the recommendations, followed by an opportunity for attendees to speak individually about issues of interest with senior staff at tables around the room.
According to the city's website, the Service Review intends to

• Optimize operations while maintaining/improving quality of life.
• Enhance services for operational efficiency, and possible financial improvement.
• Offer services citizens value, at a level they require, in a cost-effective and efficient manner.

An online survey and paper comment cards are more specific – the City is "investigating options to amend services to reduce taxpayer costs."
For the past month, the cards have been available at city buildings, including the library and Rec Centre as well as the water treatment plant and cemetery office, and like the online survey, they ask for an opinion on twelve issues. Six are about recreation, parks and special events, three ask about the conduct of the next municipal election, and one each concern public works, the airport, and user fees for seniors groups.

Transit, city hall renovations, and the harbour divestment are not part of this survey.
While the Service Review was started in late March with meetings open to the public, many say they are hearing about measures like possible park closures for the first time. They want an opportunity to have a full discussion with those most impacted, and an opportunity to develop alternatives. Other cost-saving possibilities, like changes at the airport, will require input from other levels of government regardless of public opinion.
There has not been any announcement about whether the Chamber of Commerce, Public Health, Georgian College, the hospital, Public Health, the Poverty Task Force or the two Boards of Education are being specifically invited to participate in the public consultation process.

According to the city's timeline, Council will meet August 10 and 11 to "make final decisions about enhancing municipal services", followed by a final public forum on September 7 to "discuss the final decisions".