Dissolution of economic development corporation moves ahead

Fort Erie report outlines timeline to bring service in-house

Plans are underway to formally dissolve the Fort Erie’s economic development and tourism corporation and bring its functions back to town hall.

Town politicians received a report staff report during the corporate and community services committee portion of Monday’s council-in-committee meeting. The report laid out the timeline for the wind down of Fort Erie Economic Development and Tourism Corp. and dealt with everything from the fate of the arms-length agency’s staff to its lease for the Garrison Road office to what to do with office equipment and more.

But the report wasn’t given councillors’ stamp of approval without some concerns expressed by some around the horseshoe, most notably Ward 5 Coun. Don Lubberts.

He expressed concern about several items, including the plan to hire the current contingent of two full-time staff from the corporation. He said he thought the positions should be open to competition.

But chief administrative officer Tom Kuchyt said it is he who is responsible for hiring and firing staff and that he was comfortable with bringing in the current staff of two, plus a third employee hired on a short-term contract that ends Dec. 31, the date the corporation will cease to exist.

“(Current staff) are doing a fabulous job and we will be putting together a job offer,” he said.

But Lubberts wasn’t convinced.

“A lot of people in this town are looking for jobs and there may be people who are more qualified.”

But Kuchyt said there is no town policy that dictates there must be an open competition.

“We’re assuming these individuals will be accepting these positions.”

Ward 6 Coun. Ann-Marie Noyes asked Kuchyt if the wind down of the agency has begun.

“We’ve been working with the

general manager,” Kuchyt said. “This is our first kick at the can for some things that need to be dealt with.”

Council voted last December to terminate a memorandum of understanding with the agency and bring in a consultant who would look at what would be the best method for the town to receive services the EDTC provided.

At its meeting on June 17, council decided not to proceed with negotiating a new memorandum of understanding (MOA) with the arms-length agency despite a consultant’s report findings that maintaining the status quo with changes to the MOA would be the best option. Instead, council asked Kuchyt to come back with the report outlining the steps that the town will need to take to bring economic development and tourism services back to town hall.

That is the report councillors discussed on Monday. It was also something Mayor Wayne Redekop supported.

“I’m very much approve of the guidelines we’ve got here in the report,” he said.

Ward 2 Coun. Nick Dubanow, who in the past had expressed support for the EDTC remaining a separate entity, agreed with the mayor.

“I personally may have done things differently, but now we have to work to make sure this is the best option for the Town of Fort Erie,” he said.

The town’s economic development initiatives have been handled by the corporation since it was created in 1992. The decision to terminate the MOA brings an end to the sometimes contentious relationship between council and the agency — particularly when the EDTC was under the guidance of former general manager Jim Thibert.

During his tenure, Thibert found himself at odds with some members of council, most notably Noyes, who has been pressing for more transparency at the agency.

In addition to hearing the timetable for the wind down of services, council also directed staff to prepare a report with recommendations on the creation of a terms of reference for an economic development and tourism advisory committee.