Joint municipal service deal extended
How the city and county share the cost of jointly delivered municipal services will not change in 2019 after Peterborough County councillors voted to extend the term of the existing agreement by one year on Wednesday.
Earlier this summer, the joint services steering committee recommended extending the deal – approved by both councils in 2013 – from Dec. 31, 2018 to Dec.
31, 2019. All existing cost-sharing formulas will be maintained.
This will provide staff with time to review the agreement and to update population figures reflecting growth in the county, CAO Troy Speck said.
The deal, which will be revisited and updated next year, governs joint services such as paramedics, social services and provincial offences.
County Council got the ball rolling on the extension earlier this year after Speck highlighted the agreement in his 100-day report. Senior-level personnel changes at the county and city and the looming election were
also a factor, he said.
Councillors briefly discussed the matter during the first county council meeting held at the new Agricultural Heritage Building at Lang Pioneer Village.
Previous annual meetings at the site took place in the muchsmaller smaller S.W. Lowry Weaver Shop and Jacquard Loom Interpretive Centre.
Coun. Ron Gerow said he hopes the province will provide clarity on certain issues, because Ontario is such an important funding partner in several areas. He assumes some programs will be changed and warned of possible downloading.
Coun. John Fallis asked if it would be worth hiring an economist to analyze the agreement, but Speck said a staff report will provide the costs of each possible formula.
Coun. Karl Moher caused the use of an economist, pointing out that one recommended the single-tier government that led to the creation of the City of Kawartha Lakes – an amalgamation of 18 former municipalities.
“We have to be very, very cautious on that sort of front,” he said.
J. Murray Jones reiterated what Moher said, urging caution to avoid “a nightmare.”
Warden Joe Taylor said he is confident both the city and county will find middle ground that is right for both sides.
“There is no reason to believe otherwise … these issues will be discussed by both councils at length before any changes are made,” Taylor said.
The deal was first created in 1998 and amended in 2008 and 2013.
Donation cleans up causeway
Frank Cowan Co. regional manager Viano Ciaglia and Stewart Morrison Insurance Brokers president Marlene Morrison Nicholls presented a $5,500 cheque to Taylor during a delegation to Wednesday’s meeting.
The funding for the Clean Marine Program supported county efforts including the installation of new signage and enlistment of bylaw enforcement staff for the James A. Gifford Causeway between Ennismore and Bridgenorth.
United Way launches campaign
United Way of Peterborough and District CEO Jim Russell introduced campaign chairwoman Megan Murphy to county councillors on Wednesday in a delegation that followed the official launch of the agency’s annual community campaign.
This year’s theme is Love Local, which is emblazoned on large mittens that are being used to represent the effort – which has a goal of $1.85 million.
Murphy also spoke about the launch of 50 People. 1 Peterborough, a video project in which subjects at the Peterborough Exhibition were asked about what worries them.