Ramara Councilors Not Really Interested in Reform

The sound of silence was deafening on April 23rd. at Council's Committee meeting when Councilor Neher opened discussions from Staff Report CD-17-07 regarding Long Term Initiatives. For a moment you could hear the sounds of the peeping frogs outside.

This silence was due to the majority of the members at the head table were uncertain what exactly the report was for, and the implications on how it will affect them. Getting this item onto the agenda was championed by Clr. Neher, and I believe to be one of the smartest actions of this current council. This change marks a reform in way things should be done, and like all change, most participants in the process are hesitant to embrace reforms, until they can see the benefits, of the reform.

Members of council should see this reform as a means for them to regain control of the legislative process back from unelected municipal staffers. Township Clerk Richard Bates, who authored the about report understands what these reform mean and sees the threat to his ability to control the council. His ability to define township priorities could be removed from his exclusive domain.

The Clerk's ability to the control what and when councilors access key information, is the source of his greatest power. By releasing key data in bits and pieces, haphazardly, Richard Bates manipulated the members of council into approving the tendering the Brechin Sewer Project before all the facts have been given to ratepayers, at a public forum.

In defining Long Term Priorities council regains control of the legislative agenda. In doing so elected officials, who are beholden to their constituents, can establish the priorities for the township, rather then the current system where unelected staffers appear to be in control.

Hear are some ideas that councilors could investigate, which currently don’t appear to be priorities for municipal staff:

•Public Participation: Identify and remove barriers to participation / Promote the input of ratepayers

•Funding Alternatives: Why has Ramara been so poor in securing Upper Level Grants and funding? / How does Ramara compare with other adjacent municipalities? / How can township generate revenue?

•Communication: Current methods don’t notify ratepayers, so that citizens have not participated in developing policy

•Risk Assessment: What are the potential liabilities to the township / Who is responsible for maintaining things like culverts?

•Work Practices & Policy Statements: Review or Established guidelines/methods/standards for the flow if information so that billings occur in a time (ie Emerg Sevices billing after 60 days) (ie wait times standards)

I have highlighted just of few concerns of ratepayers that have come before council meetings I have attended. Ratepayers can raise these concerns to council, either by petitions or deputations. Unfortunately the township is very slow to address anything that does conform to the priorities of Richard Bates. This must end NOW!

Members of Ramara council should embrace any reforms that can restore its ability to oversee township operations. This will not happen until you regain legislative control by reigning in the powers of Richard Bates.