Candidate Name: Darcy Chapman
Position Sought: Councillor
Email: dchapman.meaford@gmail.com
Phone: 519-378-6832
Bio:
Originally born and raised on Manitoulin Island, I completed a post-secondary education in Business and Accounting at Canadore College in North Bay. I moved back to the Island and started my Municipal career in 2002 before moving to the Parry Sound area and then finally Grey County in 2007 where I worked for The Town of The Blue Mountains. I was fortunate to marry my wife Lisa in 2010, who was born and raised in Meaford, and have created a wonderful family with two daughters. After living in urban Meaford for many years we moved to Bognor in 2020.
I have a highly accomplished career spanning over 24+ years, working with multiple municipalities (including Meaford from 2013-2021) in developing new processes, procedures and maintaining legislative compliance. I’ve been a strategic advisor across all municipal business functions with the advanced ability to build and manage successful partnerships with key stakeholders, Council members, and fellow executive leaders to support strategic planning and drive continuous improvement. I’m highly skilled in public sector finance, budgeting, long term planning, financial policy development, procurement, development charges, and asset management planning.
Explain your primary reasons for your decision to seek election to Meaford council:
I’ve called this area home for two decades now and have watched the area grow and I want to be part of the next chapter. I am most concerned with decisions that will be made over the next Council term and how these might impact the community. I am deeply committed to the long-term sustainability of small and rural communities — and to ensuring that Meaford remains a place my daughters can be proud to call home.
I want to leverage my exceptional financial stewardship, leadership, team building and strategic planning abilities in a new challenge. I have completed numerous Development Charge Studies, Water and Wastewater Financial Plans, Building Services Fee Studies, Facility Rationalization Studies and Service Delivery Reviews so I know how a Municipality is supposed to operate. I was recently part of negotiations with a +$2 Billion gold mine operation in Northern Ontario where a community benefit style agreement was developed. Although I do not support the Pumped Storage proposal, I feel this experience would be a valuable asset should the majority of a newly elected Council vote in favour of the TCE project.
In your view, what should be the top priorities for the council that is elected on October 26?
My platform (darcychapman.ca) has five priorities each with five deliverables. However, the four main topics that need to be addressed in year one include the following.
- Development of a new Strategic Plan with significant community input including tangible deliverables with timelines, key performance indicators and semi-annual reporting so the community can hold Council and staff accountable.
- Finalization of the Asset Management Plan and development of a transparent, multi-year infrastructure plan with clear timelines and budgets while prioritizing infrastructure spending based on safety and long-term cost savings.
- Revive the 2022 Municipal Service Delivery Review Report completed by KPMG and implement the modernization opportunities recommended including;
- Formalize a corporate performance management framework to measure success and progress towards goals; implement strategic corporate KPIs to assist in decision making.
- Streamline intake and response to citizen inquiries, complaints or requests across the organization for a consistent customer service delivery approach.
- Perform comprehensive user fee studies every three years to balance cost recovery and Council approved subsidization levels.
- Focusing on Affordable & Attainable Housing initiatives by supporting zoning and policy changes that enable a greater variety of housing types. Council must innovate to help local workers, seniors, and young families stay in the Municipality of Meaford.
Explain the role of councillor as you understand it:
Firstly, each council member must develop a working relationship with fellow councillors and municipal staff that’s grounded in mutual trust and respect. Each member of Council is but one of seven votes in Meaford and therefore, teamwork, shared goals/vision and an ability to relate to a different perspective on a variety of issues is essential.
Council members are the community’s ambassador and advocate for the needs of its residents and the Municipality. Council has the primary responsibility for setting the overall strategic direction, corporate priorities and providing service level expectations to staff. Council is also responsible for setting the annual budget which establishes the resources for each department and the annual business plan, deliverables, capital replacements and any service enhancements. Council members will also take on responsibilities for the various committees and boards and act as the Municipal representative bringing back useful information and updates to the rest of Council.
