Candidate Name: Tony Bell
Position Sought: Councillor
Email: bell12tony@gmail.com
Phone: 519-538-4442
Bio:
Rooted in the community I am a proud fifth-generation resident of Sydenham Township, living with my wife on my ancestral farm. I own and operate a family-run machine shop with my wife and oldest son on Highway 26 West, just outside the Meaford town limits since 2003. For many years I was in the cattle business but now have a tenant farmer and crops are in the fields. I have a long-standing commitment to community service, recognized through the Volunteer Long Service Medal with the Army Cadet Program. My ongoing roles include Colour Sergeant Royal Canadian Legion Branch 32 Meaford. Board member with Grey Sauble Conservation. Director of the Inter-Township Fire Department and Board member of Grey County Farm Safety. My Leadership is guided by a simple principle: Service Through Action.
Explain your primary reasons for your decision to seek election to Meaford council:
I would like to try and keep taxes in the reasonable zone of 3.5%. I know we have people who are on fixed income and they have to make choices with money. I also know being in business right now things are tight. I would like to continue to be the voice of our rural community and oversee that budgets are fair to them. We need to stay focused on how development that is expanding stays in step with why folks love it here. Also, our service levels will need to increase with this expansion and more population. Finally, for myself, to keep on doing Notice of Motions before council so that we all can move forward with a better and stronger municipality than today.
In your view, what should be the top priorities for the council that is elected on October 26?
My Top Priorities are, the essential infrastructure including bridges, roads, municipal buildings, and rural ditching to get the water directed where it should go. Do a much better job communicating to the CAO and planning staff on how developers need to know our community better, so we do not have them always go to LPAT in Toronto for a decision. We must plan now for the future expansion of our wastewater treatment plant setting money in a reserve fund for it. Keep on being in contact with the pumped storage proposal as we have placed ourselves in a good position by making our financial requirements and environmental concerns set before them, this will help in the future when it comes time for a true benefits agreement should the project make it through the current review. Keep on track with our tax money and apply it to the things and areas that true needs and not just at it would be nice to have. We will likely be looking into a new sand dome out in the Sydenham yard and the OPP are looking at a new location, so these will require consideration.
Explain the role of councillor as you understand it:
The roles of councillor and mayor are found in the municipal act in sections 224, 225 and 226. My understanding is council hears from the rate payers and then at council we can talk about what they say and sometimes we make policies or procedure changes. We set the Service levels. We look after the financial health of the municipality, Also the directives we place before the CAO to do as we have said as a council, we have the obligation to follow up and see that things are done and not just left with Senior staff. It is also true that we are not elected to be an extension of the administration. We must stay in our own lane and govern, in order for staff to do the work. We work together for the greater good.
