Dear Editor,
Recently, a very astute resident in the Town of the Blue Mountains (TBMs), contacted a number of other residents about the Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy – Regional Governance. In turn, they have asked that I relay their thoughts on the “regional governance” aspect and how these residents are appalled that it was only through diligent work, of one resident, that the community was informed of this movement. Shortly after this revelation, residents were informed that the local TBMs Council Members, also, had not been informed of this movement, by the Mayor and CAO.
In regards to “regional governance structures, the Municipal Act already allows any municipality to enter into bi-lateral agreements with abutting municipalities, to supply services. This is already happening between Collingwood, Clearview, the TBMs, Grey Highlands, Wasaga Beach and in some instances Meaford. There is no reason for these municipalities to create any form of “regional governance structure” to merely add yet another layer of bureaucracy.
They speak to water and waste-water management and the infrastructure needed, as the one thing they are having difficulties with. This is quite curious, as Collingwood and the TBMs already has agreements in place, so again, the residents find this a curious instance to bring forward to the provincial committee.
What is more concerning about this Committee Meeting was that the Mayor and CAO, without the knowledge or consent of Council, had attended and spoke on behalf of the community. This isn’t the first time the Mayor and/or the CAO have over-stepped their authority and it seems to be the continuation of a systemic problem. What is even more concerning is that past Mayor of the TBMs and the Blue Mountain Rate Payers Association had the audacity to speak on behalf of the residents, without the majority of the residents even knowing about this Committee Meeting.
Having presented at various Committees, both federally and provincially, one understands that they are only allowed to speak on behalf of an organization, with that organization’s knowledge and consent. That is a basic moral and ethical principle. When one is looking at a Mayor and a CAO, what needs to be realized is that the Mayor needs the consent and/or permission of an informed Council, to speak on behalf of the municipality. The Mayor of Collingwood even engaged with her Council prior to her presentation and received input from them, so why not the Mayor of the TBMs?
Then there is the CAO. A CAO is the one member of staff of the Municipal Council. The CAO is to work on and at the instruction of Council – not one individual Council Member, therefore it, again, is quite curious as to why the CAO of the TBMs, thought it allowed to present, without the instruction/permission of the entire Council.
Then there are the questions pertaining to the Municipality of Grey Highlands and Meaford, as they were absent from this Committee. Were they informed of this push toward regional governance and for that matter was Grey County Council informed and/or engaged?
The actions of the Mayor and CAO of the TBMs, are questionable at the least, and the majority of the residents demand answers regarding the abuse of the residents and the Members of our duly elected Council.
Elizabeth Marshall, Town of the Blue Mountains
