Under Bill 130, which came into effect at the beginning of the year, Ontario municipalities are required to appoint a meeting investigator to look into closed-door meetings, or go with the services of the Ontario ombudsman Andre Marin, by Dec. 1, 2008.
In co-operation with other regional municipalities, Fort Frances council passed a bylaw Jan. 15 to appoint a regional investigator to look into any alleged violation of the Municipal Act regarding in-camera meetings.
But local residents Allan T. Bedard and Bill Krukoski argued at last week’s meeting that council should rescind this motion and instead go with the ombudsman, who would work at no cost to the municipality.
Bedard charged council hid the issue from the pubic and that the matter should have been dealt with in a public forum.
“Not one taxpayer of Fort Frances, other than council, had any input into this matter,” said Bedard. “This council rubber-stamped a recommendation of this administration and denied any community debate or input on this very important issue.”
Bedard noted out of some 445 Ontario municipalities, Fort Frances and 75 others opted not to go with the ombudsman.
Marin had travelled to several municipalities explaining why councils should go with his office, and Bedard asked council here to invite Marin to speak on the issue.
Bedard said he and Krukoski have several concerns about having the town hire Paul Heayn of Dryden to be the meeting investigator for the municipalities of Fort Frances, Atikokan, Dryden, Kenora, and Thunder Bay.
He feared Heayn, as a former municipal employee, may be prejudiced while Marin would be “totally independent of town influence.”
Bedard also felt a private investigator lacks the subpoena power to secure documents or get individuals to participate in his investigations while an ombudsman can.
As well, the services of Marin are free while the private investigator will cost the town an $1,200, per day plus expenses while undertaking an investigation.
“The ombudsman office investigates 23,800 cases a year, and is budgeted under the provincial government,” noted Bedard. “This is a service we already are taxed for in another realm.
“We’ve already paid our dues in that arena,” he stressed.
As of last week, Marin has conducted two investigations under the new Municipal Act stipulations.
According to the Canadian Press, the first investigation involved a meeting in Fort Erie that turned out to be in compliance with the act.
The second has to do with Sudbury city council allegedly having early access to a block of tickets to a sold-out Elton John concert there.
< *c>Library concerns
Bedard and Krukoski also expressed concerns over the new Fort Frances Library and Technology Centre, which they believe “is not needed at this time.”
Krukoski made several points to council last Monday (March 24), saying he felt the town doesn’t have the money to spare to cover the unfunded balance of the library project.
He noted taxpayers “were left footing the bill” for the skate park after council agreed to advance money to the project in anticipation of fundraising, which has since not come to pass.
Krukoski said he and Bedard felt the library project either should wait until all the necessary funding is secured, or if some work does go ahead, the town and library board should compromise to fall within a budget consisting only of funds already in place.
Krukoski added possible compromises include installing an elevator in the current library and creating an addition (if the present site is in suitable condition); or downsizing the plans for the new library from 14,800 sq. ft. to save costs.
He concluded the community is “hurting financially,” with many taxpayers on fixed or limited incomes who can’t afford a tax increase to build a new library.
“We believe tough times are here to stay for a while and with uncertainty ahead, things are only going to get tougher,” Krukoski warned.
< *c>Public transportation
While they did not give a verbal report on it, Bedard and Krukoski submitted a written report to council last Monday regarding the need for a better public transportation system for Fort Frances.
Their report noted the town’s population is aging and while many people remain active, not every older adult can easily access recreational activities and community events.
And that, in their opinion, “may have a profound effect on the physical, mental, and emotional state of our seniors.”
The pair noted the town needs “a flexible transportation system that can fulfill the needs of the community, not the failed system of transportation we have today—that is not fully integrated with very significant gaps in service access.”
In order to let all seniors take advantage of the social, cultural, and educational opportunities the community offers, “we need a transportation system that is flexible and full-time community-oriented,” they added.
“This is necessary to promote and support the quality of life and economic well-being of this community. People have to get around to spend money, and that includes the north-end residents.
“An overpass between Portage Avenue and McIrvine is needed over the rail yards and ought to be worked on.”
Bedard and Krukoski also said in the report that people should be able to get anywhere in town, whether it’s for a medical appointment, shopping, or lunch.
Residents who can’t get out don’t spend money here, and that’s not good for a local economy where “many people are buying out of town, stores are closing, and rental spaces are up in the Town of Fort Frances.”
Both also noted that if Pither’s Point Park reverts back to First Nations’ ownership in 2009, a transportation system may open doors at Kiwanis Sunny Cove as a community resource.
The pair also said the town’s planning process should be changed to allow for the building of “Granny Flats,” which are self-contained, portable housing units designed to be installed on the same lot as the home of a close family member.
This will allow them “to live in their homes longer, excite prospects of home care versus institutional care, remove a problem with the housing shortage placed before council by AbitibiBowater, and initiate building permits and sales in Fort Frances.”
Bedard and Krukoski added they hope their report creates some dialogue.
“It may well open the door to a better community providing economic activity and friendly opportunities that stands a lot taller than what we are doing now,” the report read.
Council accepted the report at last Monday’s meeting.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
