Would you support a tax freeze or rollback if it meant reduced staff or services?
Yes. We need to reduce taxes to keep the industry and employees here in Chatham-Kent and some services may have to be reduced.
Would you support an OPP costing study?
Yes. Several times this has been requested and my motion turned down. It would be an attempt to obtain a bid for comparable service. Council may spend a long time on 10,000 items to try and save tax dollars, but this police issue with a $30 million budget was approved in 20 minutes with little information to reduce the budget and reduce taxes.
Would you support examining a volunteer-only fire service if the provincial arbitration system isn’t overhauled?
No. It is just more cost involved and our rural fire departments are operating their areas at a lower cost with more hours of their time volunteering.
Do you believe we should continue our ongoing efforts to attract economic investment from China?
No. I am a strong supporter of working more on keeping the industry we have in Chatham-Kent. If China wants to start a business here in Chatham-Kent on their own, with assistance from Chatham-Kent then I would indeed support this.
Would you support contracting municipal services to the private sector if those services can be delivered more efficiently?
Yes. Many dollars could be saved by tendering different department services, and more so, seasonal projects.
Would you support investigating amalgamation of fire/ambulance/police services to reduce costs?
Yes. Any way cost can be reduced; the attempt should be made to let tax-paying citizens know that an attempt has been made to reduce our taxes.
Would you support a municipal tree-cutting policy bylaw if it contained incentives for woodlot owners to retain/increase tree cover?
No. At the present time, Chatham-Kent has passed a tree cutting policy that was supported by the ministry. Bylaw policy only caused a rush to cut trees and increased as council spent time with studies. Farmers have in the last few years planted more trees, and wind breaks. Let’s not start another reason to cut trees.
Do you believe we need a municipal ombudsman or ethics commissioner such as London and Windsor have added?
No. Just more tax dollars and outside opinions and consultants.
Would you consider developing a usage benchmark for municipal offices, arena and libraries and closing those that don’t meet the standards?
No. We need to keep municipal offices, libraries etc. in all rural areas. These areas are important and this move would only move all important offices and areas to the city of Chatham population.
Do you support development of a community-wide multipurpose recreation centre?
Yes, with conditions that no tax dollars be attached to it. I think Chatham-Kent has learned a lot in the past with the Capitol Theatre, Bradley Centre etc. This will take years to recover tax dollars. Yes it is nice to have these items but dollars should be in place.
Do you support an adopt-a-park program in which service clubs or volunteer groups assume some maintenance (grass cutting) of some municipal facilities?
Yes, with only qualified volunteers, keeping in mind that insurance needs to be in place for these volunteers and this would have a reduction in Chatham-Kent staff or else where is the savings?
Do you support investigating a reduction in the number of municipal councillors?
No. It may work in some areas, but where the area is 20 or more km, the extra member, who may live in that area, would be a great help. I do agree that in the event of allowing volunteers for some projects there should be an adjustment in staff to help reduce taxes.
