Being a 40-year resident of Ward 2, I want to make a difference. I aim to be a part of tackling our difficult demographic issues here in Chatham Kent.
I want to continue to build on the foundation of our beautiful community making an attractive place to visit, live, work and establish a business. My goal is to be approachable and have a common-sense approach to better serve the residents and better serve our community.
Focusing on affordable housing, Mental health, youth retainment and business retention are the four cornerstones of my foundation.
- Do you support increasing funding for infrastructure given the fact several culverts and bridges – including the Third Street Bridge – have had emergency issues and closures recently?
Yes, we have to find ways to ensure we have proper funds to restore our infrastructure. We are behind in the repair and funding in many aspects of this department. A lot of conversation has been had in regards to the reduction of our municipal debt and it seems that our failing infrastructure may be at its expense. Farmers and residents require these for their commutes and what has happened downtown Chatham with the bridges has been a travesty, for residents, emergency services and small businesses
- Would you support a tax freeze or rollback if it meant reduced staff and/or services?
Yes, in my opinion it should continue and has occurred. In the last 4 years council has been diligent in ensuring that the tax remain closely intact. However, compared to cost of living our taxes remain high. The demographics of our area and population make this a difficult task so I do strongly believe everything has to be monitored and looked into from a service and staffing level. If levels can remain the same at lower cost it makes complete sense.
- Would you support shifting some services to the private sector if those services could be done more efficiently that way?
Yes, there has been many services already contracted out and I am a firm believer that if service and standards remain high at a cost savings it has major benefits. If we can maintain a cost savings with good standards it makes complete sense.
- Do you believe we need a municipal ombudsman or ethics commissioner?
Yes, accountability is extremely important when dealing with “our” dollars. Although the position would have to make sense from a funding standpoint as well and as far as I am aware we have someone in a similar position.
- Do you support investigating a reduction in the number of council members?
No, I think that fewer numbers on council would cause a domino effect and cause for more money to be spent on administration, I feel small rural areas would suffer and lose their voice if we were to reduce the number. I personally think the constituents service from a councillor standpoint would be negatively impacted and as mentioned I do feel the rural areas would potentially lose their voice. Less councillors would mean less people to reach out to with a concern. I also feel it would then make councillors become full time and it would not have any positive savings as they would require more pay and remittances.
- Should the municipality try to land an Ontario Cannabis Store as soon as possible?
I think with the changing of the governments and possibly even more changing coming I feel we have to ensure that we thoroughly look at all angles. Yes, I agree Chatham Kent needs new ways to generate tax revenue and if neighbouring communities are going to it does make sense. I think we have to advertise as a community we are open for business and opportunity. I do disagree with as soon as possible I think a lot of care has to be put into location and how it will all play out. I
- Should council be more proactive in terms of working with landowners with contaminated wells?
Absolutely Yes, I personally think a lot of choices were made to rapidly and that we have to ensure we have communication with the higher levels of government and work with our residents to ensure actions take place.
- Some critics say the municipal building department is an impediment to development in C-K. Do you agree?
In my campaign trail I have heard so much in this regard. I hate to be negative but the horror stories I have heard from businesses and residents in regards the building dept are horrendous. I honestly can’t believe how many negative stories I have heard that have impacted people in our area. In talking to folks, it seems like they would rather hinder then help. As a municipal service we have to ensure we are still providing a service and not just dictating what has to be done. We need to present our self as a community that says how can we help. We have a hard time recruiting business and we should not be more difficult then neighbour municipalities.
- Do you believe Chatham needs a new twin-pad arena?
Yes, a twin pad arena would be beneficial but it can’t be built on the backs of Municipal funds only. Our roads, bridges and culverts all require much work and we can’t utilize that money for an arena. I am completely for the project if we receive private or higher levels or government funding. I do not think its possible or feasible to build it on Municipal funds as it would have the potential to raise our taxes noticeably. Many aspects have to be considered as well for maximum use and sense this project has to have a prime location. We also have to know what arenas will no longer be, and what effects that will have. Reports have to produced to know specially what the cost will be to run this facility annually. However, I do understand the downfall of waiting is the longer we wait the more expensive the project will get.
- Should the municipality cut back on its expenditures for overseas economic development efforts?
Absolutely we have the opportunity now as a society to hire integrated marketing companies locally to sell us. We can monitor the success and track data without officials leaving the area. We can send Chatham Kent to them, with all the data they will need to multiple places. More efforts need to put forth in areas around us like the GTO. If we can continue to market there it needs to be done through the innerweb where no officials require travel expenditure.
- Should municipal councillors ever be forced to go the Freedom of Information route when seeking municipal information?
Yes, certain issues should still require FOI, non-related to municipal expenditures though these should always be accessible.
- Should members of the public have more access to municipal information without having to resort to an FOI?
Yes, the public should have more access to information without going through the FOI process.
