After four budget meetings and two public information and input sessions, Meaford council met for what is hoped to be the final time on Wednesday to discuss the proposed budget for 2010.
The focus of the Wednesday meeting was debating the merits of six proposed hirings for the municipality.
During a meeting held earlier this month staff provided members of council with business cases to support the hiring of those six positions. Senior management was requesting the addition of an Engineering Technologist, an Economic Development Professional, a By-Law Enforcement Officer, one Administrative Assistant, and two temporary contract positions for records management and data entry tasks.
The only full-time position given the green light by council was the Economic Development Professional. That position will not have an impact on the operating budget since the funds to support the hiring will come from the reduction in the contract that the municipality has with the Chamber of Commerce who have been performing some of the tasks that will be part of the job description for the EDP.
Meaford CAO Frank Miele told members of council that with the completion of the Meaford Economic Development Strategy (MEDS), it is now time to work toward the implementation of the strategy in order to get the municipality moving forward.
“An Economic Development Professional is an investment in the future,” offered Miele.
The amount included in the proposed budget for the EDP is $31,000 for salary and benefits for the balance of 2010.
The only other hires approved by council were the two contract positions, one to assist with data entry tasks as the municipality works toward the mandated PSAB (Public Sector Accounting Board) compliance which requires all municipalities to inventory and document all capital assets, and the second contract position will be used to implement the Ontario Municipal Records Management System.
Council rejected the request to hire a full time By-Law Enforcement Officer and instead directed staff to attempt to secure the services of a part time contract person to carry out enforcement duties as has been done in recent years.
The more surprising rejection was for the proposed hiring of an Engineering Technologist. Director of Operations Stephen Vokes presented a business case that suggested that the hiring of an in house engineering person to perform such duties as preparing project tenders, and inspections could save the municipality $97,000 per year in fees paid to outside firms.
Members of council weren't convinced that the position was necessary or that the savings suggested in Vokes' report would be realized.
It is expected that Meaford Tresurer David Kennedy will bring the final draft of the 2010 budget will to council for approval at the April 12 meeting.
