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Wednesday, August 8, 2001 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER A5 Mayor worries how municipal measuring program will be used By Angela Blackburn OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF The Town of Oakville has no problem with accountability ... as long as the Province doesn't use its new measuring stick as a billyclub to beat up on local govern ment, says Mayor Ann Mulvale. The mayor was speaking about the new Provincial Municipal Performance Measures Program. This new, mandatory perfor mance-reporting program requires municipalities, like the Town of Oakville and the Region of Halton, to dole out to taxpayers their "score" on numerous effi ciency and effectiveness mea sures by September 30, 2001. There are 35 measures in all though only 14 apply to the Town and only 7 must be reported to taxpayers including costs for: winter road control, transit, fire service, municipal government administration; as well as land use planning (preservation of agricultural land). A report that sailed through the Administrative Services Committee last week, went before council last night (Tuesday) outlining how the Town can come up with a "Balanced Report Card" that goes a little further and measures a lit tle more. That would help the Town improve on its own meth ods and provide a more complete picture for its taxpayers. The results will be advertised through the local media and at www.town.oakville.on.ca. The danger, says the mayor, is in whether the results are viewed out of context, with no back ground explanation to provide balance. If the Province forces a loose reporting of such numbers, and the media picks up on them and starts comparing communities, it will be a disservice to local gov ernment, said the mayor who's also president of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO). That type of scenario has played out before. As an example, the mayor cited the results of provincial literacy testing. The results do have value, she said, but can be skewed when compar isons get made with no recogni tion of facts like which students have all the benefits of life and which go to school hungry. "We're not opposed to the exercise or learning from others, but it has to be done in a positive way. If we break from that and start to bludgeon people, it won't be any good," said Mulvale. "It's not meant to be a tool with which to beat up on munici palities," said Mulvale. It could quickly turn into that though. "You would think you could easily compare Oakville and Burlington," said Mulvale. But take firefighting, said the mayor. Oakville's response times, and therefore costs, must include trav eling around its two creeks, the Sixteen-Mile Creek and TwelveMile Creek. "Oakville's collective agree ment with firefighters stipulates no volunteer firefighters. Burlington has volunteer fire fighters," added Mulvale. A simplistic review isn't going to work, said Mulvale. Comparing small rural com munities and urban GTA commu nities would be like comparing apples to oranges. Mulvale said the Province has so far committed to using the measures to come up with "best practices", positive means of assisting communities to recog nize their strengths and weak nesses. And while this new program has, to date, cost the Region of Halton some $250,000. Mulvale doesn't agree that it's a makework, spend-money exercise. "We see it as positive, if the Ministry can be held to its word and this is not used to beat people over the head, the concept is a positive one," said Mulvale. Communication with munici palities would have seen that con cept evolve "in a more efficient, less acrimonious way," observed the mayor. The mayor did note that municipalities have the `'great consultation" with their con stituents every three years -- an election. Mulvale also cautioned that local choices and quality of life issues will be reflected in the results. For example, regional water rates must reflect that replacement of the cast iron water pipes has been accelerated. "It's a locallydriven solution." As well, the Provincial Municipal Performance Measures won't tell the whole story. For instance, Oakville has one of the finest library systems in Ontario, noted Mulvale, and 65% of residents use it, however library services is one of numer ous services not included in the municipal performance mea sures. The 35 indicators cover nine service areas, many of which aren't locally controlled (such as sewer, police, water and social services which are provided regionally). As well, many local services are ignored such as parks, recre ation, libraries, buildings and cul tural venues. Nor does the new provincial program record financial perfor mance (for which the Town has received awards) or customer sat isfaction. The Town is continuing its own budget performance mea sures and resident surveys, to ensure it surpasses the basic provincial performance standards. "If you want the Province to set all the levels of service, you could get rid of municipalities," said Mulvale. While local government isn't "blinkered or arrogant enough that it can't learn from others," Mulvale said, "We don't toot our own horn often enough." The mayor cited the purchase of the 168-acre North Park years ago, a large capital purchase that has proved insightful as, years later, in the midst of Town hear ings on growth in north Oakville, the public is telling council over and over again how much it val ues open space. II A u g u s t E v e n ts -- at Bronte Creek-- August & 12 Farm Festival, Spruce Lane Farm 10-4 pm Farm animals, pony rides, bike tours, duck races, wagon rides, penny carnival, historical demonstrations, etc. Wood You Know? Nature Centre 12-4 pm Displays, games and crafts reveal the beauty of forests, the resources they provide and how precious they are. Join the "Sweet Caroline" Hike at I pm and learn about the unique Carolinian forests in our area. See the Forest Friends Puppet Show at 2 pm and 3 pm August 18 & 19 Birds of Bronte, Nature Centre 12-4 pm & 8:30-9:30 pm* Live bird displays and information presentations. Evening Owl Prowl, learn to hoot for owls. ^Evening hike is an owl prowl. Bronte Creek For more information call ( 9 0 5 ) 8 2 7 -6 9 1 1 or wvAW.ontarioparke.oom JULY 18 - AUG 11, 2001 C O R O N A T IO N P A R K , O A K V IL L E M o n d a y - S a tu rd a y a t 8 p m TICKETS: 905-815-2021 7 S 1 6 G E N E R A L A D M IS S IO N ROYAL B A N K F IN A N C IA L G R O U P / ^ O a k v il l e B e a v e r Make the most of your dreams. ine with the CEO THE ENTERPRISE CENTRE IS HAVING A CONTEST! 2 lucky winners will dine at Biondo Pazzo with one of Oakville's Prominent CEOs along with The Enterprise Centre's Board of Directors and Esteemed Board of Governors. enter: "* Read the Oakville Beaver during August, paying close attention to "The Pride of O akville" Series. '*· Read Get your entry form from the September 1st Edition of the Oakville Beaver. ,|* Match the facts with the CEO. "* Read Have your entry form at The Enterprise Centre no later than 5:00 p.m., September 7th You can drop your entry at: w w w .w e lc o m e w a g o n .c a The Enterprise Centre #34-1515 Rebecca St Oakville, ON The War Amps 9 0 5 -82 5 -23 45 Fax 905-825-5368 or e-mail info@enterprisecentre.com K id s - t o - K id s ... child amputees teaching youngsters about safety. War Amps Safety Ambassadors are members of the CHAMP Program fo r child amputees. Many Champs have lost limbs in accidents. Through videos, community presentations, and safety floats, the Champs help deliver the message: Contest Rules: All entries must be received at The Enterprise Centre no later than 5 :00 p.m. Friday, September 7th. The Enterprise Centre is not responsible for postal delays or internet down time. O nly entries with all correctly matched answers are eligible to win. Staff and family members of The Enterprise Centre, family member of CEO's featured, Employees and staff of the Oakville Beaver are not eligible to win. "\v% The Halton Peel Enterprise Development Centre "Safety is no accident, so PLAYSAFE!" To order a PLAYSAFE video or SAFETY WALK kit, contact: T H E E N T E R P R IS E C E N T R E The W ar A m ps Hopedale Mall, Unit #34 1515 Rebecca St., Oakville ON r Tel: 905-825-2345 Fax: 905-825-5368 National Headquarters 2827 Riverside Drive Ottawa, Ontario K1V OC4 Tel.: (613) 731-3821 (Ottawa) or E-ZEE ACCESS: Tel.: 1-800-250-3030, Fax: 1-800-219-8988 Internet: http://www.waramps.ca C h a r it a b le R e g is t ra tio n N u m b e r : 0 2 8 6 8 3 1 0 9 a sue@enterprisecentre.com