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| "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, January 4, 2000 - 19 Scugog in 2000 Political leaders face the future By John B. McClelland Port Perry Star For Scugog Mayor Doug Moffatt, munic- ipal restructuring remains a top priority facing the municipality, especially in light of what the provincial government is doing in Ottawa, Sudbury and Hamilton. The message from Queen's Park to Ontario towns and cities has been less government and fewer politicians, he nated. And that applies to small townships like Scugog. "| suspect the province will tell us what to do if we don't act on our own," the mayor said. One scenario for Scugog could see amalgamation of some kind with neigh- bours Uxbridge and Brock Townships, and the town of Clarington. But first, local politicians must know the consequences of such a union. Clarington has commissioned a study to answer these and other questions, and Mayor Moffatt said he's looking forward to seeing that report when it's completed. He believes the present structure of regional government could be changed with Durham becoming what he called a co-ordinator of certain key services, rather than the provider. "Police, planning, engineering, works - we could buy these services from the region," he said. He noted that large savings in tax dol- lars are possible if Scugog, for example, took over all roads and highways in the township, with the province and the region simply paying the municipality a fee for maintaining them. "There is a tremendous duplication of services now. There has to be a better. way," he said. . The mayor said he-does not expect that any significant change in the municipal government structure will occur before the November election this year, but the change will come between now and 2003. "What it will look like, I don't know at this time." Restructuring is one of the main reasons Doug Moffatt has decided to seek another term of office this year. He wants a chance to be part of the ongoing issue over the next three years. Another significant issue facing Scugog council now is the advent of new expan- sion to the commercial sector of the town- ship. There are two major proposals coming up: One for a new shopping centre just west of Port Perry, and another just south of the town. Mayor Moffatt said council will have a better idea what path to take when a con- sultant hands down a commercial needs study next month. Mayor Moffatt said he would like to see new commercial development tied to the development of a new hotel in Port Perry. Two proposals have been suggested - one on the lake north of the: community, and one at the site of the feed mill at the foot of Queen Street. He is adamant that any new commercial development must not impact negatively on the downtown core: "If something new is to come to Scugog, it must be to our FS N iS 3 x jy | erry tar asked Scugo 's two senior ntunic- : offatt (left) and Regional or two, and what they feel advantage, not disadvantage," he stressed. Council has given zoning approval for a new IGA store at the "flea market" proper- ty on Hwy. 7A, just west of town. Another group, Stockworth MBG, wants to build a new Canadian Tire Store and shopping centre on 13 acres on Simcoe St. south of town. However, the mayor noted that Stockworth has not submitted any official rezoning requests or plans to the council. Looking back over the past couple of years, the mayor notes that Scugog has weathered severe cutbacks in pravincial grants without a tax hike at the local level. The municipality has concluded a signifi- cant number of agreements for new resi- dential subdivisions, and a new Official Plan is almost fully approved. And there are significant changes to the municipal staff occurring. Works superin- tendent Ronn MacDonald retired in December, and his successor starts work this week. Chief executive officer Earl Cuddie is expected to retire this year, and last month the township hired Yvonne deWit as deputy CEO. Of personal satisfaction to the mayor is his own contribution to the Greater Toronto Services Board's stance on pre- serving the Oak Ridges Moraine. "They (GTSB members) are listening to us now," he said, noting that he attends the regular meetings of GTSB mayors. He also points to a positive relationship between the municipality and the Great Blue Heron Casino, which is providing local employment opportunities and bringing revenue into the area. In the near future, Scugog will get direct revenues from the casino - perhaps as much as $500,000 each year - and the mayor wants this money put into a perma- nent heritage fund, from which Scugog would use the interest only for local gov- ernment purposes. A new municipal building is likely just BOE PIZZA, SUBS &WINGS 20) Wafer Sit, [Port [Pern 985-8448 Cad' ad "al adl too costly for the township to consider in the near future, he said. However, he would consider some kind of long-term lease arrangement should some develop- er agree to construct a new building. "We have more important things to be spending money on than new administra- - tive buildings," said the mayor. As for a second ice pad at the arena and swimming pool, he said it's up to the peo- ple of Scugog to show they want these facilities, and are prepared to pay for 'them. "We are challenging the people to get the plans on the table. It must come from below - the grass roots level - not from above. There has to be a groundswell of community support." Attracting new industry to Scugog con- tinues to be a tough nut to crack, the mayor admitted. However, he said it is a priority for the council to work to provide more employment opportunities for young people, and to reduce the number of com- muters on the roads. The "town hall" style public meetings initiated by the mayor at the start of the present council term have been success- ful, and Scugog residents can look forward to more in the near future on such issues as municipal restructuring and the takeover by the township of the local hydro commission. That takeover is expected in the not too distant future, and the mayor stressed that there are no plans to sell the utility to the highest bidder. The present council, he said, has been a good one. "We often differ in our views, but there are no grudges." COUNCILLOR KEN GADSDEN: Like Mayor Moffatt, Scugog's regional rep said the pending changes in municipal gover- nance are a crucial issue for Scugog. The big questions to be answered are "where do we want to go," and "are we to remain part of Durham Region?" | / Favourite! { 20 pe. Bigfoot' Pizza BE with 3 Items and 4 he cans of Coke' BE EERE EERE EEE ERERESER Codd oi Councillor Gadsden said he has always been a supporter of the regional system of government, and remains so now. Scugog has benefitted from the region over the years, with access to capital for large municipal projects, and the same holds true today, he said. "We just don't have the resources for these large projects," he said. He also cited policing and the provi- sion of many social services as direct ben- efits to Scugog from being part of the region. Councillor Gadsden said he would fight any move to disband the region, or to reduce the number of councillors from the smaller municipalities. He said it would not be physically possible for one Scugog rep, for example, to attend all the commit- tee and council meetings that take place at the region. Likewise, he would be totally opposed to any move to reduce the number of local council members. : Councillor Gadsden feels Scugog can- not afford a new administrative building, even though the current set-up on Perry St. is badly out of date and inefficient: He would be open, however, to looking at the possibility of converting an existing building in the community for use as a new administrative centre, if that opportunity should come along. A second ice pad at $2.5 million and swimming pool at $4 million, are out of Scugog's price range, he said. However, he added, if the community steps forward, the council will do whatever it can to help. But the citizens of Scugog must show that they feel these are priori- ties. The regional rep is adamant that any large-scale new commercial development in Scugog must not impact badly on the, downtown core. "Our priority must be to preserve the core, what we have already," he said. And to that end, council must be selective in what it approves for new development. Like the Mayor, Councillor Gadsden is also eagerly awaiting the completion of the commercial needs study in February to give council a clearer picture of how much new development is needed and where it should be located. Always a big booster of Scugog since moving here in 1988 from Pickering, Councillor Gadsden has been a municipal politician for almost a decade. He said one personal wish for the new year and new century would be to see qualified and energetic residents take a more active-role in the affairs of their com- munity by serving on volunteer boards (community halls, library, conservation authorities, arenas and other rec facilities) or by seeking election to public office. "It is certainly not financially rewarding, but there is a great deal of personal satis-* faction in seeing tough issues through," he said. As for another term of office, Councillor Gadsden said that decision has yet to be made. However, he will make his inten- tions known well before the municipal elections in November. 20 pc. Bigfoot Pizza ok with 1 item MAY 1h. of Potato wedges Ee -----_ BA i -- aam---- ti