This is the fifth article of a five-part series on first-time mayors from the lower tier municipalities in Wellington County.
As other new mayors in Wellington County settle into their leadership roles, Mayor Lou Maieron sees opportunities and expansion in Erin’s future.
Much of that is due to its unique nature, Maieron said.
He explained part of the town’s uniqueness includes its two urban areas to the east and geographically being the thumb of Wellington County.
Tongue in cheek, Maieron said during the interview that this Newspaper had saved the best for last. “Probably as a first year mayor, I don’t fit the stereotype.”
He said he has worked with “a most interesting council” over the past year and the issues and concerns have generated numerous front page articles, both good and not-so-good.
“There have been some growing pains,” he admitted.
Personally, Maieron considers his situation as unique in the experience of the Wellington’s five new mayors – in that he came to the job with political experience – just not at the lower tier level. As a politician, he did not follow the traditional path of moving from council, to the mayor’s seat to county council.
Instead, he began elected-at-large on county council, and only later moved on to be elected Erin’s mayor. When he initially ran for county council, he was told he would likely end up in fourth place in a three person race – only to win 50% plus of the votes.
“I was a nobody at the time, who was able to charm the voters,” he said.
He noted new Mapleton Mayor Bruce Whale arrived following the traditional path of moving from municipal councillor to that of mayor.
The other three new mayors are essentially new to the job.
The next part is that many of them also experienced a significant turnaround in their councillors. While many municipalities in Wellington saw almost entirely new sets of faces in the council chambers, over half of Erin’s existing councillors were re-elected – the only changes being the mayor and one new councillor.
“I was elected as a mayor for change, with an existing council.”
Another difference in Erin, is that over 50% of council is comprised of women.
Maieron said starting his political experience at the county level may have offered him a unique perspective. He again noted that he was elected on the platform of change.
“I’m coming here with this county experience and looking at why things are being done a certain way [locally].”
Efforts to try to bring some of those various policies, processes and structure were not readily accepted, he said.
Maieron had hoped to spread out councillor workload by implementing a committee structure, but councillors wanted to be involved with the entire process. He has hopes a committee of the whole structure now adopted by council will allow for a positive way for staff and council to interact.
There will be some fine tuning, but Maieron anticipates it will provide the opportunity for interaction and efficiency.
“I found coming in there were numerous legacy issues from water hook-ups to the SSMP [Settlement Servicing Master Plan].”
Simply put, Maieron said there were a number of issues left over from previous councils – and not just the most recent council.
Erin also faces other unique issues.
Maieron said because of geography in some instances the community is more closely tied with areas such as Orangeville and Georgetown than other places in Wellington County. He also believes that by far, Erin had the highest rate of commuter population at 65% to 70% who drive outside the community for employment.
“We are a bit of a bedroom community,” Maieron said. “We are a small community with two urban centres and a high commuter rate.”
Municipal policies of the past seemed to favour the development of larger homes on smaller lots of about an acre, he said. “The result was that people who could not afford homes in Milton or Brampton … could afford to purchase a home in Erin.”
Municipal water hook-up issue has created considerable controversy over the past year as well.
“It’s something council has had to deal with from nearly the start of their term, and council made its decision.”
He remains concerned, because that decision appears to be diametrically opposed to one made regarding water hook-ups in downtown Hillsburgh – where a special area rate is being considered.
While all situations are looked at individually, Maieron contends council decisions are built upon previous ones – “and there is a need for consistency.”
That said, Maieron is now looking forward to clearing the plate as it were – and moving ahead. “We have some serious decisions coming down the pipe.”
Maieron said one of his strengths is having foresight to into issues Erin will be facing. “One of those issues is a lot of growth coming to the municipality.”
He cited a recent SSMP meeting that referenced the amount of potential land to be developed in Erin and Hillsburgh. But the town faces two significant factors when dealing with that growth – provincial Places to Grow policies and that Erin village and Hillsburgh are within the Toronto Greenbelt region.
“Those factors will fundamentally change the size of the town.”
With Erin’s potential of 300 acres of land to be developed, Maieron said even if only 200 acres is used for housing, it could mean an additional 1,300 homes for a community that currently has roughly 1,200.
He believes Erin is well placed geographically and will continue to grow – with or without a sewage treatment plant. He added once the SSMP is completed, residential growth will follow.
“I have a concern that Erin is one of the largest, if not the largest, municipality in Ontario without a sewage system.”
Despite that, there is a lot of potential for residential growth on the horizon.
“This type of growth would not happen in one year, but it is a big issue coming down the pipe and servicing will be an issue.”
But for the moment, work on the SSMP has stopped growth until that process is completed.
He said Erin has a history of having its own planner and official plan, yet not much is being done on economic development.
He cited the example of the Tim Hortons restaurant opening in town this year. Within the first week, it had 450 applications for minimum wage part time work.
“That screams a need for employment in the community,” Maieron said.
He estimated the town’s industrial and commercial base is only around 3%.
He added that Centre Wellington and the county’s northern municipalities all have economic development committees in addition to one recently created by Wellington County. Erin has a citizen-based economic development committee, while others are committees of council although there are citizen appointments.
Maieron said he had also heard Erin may not be the friendliest place to do business, and that is something he wants to see changed. He pointed to northern municipalities in Wellington where prospective business developers may be escorted through the municipality by the mayor or senior staff.
“We have the location but we need to be proactive.”
And the communities must still be walkable and livable.
“Part of Erin’s charm is that it is within an hour of Toronto on a good day.”
That means easier access to certain amenities than other parts of the county.
“We are well situated to become the Yorkville of the GTA.”
Maieron considered that being partly located within the GTA Greenbelt is a good thing.
“With both Erin and Hillsburgh located along on the Credit River watershed, it may provide a better opportunity to develop tourism.”
He noted the need for more partnerships and spoke of a recent presentation he’d given to the local Rotary club.
He suggested individual “silos of interest” need to be broken down to allow groups such as local chambers of commerce to work with service clubs, which, in turn, can work with local BIAs.
“I suggest that representative government is what it is.”
He said as mayor he may act as a representative of the people “but that does not lessen a person’s obligation to participate in that democracy.”
Maieron said there needs to be a strategic planning to look 10 to 15 years into the future.
And some of those steps are being taken.
He noted Erin is finally undertaking its first five-year capital plan. He was encouraged by the treasurer and staff who took that initiative. He is equally pleased the ambulance issue is moving in a positive way.
He is also looking forward to construction of the replacement library for Hillsburgh and an addition for the library in Erin.
When he was elected, Maieron had a platform of issues. Those included a swimming pool, a 10-year post-amalgamation review, a long term road paving program, and a serious look at the infrastructure.
“If there is a plan, more things can move ahead.”
He also wants to ensure the budget is passed earlier this year. Council has had its third budget meeting, and his hope is to have it passed in February.
The mayor’s job is a role Maieron enjoys even though there is a lot more workload than he anticipated. At 52, he considers himself a relatively young politician on council – at the local and county level.
“I really enjoy working with members of the community and cited the advancement of Erin’s skate park.”
“It is a busy world for 30 to 40 year olds,” he said. “But if I am one of the youngest members of a 16-member county council – what does that say?”
He added his family had a good discussion about my running for mayor. “This is a job I could not do without the support of my wife and family.”
On a lighter note, Maieron would like to see a further enhancements of local heritage, culture and history.
For him, it boiled down to the day he walked into the Wellington County warden’s office and spotted a painting of a swan. At the time, he asked if the painting could be loaned to Erin and the response was no.
He questioned why, since the artwork was paid for with public funds.
Since that time, Janice Hindley has take over as Wellington Place administrator and was more receptive to the idea. Now a program is being developed where municipalities will be able to showcase artwork and artifacts pertinent their respective areas.
Maieron noted many of Wellington’s municipalities showcase its past through older photos of council and historic photos.
He does not see a lot of that in Erin and it is something else he would like changed, to build local community spirit.
“We need to enhance heritage features and values.”
But Maieron is equally adamant to promote the recognition of individuals and volunteers in the community. In addition to geography, Erin also has to deal with changing demographics because of the community’s proximity to the GTA.
“Places like Mississauga have nowhere to grow but up, vertically.”
One thing he noted over the years living in the community is a high degree of property turnover – and with that – residents.
“We need to get everyone in the canoe paddling in the same direction and avoiding the icebergs. I like to think of myself as someone who sees the glass as half full. We have the opportunity geographically to build something nice, but we gotta be ahead of the game – proactive not reactive.”
He also believes that now he and council members are at a point where they better understand one another.
“There have been difficulties, but it is time to move ahead.”
