Councillors here are ready to cover the $38,300 cost for consulting services to develop a community plan.
A report to council by Treasurer Gord Duff and Business and Economic Manager Belinda Wick-Graham recommended the use of Incite Planning as a consulting service to develop an integrated community sustainability plan.
Their report to council noted that earlier this year, the town invited requests for proposals to supply consulting services.
Such a plan is required under the agreement between Minto and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario under the requirements to receive federal gas tax rebates.
Only one submission was received by the Feb. 16 deadline. Incite Planning, of Barrie submitted a request of $38,300 including GST.
The report to council indicated Minto had worked with David Stinson in the past “and we are confident that the attached proposal will meet our needs.”
Mayor David Anderson asked Duff to provide a brief explanation of the plan.
Duff said it considers four pillars of social, economic, environmental, and energy. The work would involve a series of meetings and focus groups. It would tie into a number of current initiatives such as the environmental committee, Communities in Bloom and others.
Duff said of the work, “It also has a March 31 deadline, which is not exactly realistic, but this shows we are working on it.”
He knows of some municipalities that are working on this, “but I haven’t heard of a lot of them.”
He added, “It does not appear there are a lot of firms out there doing this.”
“I see that,” Anderson said.
Duff said much of the work will involve information the town already has, and that can be built upon.
