Council here will not back opposition to a plan to split two conferences attended by representatives of most Ontario municipalities.
The Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) conference and the Ontario Good Roads Association (OGRA) conference were combined in the late ‘90s to become one conference. This year a decision was made to split the two conferences.
By a 3-2 margin, Mapleton council defeated a motion to support a resolution from South West Oxford Township opposing the separation due to concern that it could have an impact on resources and costs.
“Council has expressed concern that two separate conferences – only weeks apart – will have a negative impact on resources without a significant improvement in results,” states a letter from South West Oxford CAO Mary Ellen Greb.
“Provincial ministers and support staff, members of provincial parliament, council members, municipal staff, vendors as well those sponsoring the conferences will see a doubling of costs as there is now an expectation to appear at two separate events.”
The letter adds, “The previous partnership provided diversity of content while streamlining costs between two important groups. Council does not see what efficiencies are to be gained by splitting the conferences.”
Mapleton Mayor Neil Driscoll said, “For a small council like this it’s going to be quite a challenge to commit ourselves to go to both.”
Councillor Michael Martin expressed some support for the idea of splitting the conferences.
“I agree in principle. Myself I think I’d kind of like to see something different out of that conference – if the balance is more rural-specific,” said Martin. “I think that conference could use kind of a shakeup.”
“I agree that a shakeup of that conference is due, but I think if we’re going to shake it up we could move it out of Toronto,” said Driscoll.
Martin and councillor Marlene Ottens voted in favour of the motion, while Driscoll and councillors Lori Woodham and Dennis Craven were opposed.
