At the Puslinch all candidates meeting on Oct. 12 residents pressured new faces, the newcomers criticized the existing council and one incumbent councillor took shots at the current mayor.
A full house at the Puslinch community centre in Aberfoyle witnessed a bit of everything last week.
Incumbent Susan Fielding, who was the first township councillor candidate to speak, talked about the formation of the Road Watch program in the township and said Puslinch should also be a model for environmental responsibility.
She wasted little time before taking verbal jabs that appeared to be levelled at current Mayor Brad Whitcombe, saying she hopes the new council will work under a strong leader who involves the rest of council. Later in the meeting, she added she hopes that leader would represent the people of the township and not just aim to keep employees happy.
Ken Roth said “It’s time to review our spending.” He said many residents are concerned about rising taxes under the current council. He pledged to work hard to encourage sustainable growth in the township.
Wayne Stokley said he will work hard if elected to resist growth pressures from Cambridge and Guelph, fight for the Highway 6 bypass around Morriston, oppose the province’s 424 highway and closely monitor township spending.
Jerry Schmidt said “double digit tax increases seem to have become the norm” in Puslinch, as a result of “irresponsible spending” of the current council. He said he believes in “common sense and fiscal responsibility.”
Dave Billings told the crowd he has not canvassed the township, as others have, because he did not want to disrupt residents’ “family time.” Among what should be municipal priorities, he listed full disclosure of projects to the public, accountability and preserving the area’s environmental features.
Incumbent Matthew Bulmer said he has learned valuable lessons as a councillor, including the importance of details, of maintaining open lines of communication and of knowing his role and respecting the roles of others. He said the township needs a five-year strategic plan and to better understand the value of “passive” recreational assets.
Manfred Ganning said locals are tired of politicians not following through with election promises. He said the current council, which he called “incompetent,” has spent a lot of money on “grandiose projects we can’t afford” and on the lawsuit involving former fire department officials.
‘Homework’
Given the new faces running for township council, several residents wanted to know what “homework” the new candidates have done to prepare for the job, including any community involvement and whether or not they have attended council meetings.
Schmidt said he has not attended council meetings, saying he prefers leaving those elected to do the job. He said he has attended various functions in the township and looks after the grounds at the municipal building in Aberfoyle.
Dave Billings said he also has not attended council meetings, though he does read the minutes online. He has canvassed his neighbourhood for cancer fundraisers and while he has no municipal council experience, he said he is a fast learner.
Manfred Ganning said he left “disgusted” from a council meeting seven years ago and vowed never to return unless he was on council. As for community involvement, he said “My wife does enough for both of us.”
Ken Roth said he didn’t attend council meetings before just recently, though he has spent a term on council in Seaforth.
Wayne Stokley, who missed being elected in 2006 by just 20 votes, told the crowd he has attended Puslinch council meetings regularly for the past five years. He has also served on the township’s planning and advisory committee and volunteers as a coach locally.
Rec fund
One resident at the meeting wanted to know if candidates were in favour of mayoral candidate Dick Visser’s proposal to take $300,000 from the township’s recreational fund to help offset tax increases.
Fielding said she agreed with the proposal from the beginning and would continue to support it. She noted the new multi-use recreational facility (MURF) represents the largest portion of this year’s 12% tax rate increase, and it meets the purpose for which the fund is intended.
Billings said he agrees with current Mayor Brad Whitcombe, who said “once it’s gone, it’s gone.” He is opposed to using the fund to offset tax increases.
Ganning offered a third scenario he said should be considered: using $130,000 of the fund to cover the portion of the MURF that is covered in this year’s budget.
Roth said he opposed using the fund, but opined a lack of foresight meant council was taken aback by MURF costs and the subsequent tax rate increase.
Stokley said he is also opposed to using the recreation fund, which will be needed in the future, to offset taxes for one year.
Incumbent candidate Matthew Bulmer, who voted against Visser’s after-the-fact proposal, said the township was already dealing with an annual budget hit of $130,000 to repay the loan for the Carroll Pond project. But he felt the MURF was a worthwhile endeavour, considering it was built for 17 cent dollars (government grants and funds from the Optimist Club covered the rest).
Bylaws and roads
One resident wondered if candidates would be willing to update seemingly outdated bylaws, including the noise bylaw, and another asked about an alleged dangerous intersection at Highway 6 and Concession 1.
All seven councillor candidates said they would be willing to make changes to the bylaw if it was indeed in need of updating. They also all agreed to look into closing Concession 1 at Highway 6 to improve safety.
