The Town of Minto will be hiring an employee to fulfill requirements under the province’s new source water legislation, but will fill other positions by reassigning staff for now.
A report on staffing issues presented by CAO Bill White at the April 1 council meeting explained that chief building official Terry Kuipers, who has taken the required training course, will also be assuming risk management inspector responsibilities required under provincial legislation.
Council authorized White to advertise a new position, “Building Assistant Source Water Protection/Clerical Assistant.” It will provide support for risk management inspection as well as building permit file management and inspection support along with reception duties. He said the position would first be posted internally per town policy.
The report indicates the town’s job evaluation committee, along with Ward and Uptigrove, will set the pay band and wage rate.
Minto received $115,000 in provincial funding for a source water protection plan, with funds to be used by Dec. 2015.
While municipalities share a Risk Management Official funded by Wellington County, lower tier municipalities are responsible for providing inspection services.
The report also notes the town’s part-time building inspector and bylaw enforcement officer has taken a CBO position with North Huron.
“This is a positive move for this staff member who has also made arrangements to assist Minto during this change,” stated White.
White said staff have begun to identify options regarding bylaw enforcement services, including: contracting out, sharing staff and resources with other municipalities and town departments, adjusting duties of the source water protection position, or reducing levels of service.
“It is important this be addressed in the next few months as preparations for providing risk management inspection services begin, and the transitional support from the current part-time inspector and bylaw officer is withdrawn.”
White said loss of the part-time inspector/bylaw officer could free up $16,000 in 2014, and $32,000 annually.
However, he noted, “I can’t guarantee we could keep up with bylaw enforcement.”
White said a solution will have to be found in that area.
“There’s nothing worse than not having a response when a complaint comes in,” he said.
White said staff would report back to council on options for handling building inspection and bylaw enforcement long term.
He also proposed maternity leave in the economic and tourism departments be filled internally and the contract for an administrative assistant position already in place due to a previous leave be extended.
Council approved the recommendations, in the report which also predicts further staffing challenges.
“The fire department has budgeted for about one day a week for fire inspection services. The treasury department requires support implementing the Tangible Capital Asset Plan and completing the town’s Renewable Energy Plan. The CAO/Clerk’s Department will be conducting the (municipal) election, and the public works department is preparing to assume responsibility for operation of the town’s waste water treatment facilities and the end of the contract with Centre Wellington,” it states.
