A request for community-based public engagement

Good evening, Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and Councillors. I am speaking today to your Strategic Plan that was presented on Wednesday June 28th by CAO Lamb.

I am not here to speak to the contents of the Plan but rather to the process you followed in developing it.

We live in a time where community-based public engagement in most municipalities is a priority. Councillors and Staff understand resident involvement in significant municipal initiatives is essential. Residents in turn expect this public consultation from their elected representatives. The final result of this process is a plan or project which is more reflective of the community perspective which in turn results in a broader acceptance by residents.

This approach was in fact followed very successfully by previous Tiny Councils, and more recently by many of our neighbouring communities, namely Penetanguishene, Springwater, Ramara and Tay, all of which had information sessions on their strategic plans that sought and welcomed resident input.

It is interesting, and perhaps ironic, to note that Tay Township's community engagement process in 2021 under the leadership of CAO Lamb had 5 participatory activities, including, a telephone survey with 300 residents, community open house sessions, written submissions, focus groups with residents and community groups and interviews with Council and staff.

By stark contrast, the current Tiny strategic plan was planned and developed totally in house by Council, Senior Staff and a facilitator with absolutely no meetings or other participatory activities designated to foster community involvement or input in the process.

The same "top down" process was followed by this Council in developing the plan for the replacement of the Township Administrative Offices. This plan, which involves the largest single capital expenditure in Township history, was studied and developed entirely by an in-house closed-door committee with no public participation. I asked to attend one of the meetings of this committee but was told that members of the public were not permitted to attend. It is unacceptable that, when last year this Council brought in one of the highest budget increases in the history of this Township of 11.69%, they would not want or seek public input on a project which will clearly have a significant and long term impact on both future budgets and municipal taxes and might, in fact, become redundant if Tiny Township were to become part of a larger consolidated municipality as a result of the recently announced Municipal Comprehensive Review for Simcoe County.

The only request for public input to date on this initiative was a token one or two questions in a recent online budget survey. I do note, however, that the Township has recently set up a website at newtownhalltiny.ca which indicates that there will be opportunities for public this project in the future. This website contains the following somewhat ironic statement "The Township of Tiny Council is committed to transparent, two-way dialogue and citizen engagement. Opportunities for public input will be provided throughout the duration of the project." I note that your commitment only with respect to how the project is to be implemented but not to the more important question of whether to undertake building the new Township Hall.

You all ran in the last election as the Unity Council. This implies that you would represent and involve the entire Tiny community. Your approach on these two critical and important initiatives clearly indicates that you have no real commitment to community engagement and believe in the "top down" approach to municipal initiatives.

On behalf of many residents and taxpayers in Tiny Township (including the 464 residents who signed a petition opposing the new Township offices), I urge you to follow the lead of both your predecessors in Tiny and your colleagues in other municipalities and adopt a more open, participatory and consultative approach to major municipal projects and initiatives.