Town of the Blue
Mountains
26 Bridge Street,
East, P.O. Box 310
Thornbury, On N0H
2P0
Dear Mayor and
Council
Re: BMRP AGM 2008 Issues
Thank you for
agreeing to attend the public portion of our Annual General Meeting to be held
in Huron Room #1 in the Blue Mountain Conference Centre on May31st at 10 AM.
We are anxious to
hear a greeting address from Mayor Anderson including the Towns view of the
future and the plans being considered to cope with it.
As mentioned in our
newsletter “The View From Blue” April 2008 edition, our primary concerns on
which we’d appreciate information from you are: Tax increases, rising water and
sewer rates, short-term rentals, new parking by-law, and continuing
development.
I will expand on
each of these topics offering the views of our members who are also your
taxpayers and electors. Hopefully, this will give you some guidance as to the
content of your presentations. In no way should this limit you comments. We are
anxious to hear the positive actions you are taking and planning to assure our
community remains the paradise we all love to live, work, and play in.
There is no denying
that taxes are the main concern of our
members. For example, my Taxes (including water and sewer rates) have increased
by over 20% since 2005, and they are double what they were in 2000. Indications
are that they will continue to rise at an even steeper rate.
Our first concern
is an apparent lack of transparency. We see in reports that there are reserves
but no clear reporting of how much they are, and what they are for. A recent
Courier-Herald article indicated there were over 60 reserves that would be
consolidated into 18 but it disclosed neither the amounts involved nor their
purpose. The same article revealed that there would need to be significant debt
increases to finance necessary capital expansion. How much cash is in the
reserve funds? How is it invested? What rate of interest is it earning? Is this
interest taken into current revenue or is it allowed to accumulate in the
reserves to protect against future inflation? Could the Town and taxpayers
benefit from The Town borrowing from itself and avoiding more costly interest
charges from borrowing commercially?
Will the Town make
public a complete disclosure of all reserves and provide details as to their
future disposition? Will it also publish the details of current debt including
the interest rates and amounts and information detailing what is was spent on?
What impact will
the planned city hall expansion have on these reserves and/or future debt
requirements?
What impact will
increased operating costs resulting from a new expanded city hall have on
future tax requirements? Will there be operating savings resulting from a new
city hall?
Water and sewer
rates, which have been separated from the tax bill, still are a significant
component of each ratepayer’s civic financial burden. We are told to expect
even more increases in them resulting from improvements to assure compliance
with Provincial water quality regulations, and prudent reserve increases for
long term maintenance and repairs to the infrastructure. Will the Town please
publish a comprehensive projection of water and sewer pates for the next 5
years commensurate with the five-year plan and budget? Residents should at
least have a clear understanding of where these costs are heading.
Thank you for
considering the suggestions forwarded by our interim president and replying to
them promptly. While we regret that you declined to implement any of the
recommendations we appreciate the detailed and comprehensive reply you
provided.
MPAC increases are
coming this year and will be in effect for 2009 taxes. Theoretically all things
being equal these should have no affect on each resident’s tax bill unless
their increase in assessed value exceeds or is below the average for the total.
That being said will the Town undertake to assure that the mill rate will not
be artificially increased beyond that which it would have been should no
increase in assessed value due to MPAC occurred?
We are pleased to
hear that the Federal Government is offering $5million towards financing the
long delayed expansion of water and sewer services to Clarksburg. Apparently
this is contingent on an additional $5million from The Province. Has this been
agreed to yet? We understand, even more funds will be required from the Town.
Are there any initiatives underway to convince Grey County to contribute to
this project?
Grey County collect
over a third of our tax contributions, which represents over 25% of their total
receipts. The Town’s voice on County Council is limited to only 2 out of 18
councilors. What action is the Town taking to assure our voice is heard
adequately? We are told for example that Grey Roots is being expanded and the
annual operating costs are going up. This project while admirable in its
concept is of little value or interest to TOBM residents being so far away. Nor
is it a draw to the multitude of visitors who enjoy our Town. We have our own
heritage project in The Depot, which has been largely financed through private
contributions. Could not the County contribute towards the ongoing operation of
this equally valid heritage project?
This item has been
outstanding for far too long. As far back as 2003 we were advised that studies
were underway and a new comprehensive town wide by-law would soon be proposed
for public discussion. As recently as last summer we were told at a public
meeting that recent studies were completed and the new draft by-law would soon
be ready. Our members continue to stress the need for fair and equitable rules
for all and that in many cases changes need to be made to allow parking on at
least one side of residential streets during most of the year. Will there be a
draft by-law in the near future and if so will it address the many local issues
that have been consistently brought to your attention in the past?
The most
significant project is of course Castle Glen. Where does this stand? We
understand there are still OMB hearings scheduled? What are their nature and
what outcome is the town defending?
Are there other
major developments under consideration such as the north side of Hwy 26 west of
Long Point Road? What is the extent of this and other projects? What is the
Town doing to protect the wet lands in this area?
SHORT TERM RENTALS
(STAS)
By the time our AGM
occurs on May 31st the public meeting on May 12th will
have been held and the town will have had some time to digest the results. Our
association applauds the direction the town is taking on this very important
initiative. However as the Town is well aware many residents have misgivings
which have been documented by Penny Preston and Peter Sharpe (to mention a few)
in preparation for the May 12th meeting. Has the Town given these
positions recognition and consideration when drafting its final by-laws on
zoning and licensing of these facilities?
In preparation for
our meeting would you please provide us with a list of who will speak on each
these issues.
Following these
presentations there will be a brief recess, upon resumption of the meeting the
mike will be open for general questions from the floor as has been our custom
in the past at our AGM.
We sincerely
appreciate your cooperation in attending this meeting, we know you share our
goal of providing the best managed municipality possible!
If you have any
questions or wish clarification on any of these items please contact the
writer.
Thank for you time
and interest,
Yours truly,
John F. Pineo
Interim President, Blue
Mountain Ratepayers Assn.