milton canadian champion

Heres What Your Councillors Earn

Mike Cluett

Here is an article from the online version of the Champion reporting on councillors salaries and professional development expenses (for conferences and meetings attended on behalf of the town) and where everyone ranks.

As I mentioned in my blog a few days ago, I posted a brief outline of those expenses including mileage claimed by individual councillors.  If you go back the last few years before being elected to town council, I have been a strong advocate for councillors to take a leadership role in this area.

The Champion reported that back in June of 2011 when the first of our 2% raises were approved in the budget, I contacted human resources and asked that it not be applied to my salary.  It is a small amount but as I mentioned before, its not the amount, its the principle.

Every day I go to work in this position I do what I can to limit the impact on taxpayers because it is YOU who pay our salaries and your tax dollars should be treated with respect.  There was a citizens committee struck months ago to review our salaries in comparision to other towns/cities to come up with an amount that would be competitive and fair.  Im not against paying politicians a fair salary for the work we do.  It can get hectic at times as I recently found out with the Bell cell tower proposal at New Life Church, news that the provincial government might put the brakes on our much needed and promised hospital expansion among other things.

That report is due in the coming months so I’ll reserve my comments after reading that report.  What I will say is that once we receive the report and review the recommendations of the committee and suggest (if its not already included in the report) that any potential increase they might come up with be approved and put into place the date the next council sits, which will be December 1st 2014. 

This way it wont give the public the perception that we are increasing our own salaries.  Thats long been a stone in my shoe where either behind closed doors or even out in the open, council can raise its salary with little or no public input.  We’ll have to see when that report comes to the table.

Thank you to those who emailed me with your comments.  I am proud to be your representative at Milton Town Council and will continue to work hard to save taxpayers money wherever possible.

In case you missed it, here is the breakdown of councillor salaries, professional development and mileage expenses for 2011.

Heres the article from Christina Commisso.

Here’s what your councillors earn

Milton Councillor Mike Cluett chose not to accept a two per cent wage increase approved in the 2011 budget.

He put the taxpayers’ money where his mouth is.

Councillor Mike Cluett, a critic of council’s yearly wage adjustments, chose not to accept a two per cent salary increase that was approved in the 2011 budget.

Financial documents released this week show the Ward 6 Councillor earned a base salary of $26,495 last year, while his council counterparts took in $26,751.

Mayor Gord Krantz earned $66,582 in salary and benefits from the Town of Milton plus $44,446 in regional council salary and benefits for a total of $111,028. The longtime mayor also received $3,678 in conference expenses and $6,108 in car mileage from the Town and Halton Region.

Among local Milton councillors, Councillor Cindy Lunau, Ward 3, was the biggest earner at a total of $34,588 — $2,611 for car mileage, $2,279 in benefits and $2,947 in conference expenses.

Ward 4 councillor Rick Malboeuf was the Town’s most frugal councillor, taking in $30,201 in salary and benefits and not claiming any expenses for conferences and mileage.

At the regional level, Councillor Colin Best took in $56,452 in salary and benefits, conference expense and car mileage while Councillor Tony Lambert, who also sits on regional council, totaled $49,696 in salary and expenses.

Regional Chair Gary Carr took home close to $200,000 in 2011. He made $189,106 in salary and benefits and charged $5,591 for conference expenses and $3,055 in car mileage.

Milton’s 2012 budget saw a freeze on council’s salaries while a citizen compensation committee reviews the earnings of the Mayor and councillors to ensure their wages are in line with comparable municipalities.

The committee is expected to make a recommendation to council in April or May.

The last review in 2007 led to a hefty increase — the mayor’s salary increased from $49,133 to $60,480 and the rest of council saw an increase from $21,096 to $25,096.

Halton CAO “Too Soon To Predict”

Mike Cluett

Region of Halton CAO Pat Moyle presented a verbal report to Regional Council last week with an update on the Drummond Report and how it will affect the region and surrounding municipalities.

Christina Commisso from the Milton Canadian Champion wrote about the presentation as well.  Here is the link to the article. 

What I found to be quite telling were his comments (and I have been saying this for quite some time before being elected AND after) that municipalities need to live within their means and stick to their core business.  All the nickels and dimes we spend will eventually add up.  And with the proposals for cuts at the provincial level will eventually make their way down to the municipal level and the property tax base.

You can watch CAO Pat Moyle’s presentation at the Halton website here and it begins just before the 36 minute part.

Too soon to predict Drummond Report impact: CAO

With almost 30 per cent of the Region’s revenue coming from Queen’s Park, Halton’s CAO said the effects of Ontario’s austerity plan will be felt by all.

However, it’s still too soon to predict the degree of the impact in Halton, said Pat Moyle during Wednesday’s regional council meeting, where he quipped, “We are living in a post-Drummond world.”

Moyle provided councillors with an overview of findings from the Commission on the Reform of Ontario’s Public Services — known as the Drummond Report — but said some of the 362 recommendations are too vague to determine what kind of financial impact they would have locally.

“Some of the recommendations have already been discounted,” said Moyle, pointing to the end of all-day kindergarten and delaying the uploading of social program costs from municipalities to the Province.

Moyle said about 80 of Drummond’s recommendations have a direct bearing on Halton.

“When the Province sneezes, we catch a cold,” he joked.

In the report, Moyle pointed to removing public health as a Regional responsibility. With the Region funding 35.5 per cent of public health initiatives, Moyle wrote, “It is critical that prior to implementing any actions with respect to public health service delivery or funding, that the Province reveal its implementation plan.”

A recommendation to integrate the Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Supports programs could, according to the report, increase caseloads in Halton from 2,000 to 9,000 annually.

Centralized bargaining for emergency services would also have a local impact as police services are bargained at the regional level and fire at the local level.

Other recommendations that if implemented will impact Halton include the consolidation of Ontario’s 80 hydro utilities along regional lines and re-evaluating the portion of slots revenue the OLG distributes to host municipalities.

Moyle said the Drummond report reveals some important lessons for all municipalities: governments must live within their means and stick to their core business, debt hurts credit ratings and it’s important to listen to the governments’ finance people.

“The lessons learned by Drummond are lessons that have applied in Halton for the long term,” said Moyle, adding, We could better withstand the shocks of Drummond.”

Community Fund News Update

Mike Cluett

Almost a year ago, Ward 5 Councillor Arnold Huffman had asked the Community Services Advisory Committee (CSAC) to review possible changes to the Milton Community Fund to allow for a special category to be set up specifically for Milton based service groups like the Optimist Club, Rotary Club and Royal Canadian Legion to name a few.

This option was reviewed by the CSAC members (of which both Arnold and I are council representatives for) and the report was returned to council with the recommendation that it not move forward.  Before the report from CSAC could be voted on by council, a motion to defer and send it back was moved and passed.  This allowed CSAC to review it again along with additional feedback from area service groups with the result being the same.

This means the $100,000 will be put back into the Community Fund for 2012.  This amount for the last few years had been allocated to fund the construction of the Milton Centre for the Arts and once that was completed, it was to be directed back into available funds for allocations by CSAC.  During the 2011 budget process, Arnold made the motion to have CSAC review the special allocation in the fund for service clubs and over a year later the matter has been resolved.

The 2011 Community Fund allocations this past year actually ran out as there were so many qualified applicants.  As Milton grows and if the Community Fund is to be successful we need to make sure that there is enough money in the fund for future needs.  Funding for the CF comes from the slot revenues from OLG and not from your tax bill.  With the CSAC motion approved by Milton Council, the $100,000 will be available for all members of the community through the fund.  When the 2012 guidelines have been approved by council later this month, I will post a link so people can apply if needed.

Here is a brief history of the Community Fund.

For some background information you can check out Champion coverage here.  Also, here is a report from the Milton Canadian Champion.

Service groups denied – Council votes against matching program from Milton’s Community Fund

Councillors have voted not to allocate $100,000 from Milton’s Community Fund specifically to service groups.

Without discussion on Monday night, council approved a staff report that recommended against a new matching program to help service clubs fund Milton-based projects.

Ward 5 Councillor Arnold Huffman asked staff to investigate the feasibility of the program in early 2011. At the time, he said the matching program would help fundraising initiatives for new projects and possibly increase membership levels. Huffman was absent from Monday’s meeting.

Twice, the Community Services Advisory Committee (CSAC) — the committee that reviews the community fund allocations — voted against the matching program. One of the meetings took place in late January and members of Milton Council were not permitted to attend as to not influence other CSAC members.

Close to $290,000 from the 2011 Milton Community fund was distributed to individuals and groups in town.

The 2012 program will see $350,000 distributed.

Velodrome In The News

Mike Cluett

To say that the potential velodrome is a hot topic in Milton and the surrounding areas would be an understatement to say the least.

Here are just a few items.  This is on top of the dozens of emails that I personally have received and speaking with many of my council colleauges they have recevied a number of them from people in their ward.

MILTON CANADIAN CHAMPION – Have your say on velodrome

There’s still time to have your say on the proposed Pan Am velodrome leading up to town council’s decision on the project Monday.While the deadline for input to the Town on the indoor cycling facility ended Wednesday, an open house has been organized by councillors Colin Best and Mike Cluett this Thursday at the Milton Sports Centre.

The Velodrome Business Plan Open House will be held in Room 3 from 7 to 9 p.m.

At the open house, you’ll be able to find out more about the proposal, get your questions answered and have your concerns and comments heard by councillors in attendance. 

Of course, constituents at any time can contact their councillors about the issue, or write a letter to the editor. But time is running out.We believe it’s just as important for those who support the velodrome proposal to speak up than it is for those against it to make their views known. That way, councillors can better gauge residents’ feelings on the issue.

Town council has a big decision to make next week. Learn all the facts, determine your stance and make your opinion known. 

This is going to be an information/open house to provide Miltonians with information about the soon to be released business plan for the Milton Velodrome.  Its not a “town sanctioned” event but both Colin and I feel its important to get as much information out as possible to provide Miltonians with as much facts as possible and another way to give us what they are thinking as well.

The Town of Milton had a feedback form where Milton residents could send in their input/comments/concerns to be included with the business plan but I wanted to make sure we give people another opportunity for feedback.  I hope that I will see you there on Thursday at 7pm.

In the letters to the editor today, world famous cyclist Curt Harnett expressed his views and support of the Milton Velodrome project for the 2015 PAN AM games.

This next one is from the Hamilton Community News Kevin Werner

Milton prepared to cross finish line

 By Kevin Werner, News Staff

Toronto 2015 Pan Am officials have given Milton councillors to the end of January to determine if they want to take a spin on a potential velodrome facility.

Pan Am officials have extended their original Jan. 24 deadline for a week to so Milton politicians can  present the $40-million facility plans to the public for a last review.

“We wanted to give the public some in put,” said Councillor Colin Best. “We also wanted to have more time to review the business plan for the facility. We don’t want to rush it.”

The town has also been encouraging its residents to submit their views on the velodrome through the municipality’s website.

Best said the Toronto 2015 Pan Am organizing committee agreed to extend the deadline forMilton.

“They said ‘We’re the only game in town,’” said Best.

Hamilton councillors last fall took themselves out of the velodrome race when they refused to increase the city’s $5 million contribution for a permanent, nearly $50-million facility that was planned for Mohawk College’s Fennel campus. Over the last few months Mayor Bob Bratina, and businessman Mark Chamberlain have been touting a potential private investor who could help fund the velodrome facility and bring it back to Hamilton. But the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games committee late last year officially made Milton its preferred location for the facility.

The town is holding an information session for the public Jan. 26 starting at 7 p.m. at the Milton Sports Park, located at 605 Santa Maria Boulevard.

The council meeting to debate the business plan is set for 7 p.m., Jan. 30 at Milton Town Hall.

“I expect (the council meeting) to last quite a bit longer,” said Best.

Councillor Mike Cluett said the information session’s main goal is to clarify the cost of the velodrome for the public, and the legacy component of the facility once the Pan Am Games are completed.

As part of the 120,000-square-foot facility, there is expected to be space for three full-sized gyms within the interior of the banked oval track.

“We want to make sure there is not going to be a long-term impact to taxpayers,” said Cluett. “We do have some questions about the financing.”

A financing plan for the velodrome identifies the majority of the municipality’s share of $17.6 million would come from private sources. For instance, Mattamy Homes President and Chief Executive Officer Peter Gilgan is contributing $7 million, and another $2 million for the facility’s naming rights. Gilgan and TD Canada Trust president Tim Hockey have agreed to a $3 million fundraising campaign.

On top of the municipality’s share, there is also a $2.2 million cost for parking and site servicing. The province is contributing $22 million.

As to whether Milton politicians will approve the velodrome business plan, both Cluett and Best pointed to council’s 9-2 vote in support for the facility in December, when Milton became Toronto 2015’s preferred location.

“It seems to fit into our town’s plans,” said Best.

MILTON CANADIAN CHAMPION – Letter to Editor

Location of Milton ideal for velodrome project

Dear Editor:

Growing up, I got involved in the sport of cycling as a way to increase my fitness levels during the summer while I pursued my childhood dream of playing in the NHL.

Ultimately, I ended up choosing cycling over hockey, participated in four Olympic Games (1984, 1988, 1992, 1996) and was fortunate to bring home three Olympic medals as a track (velodrome) cyclist.

I’m excited by the initiative shown by Milton’s town council and very encouraged by the support shown by the local community, in particular Peter Gilgan, for his commitment to the velodrome project. As a town that prides itself on being ‘Right in the Heart of it All’, Milton serves as the ideal location for such a project.

You don’t have to look further than Calgary and its speed skating oval — a legacy from the 1988 Olympic Winter Games — to appreciate what world-class facilities can bring to a community. Once seen as a potential “white elephant,” the Oval continues to provide Calgary with the ability to lay claim to being the development venue for numerous world champions and Olympic medalists; athletes from around the world who train at the Calgary Oval and make Calgary their adopted home. 

What you might not see, however, is the potential that a facility holds in building community spirit. It’s essential to view the Milton velodrome as an integral component of your community; to see it in the same way as you’d see a swimming pool or hockey arena — a place where people gather and celebrate sport, and an asset that helps to fuel the continued growth of Milton. It would be a venue for community activity and fitness, and also would be the place where the seeds for future Pan Am and Olympic champions are sown.  

Curt Harnett, Olympian, GTA

 And others have chimed in about the issue today.  I hope that his concerns will be addressed by our open house on Thursday.

MILTON CANADIAN CHAMPION – Letter to Editor

Poll should be done on velodrome issue

Dear Editor:

I’m very pleased the Town asked the people of Milton for input as far as the velodrome is concerned.  

This should be done any time there’s a decision involving large expenditures.

But more time should have been given for the people to respond with their input.

For people who don’t have access to the Internet, a telephone number should have been made available.

The questions about such matters should be in the form a poll or survey asking people yes or no.

Agostino Galioto, Milton

Here are some other links to Letters to the Milton Canadian Champion on the velodrome issue.

Town Leaders Should Tread More Cautiously

Velodrome Would Likely Become White Elephant

More Sense Needed

Velodrome Excellent Opportunity for Town

Year End Interview With Mayor Gord Krantz

Mike Cluett

Pan Am velodrome big issue going into new year

Mayor hopes to see funding commitment for indoor cycling track

From Christina Commisso, Milton Canadian Champion

Mayor Gord Krantz says he has learned more about velodromes in the latter part of 2011 than in his whole life.

That learning curve is expected to continue into this year, as the velodrome is one of many Milton projects on the agenda for 2012.

The long-serving Milton mayor told the Champion in a recent interview that he hopes to see a funding commitment for the indoor cycling track this year — one of his many New Year’s wishes.

“This is a huge international sport and it’s growing. There will be 20 to 25 international meets in Canada each year, and they could happen right here,” he said.

Tourism boom could erupt

The 74-year-old mayor said if the velodrome business plan is approved by Milton council and construction is given a green light, he envisions a hotel or two popping up in the immediate area and a tourism boom for the town. “Tourism is a huge industry in Canada, and we’re looking for our piece of that industry.”

The velodrome is closely tied to the Milton Education Village (MEV). The 150-acre parcel of land at Derry and Tremaine roads will serve as home to the cycling track and to a Laurier University satellite campus if Milton gets its way.

Krantz said he was hoping to see more movement on the MEV campus in 2011, “but I’m far from being naïve,” he said.

“The Province has a cash crunch issue…I can’t blame them for being a little cautious,” adding that he’d like to see the funding come through in the next couple of years.

“Where else are they going to get 150 acres of free land? The Province is roughly 60,000 (post-secondary) spaces short and here we are ready and able and willing to help.”

Mayor wishes for ground-breaking

The mayor’s final wish for the new year is a ground-breaking for the Milton District Hospital expansion, a long-awaited promise that came to fruition this past summer.

As for predictions for 2012, the mayor said one thing will be inevitable in Milton — traffic.

“I’ll apologize for that in advance,” said Krantz, pointing to the Main Street grade separation just east of Ontario Street. “It’s going to cause a disruption and I’ll be the first one to acknowledge that.”

Asked why the Town didn’t plan the construction pre-population boom when the traffic impact would be less intense, Krantz said there was simply no way to fund the $50 million, four-year project.

“Development charges are paying for a huge portion of the project,” he said.

Krantz said while Milton is far-removed from the financial crises taking place around the globe, he believes the Town could feel some of the pinch.

“The federal and provincial governments can have an indirect impact,” he said, adding that he wouldn’t be surprised if certain government services are downloaded to the municipal level. 

 

Milton Velodrome Discussion

Mike Cluett

If you follow the Hawthorne Villager forum, you will see there’s been quite the discussion amongst the posters about the potential velodrome in Milton.  There is one more report to go and that will be received by council on January 23rd for review.  As soon as the report is made available online, I’ll post a link.

UPDATE:  I am including links to the Town of Milton’s website for the velodrome reports that council has reviewed during this process.  Please take some time to review them and feel free to email or post here any questions you might have.

Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games – Velodrome Status Report November 21st 2011

Velodrome Status Report, December 5th 2011

If you’ve been following my blog recently, you will have noticed I have posted quite a bit of information on the progress.  Someone tweeted me recently to ask “what does Mike think?”  So here it is.

The basis behind this facility is that its more than just cycling. Its a facility that can be and will be multi purposed. As with those other velodromes others talk about as failures this will provide more than just cycling. Basketball courts, indoor tennis, or if turf there’s indoor soccer, cricket maybe, football practice field (Ticats are you listening?)

As I mentioned during the special council meeting, the $3.8 million has already been budgeted for similar use facilities. Its in the bank so to speak and not coming out of taxes. We have been able to stand above other municipalities in the Greater Milton Area for a reason….partnership with the private sector.

This deal could NOT have been done without the assistance from the private sector. Mattamy is just ONE of the companies involved in the fundraising process for this deal…there are many many more. Tim Hockey, President and CEO of TD Canada Trust who is also an avid cyclist, is getting behind the project personally and will assist in fundraising for the velodrome. The pool of resources isnt just in Milton, its national organizations…international organizations as well that can assist in the fundraising.

That’s where other municipalities failed. They couldn’t harness the power of the private sector in getting things done. We as a council made it very clear that if we were to move forward on this there has to be minimal to NO impact on taxpayers. This can only help in growing our business base … and hence more tax revenue in town.

The Milton Education Village is just one of the keys to that success. The land is ready to go, our partners are ready to go and the provincial government needs to see that by approving Milton as one of the locations for satellite university campuses (as they have already acknowledged) it will go a long way for THEM to keep a promise made in the last election for increasing the number of post secondary spaces in Ontario. This MEV project moving forward can help kick in the pants OTHER things that Milton needs, like an interchange at Tremaine Road so that everyone on the west side of town doesn’t have to drive along Derry and or Britannia to go to the 401 and help with the backlog of traffic that way.

With moving the Canadian Cycling Association here to Milton with this facility we can help increase travel and tourism to the area. Right now we only have 2 hotels. We WILL need more (any entrepreneurs out there?) for when they hold national/international events that’s even more businesses that can benefit…from hospitality to restaurants to local businesses the impact can be huge.

Having the velodrome on campus adds some other benefits that can be looked at for revenue generating possibilities. The parking lot can be used at the university and we can charge a monthly fee for profs using it or what have you. There’s also the matter of the legacy fund set up by the Pan AM games … we don’t know the amount yet, but that should evolve through the business plan process over the next 4-6 weeks.

Is it a done deal? Not yet. ONE more report to go. That report will outline the needs for commitments at all levels so that we feel comfortable the project will stay under $40 million (contingencies are already built into that number) and that we can get the job done with our fundraising partners so that we don’t have to dip into the tax pool on this.

Sorry for the rambling and Im sure Ive missed a few points but I wanted to make sure we let people know that theres one more step in the process before its a go and I can assure you if the numbers don’t add up for me, even though Im excited about the project I wont want to see it move forward.

This town has shown others that we’re not the sleepy town we once were. I watched a Hamilton city council meeting recently when they were discussing their umpteenth attempt at getting it back and the almost disdain in their voices when they mentioned MILton of all places. We aren’t 35,000 people anymore. I know I sound sales-y by saying this but its true. Milton is a force to be paid attention to from now on. This is a project I know we can put together, that can be used for the games and years after so its not abandoned like the others and that it can help kick start the business growth we need in town to add more revenue to the town and to be the “new” centre of the universe in the GMA.