By CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
COBDEN — 2016 was a difficult year for the Township of Whitewater Region following the departure of its top two administrative employees. In April, deputy-clerk Hope Dillabough resigned and two months later Chief Administrative officer Christine FitzSimons was released from her position without cause by council.
“Replacing those positions is a tough process,” said Whitewater Region Mayor Hal Johnson.
However, staff stepped in and council was able to take time in hiring a CAO who would be best suited to help the township grow in the direction it wanted to go, he said. In December, Robert Tremblay began his tenure as the CAO for the township.
In reviewing some of the goals council was hoping to achieve in 2016, one was to complete the strategic plan – which happened; and to encourage young people to move to the municipality through a video that was produced.
“It’s working,” the mayor said. “It generated a lot of interest.”
However, better cell service is needed in the Beachburg and Westmeath areas of the municipality if more younger people are going to locate to Whitewater Region, he said.
Mayor Johnson was hopeful NRTC (North Renfrew Telephone Corporation) in Beach-burg would be able to provide that service, but that hasn’t happened yet. However, the company did get fibre optic line for the Internet along the Zion Line, which is a plus for the area, he added.
The recent announcement at year’s end by the Canadian government that internet and cell service is an essential service was something Mayor Johnson was glad to hear.
“It’s about time it was deemed an essential service,” he said.
“It’s more valuable than the carbon tax because it means people can work from home,” Mayor Johnson said, adding, “The carbon tax is a penalty for those who have to go to work. It’s on everything, not just fuel, but clothes and food.”
What he learned, as did the rest of council, is “how long it takes to get the Ontario government’s attention,” he said, adding, “Everything it does is slow and meticulous.”
For 2017, Mayor Johnson feels council will be more focused on the direction of the municipality now that the CAO’s position has been filled.
There was also a cabinet shuffle, which he hopes will make council members participate more in the committees they are appointed to.
“I’m honouring council’s request that some of the chair and co-chairs be changed,” Mayor Johnson said.
He also hoped that by taking some council members off committees, they wouldn’t feel overloaded.
“I wanted to relieve the council members who are working and have a rough time getting to the (committee) meetings,” he said.
This council must also look at the age of the municipality’s population, the mayor said. Due to the aging population, younger residents may find themselves with a larger financial burden than anticipated, he said. The loss of population will also affect the volunteer force, which council is very aware of and has made the CAO aware of, he added.
Leisure time required by families is getting tough and volunteering is an added pressure, the mayor said. If the pressure on families is too much, it could cause tension and break-ups.
“We have to offset unnecessary or undue burdens to our residents,” Mayor Johnson stated
This will happen with more jobs coming to the area, but not industries with smokestacks, he said.
“We need manufacturing and assembly jobs,” he said. “We need software jobs, which means people working from home, but for that to happen, more work needs to be done.”
Tourism also needs to be increased, and with the recent deaths of Art Cobb and Elmer Winters, who were involved with the tourist booth and the park on Hwy. 17 in Cobden, Mayor Johnson said that will have to be reviewed.
He noted CAO Tremblay was making a presentation to council in a closed session regarding a workplan and corporate re-alignment. And, while the mayor was aware of what CAO Tremblay was presenting, he was not able to talk about it until the presentation had been made.
Mayor Johnson is hopeful following the presentation, council will be more focused and staff will be happier. He noted changes in staff demeanor has already been noted because CAO Tremblay is working with them and not telling them what to do.
“I’m excited because we are going to be the best managed township in Renfrew County,” he said, adding, “I know that’s biased.”
He believes council and staff will now move forward and complete projects, such as the wastewater treatment plant, the trails and the general approach of how this municipality will do business.
Mayor Johnson said one of the best things council did near the end of 2016 that will improve business was to remove the automated telephone system.
“When people call the office, they are met with a pleasant voice and they can ask questions and get an intelligent answer,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to the future of this municipality,” Mayor Johnson said.
