The snowball is rolling for Severn Sound watershed municipalities on reviewing its fee structure, but a lack of responses from Midland and Penetanguishene has left Tay's mayor “disappointed."
During the recent regular meeting of Tay council, a letter of correspondence from Georgian Bay Township noted their support to review the Severn Sound Environmental Association letter of agreement for the joint municipal service board and funding formula.
The request originated from Tay when perceived inequity prompted a request for the SSEA to re-examine their funding model regarding core fees and non-core options for each of the eight participating municipalities.
Georgian Bay Township and Severn Township responded favourably to Tay’s request, and at the recent meeting CAO Andrea Fay noted that both Oro-Medonte Township as well as Tiny Township were in support, although those formal letters of ratified resolution hadn’t been received by Tay to date.
“And my understanding,” replied Walker, “is that the town of Midland and the town of Penetanguishene didn’t even bother to pull the item for discussion?”
Fay explained that although Tay’s request letter for support had appeared in the early-June council information package for Midland, and mid-June for Penetanguishene, neither were pulled for discussion by the towns during those respective council meetings.
Walker chipped in with his opinion.
“So those two municipalities obviously didn’t feel it was important enough to give consideration to, from another municipality in North Simcoe,” asked Walker, quickly followed by: “I can answer that: yes, they did not.”
The comment generated amused smiles from fellow council members and those on Tay staff, before Walker cleared his throat to move on with the rest of the meeting.
Following the meeting, Walker spoke briefly to MidlandToday on the topic.
“We’re disappointed that the letters that we’ve sent out with respect to SSEA review, that neither Midland nor Penetang even bothered to respond to a yes or no; that was disappointing,” said Walker.
It is anticipated that the matter of the funding formula will be discussed at the second quarter meeting for the SSEA joint municipal service board this month.
The letter of support from the Township of Georgian Bay can be found in the agenda page on the Tay Township website.
Tay council meets for committee of the whole meetings every second Wednesday of the month, and regular council meetings every fourth Wednesday of the month. Archives and livestreams of council meetings are available through the Tay Township YouTube channel.
