Opening the purse strings for new blood
Budget 2008
By Chris Simon

Town council was in a bit of a hiring mood last week.

During 2008 Operating Budget deliberations, a town committee passed recommendations to hire two new employees. If approved in the budget as planned, the town would hire a supervisor of purchasing for $30,982 and an administrative assistant for $23,339.

The supervisor would help existing financial services staff process tenders and purchasing orders, and allow for the development of new buying policies. Existing staff cannot keep up with current demand, said councillor Lynn Dollin.

"We have a bunch of very capable planners, but sometimes when someone is trying to do a rezone and they're not a planner, it's a very difficult process to go through," she said. "We do ourselves a great disservice, and don't communicate in the same way as everyone else."

The administrative assistant would help planning and development staff complete paperwork, manage filing systems and prepare reports. The hiring would reduce waiting times for customers, said treasurer Ian Goodfellow.

"The purchasing area is one of the highest volume areas we have," he said. "At best, they're able to see the surface of the water, yet alone get above it."

However, several requests for the hiring of new employees were denied by the committee. Council turned down plans to hire an economic development officer, two part time customer service representatives, two summer students for trail maintenance, a new park and recreation staff member, a new GIS technician and $6,000 in contract labour for the Building Services Department.

The economic development officer would have helped recruit businesses to the town. However, councillors rejected the hiring, mostly because of concerns over provincial concerns regarding Innisfil Heights. The town does not yet know where most growth will go in the municipality, making the hiring of economic development staff premature, said Dollin.

"The trouble is, we want the development of the (Highway) 400 corridor and good paying jobs, and the province is telling us that's not where it should go. Let's first figure out what he's going to sell before we hire the salesman."

However, others say the development officer could recruit businesses to other growing areas of the town.

"There's absolutely no doubt in my mind there would be things for that person to do," said CAO Larry Allison. "There's plenty of things in need in our existing communities today, and a myriad of things that could be done, in order to prepare ourselves for the time when there is clarity around the 400 corridor. It should have been here already."

Councillor Dan Davidson agrees.

"All our neighbours around us are selling their towns or cities already; we haven't," he said. "If the 400 corridor is going to be our focus, and our competitors are already selling themselves internationally, are we going to be stuck with retail or McJobs? An officer selling our town now would (attract) better corporations and jobs. It's spending our money ahead of time, but it's also a job that will make us money down the road."

The customer service representatives would have helped extend opening hours at the new administration building.

The extension would have helped the centre stay open Saturday mornings and during council meetings Wednesday evening, allowing residents more flexibility for making payments and obtaining permits and licences.

"There will be renewed interest in (the town) when we move into the new building," said community services manager Susan Downs. "We have a great ambassadorial role to play."

Pring disagrees.

"The union contract is coming up this year and if we were able to negotiate flexible hours, the staff we have would be able to do this without any extra cost," he said.

Parks staff increases were turned down because of delays to the new recreation centre, said deputy mayor Gord Wauchope.

"This year, we have excessive staff for the recreation centre. If there's staff needed, those staff could be taken from there through the summer time," he said.