The Township of Douro-Dummer held a special council meeting on Thursday morning to take a look at the second part of the first draft of the 2025 budget. A meeting was previously held on Thursday January 7 to start the budget process and was reported in the January 10 edition of the Lakefield Herald.
The Tuesday meeting covered the proposed budgets for the Public Works and Fire and Rescue Departments. Administration was on the agenda, but it was deferred to the Thursday meeting due to time restraints.
As reported previously, staff was using the consumer price index (CPI) which was set at 1.6 per cent in September of 2024 to develop the 2025 budget.
The numbers arrived at in the first budget draft would see an increase of the tax rate of 3.3 per cent. This means the residential impact per $100,000 of assessment works out to a $15.06 per annum increase and the impact on a median property valued at $256,000 would see an annual increase of $38.56.
Thursday’s meeting started with the library and the presentation was made by Maggie Pearson, CEO, Librarian.
Pearson told council that the operating budget will see a few changes with the highest dollar amount being placed on a new cleaning service. Previously the library was using volunteers, then contracted the township cleaners, but decided that the township’s Parks and Recreation department could fill the need. A part-time employee will receive extra hours to clean the library at a cost to the municipality of $9,100.
Pearson also said there will be an increase in salary and benefits to the tune of $3,966.
On the capital side the library has budgeted $12,500 for a strategic plan. The Library Board aims to create a 5-10 year strategic plan for the library, addressing growth and service goals to better communicate with the community and Council, with the support of a free consultant from Ontario Library Service.
The library has also budgeted $14,000 for books and materials. This will be purchased with a grant.
Finally the library has budgeted $5,000 for a new drop box.The Parks and Recreation segment of the budget presentation was handled my manager, Mike Mood. Mood gave an overview of the department’s responsibilities including the management of both community centres along with the municipalities parks and trails.
The main change in the Parks and Rec operating budget is the increase from part time to full time for one employee. The dollar difference will be $8,577 including salary and benefits. Mood said this could actually prove to be a cost saving as the department has troubles retaining staff and training costs are quite high.
On the capital side Parks and Recreation are looking to restore the shelter at Clintonia Park with a price tag of $14,000. New picnic tables for the parks costing $12,000. A survey for the Back Dam requested by the ministry of Natural Resources costing $7,000. Tennis court wind screens at Douro South Park costing $5,000 and an expansion to the Douro North Park parking lot to the tune of $70,000. Mood said this project would be funded through development charges and sited capacity and safety concerns for the expenditure.
Mayor Heather Watson asked how many parking spaces the investment would produce. She said she just wanted to make sure they were getting value for their dollar.
Mood said he would reconfigure and get the information to council for their working budget meeting.
The budget allotted for both the Douro and Warsaw Community Centres to purchase floor machines at $7,000 each. (Mood asked for a pre-budget approval on this item to which council agreed).
The Douro Community Centre has budgeted for ice surface floor design and drawings for $100,000. This project will only proceed if the township is approved for a Canada Infrastructure Grant.
The Warsaw Community Centre is looking to replace the upstairs windows for $4,500 and the Olympia hot water tank for $10,000.
Christina Coulter spoke on behalf of the planning department. Coulter summarized the responsibilities of the department ranging from minor variances to monitoring provincial legislation for changes that effect the Township and the community.
The planning department made a request that a zoning by-law update be included in the budget with a costing of $20,000. Presently the item has been left out of the budget in an effort to stay within the target CPI at 1.6 per cent.
Coulter made a plea to include the update as it is a provincial legislation that the zoning by-law must be updated within three years after the new Official Plan comes into effect which could be later this year.
Coulter told council that the total cost of the project is unknown, but neighbouring municipalities have paid upwards of $180,000. She suggested that there is $100,000 in reserves along with the $20,000 ask would minimize the shortfall.
The Building department section was presented by Don Helleman, CBO. Helleman reviewed the departments responsibilities which varied from the administration and enforcement of the Building Code Act and related Building By-laws to animal control in partnership with the Peterborough Humane Society.
Helleman said the department is currently not considering any capital projects that would effect the levy, but will be presenting their operational budget during the working meeting scheduled for January 23.
CAO, Todd Davis presented on Corporate services, specifically the CAO office. Davis showed an organizational chart and told council they would make it more detailed at the January 23 meeting. It will outline how many employees there are in each department and how many of those are full or part time.
Davis also told council that it is his goal to take each budget item at the Jan. 23 meeting and see how they align with the strategic plan.
Clerk, Martina Chait-Hartwig and Treasurer Paul Creamer co-presented the budget items clerk/finance departments.Chait-Hartwig requested an operating item of one additional FTE for a corporate admin assistant. The cost including salary and benefits would be $77,000. Chait-Hartwig told council there are several functions and projects in the Clerk’s Department that are not able to be completed, at all or at the desired service level, with current staff and this additional position would be able to support a number of tasks. This position would also offer additional support to council members.
Capital projects suggested for the budget include IT hardware replacements at $20,000, elevator restoration and modernization at $22,000, tree replacement program at $10,000, asset retirement obligation costs at $20,000 (asking for pre-budget authorization - Councillor Tom Watt made a motion to authorize the pre authorization which passed unanimously.), asset management plan and data updates at $20,000, township webpage update at $20,000, records management software - Phase 1 of 3 at $22,500 and Council Chamber A/V Upgrades at $16,300.
Excluded from the budget in order to reach targets is a Facility Maintenance Plan estimated at $25,000.
The next meeting is on January 23 and will not be open to the public as it is a working meeting.
A public meeting on the budget is planned for February 4 followed by a council deliberation meeting on February 18 with the plan on passing the budget at the council meeting on March 4, 2025.
