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Monthly Archives: September 2018

The 2018 Race is On – Part 2, What it Takes

23 Sunday Sep 2018

Posted by Jo Bossart/ParrySounds.com in Parry Sound, Reflections, Town Council

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Elections, Opinion, parry sound, Town Council

As a follow-up to an earlier post looking at the general numbers of Parry Sound elections, this post looks at what the numbers might be telling us.

The Key to Being Elected? Be known, and respected. You don’t need to be a voter’s first, second, third, fourth or even fifth choice. Being number six on every ballot will not only get you elected – it will make you the top vote getter.

The Numbers – Redux
In a previous post I summarized and offered an analysis of the election results for the past two Parry Sound municipal elections. Here is the link. The key takeaways from that analysis were:

Total Number of Eligible Voters: 4,500 (approximate)
Total Number of Voters Casting Votes: 2,500 (approximate)
Largest Vote Number for an Elected Councillor: 1,700 (approximate)
Smallest Vote Number for an Elected Councillor: 1,000 (approximate)

The bottom line is that to be elected to Parry Sound Council a person has in the past needed to capture about 1,000 votes.

Votes – Used and Unused
Here are estimates related to the votes cast in the past two elections for Parry Sound Council. The table below relates to Council seats not Mayor, and will benefit from some explanation.

Eligible Votes Votes Cast Possible Votes Unused Votes
2010 28,080 11,608 15,366 3,786
2014 27,138 11,028 14,760 3,732

Eligible Votes refers to the number of eligible voters, according to the voting roll, multiplied by six. Six is the number of votes each voter can use to select candidates for Council. You can’t vote for one person six times, but you can vote for up to six separate candidates listed on the ballot.

Votes Cast is the sum of all of the actual votes cast for all of the candidates running for Council in each of the two past elections.

Possible Votes is calculated by multiplying the total number of people who actually voted by six. In 2014 about 2,460 people actually cast a vote. That means there were a total of 14,760 available votes for Council (6 x 2,460). In the end, only 11,028 votes were actually cast for the position of councillor. Some 3,732 votes ‘looking for a candidate’ never found one.

On average, every person who showed up to vote did not use 1.5 of their votes. The average person who actually voted selected between four and five candidates.

Strategic Voting
I have heard the argument that some folks try to get their underdog candidate(s) elected by voting only for them and no one else. The reasoning is that voting for anyone else might unintenionally allow another candidate(s) to accumulate enough votes to defeat your preferred candidates. I don’t think too many people are that strategic in their voting. The average 4.5 votes cast suggests people know who they want and then don’t have an opinion, or even knowledge, of the rest. If there was considerable ‘strategic voting’ that number might be as low as 3 votes per voter.

‘I Know You’ Voting
More likely, in my opinion, is the possibility that you know only four or five of the available candidates and hold them in high regard. You may know a couple of the others, and not like them for any number of reasons. And the rest? You wonder where they came from. Rather than vote your full allotment, you stop at the four or five you know and respect rather than take a chance on an unknown.

Election 2018 – Are You a Name or a Person?
There are a total of 14 individuals running for the position of councillor in Parry Sound. After covering Parry Sound Town Council for about the past 8 years and serving as a volunteer or board member on more than a half dozen local organizations for that same period of time, and regularly reading the North Star/Beacon Star, I recognize only half of the people running for Council. Four of them are current members of Council who I have often spoken with, one candidate I met socially on several occasions, another I met in my role as a member of a community board of directors, and one other I recognize from their running in the last election. Only one of these three made anything close to a positive lasting impression. The other seven are totally unknown to me.

Bottom Line
Want to be elected as a councillor in Parry Sound? Be well known and be known for doing good stuff. With more than 3,000 votes ‘ looking for a home’ you don’t even need to take a vote from someone else to be elected. You just need to be known as a good person. That’s done through years of community participation and the type of work that too often goes unrecognized, until it comes to election time. Getting elected isn’t a project that starts two months before an election solely with slogans and attitude.

In the next post I will outline what it will take to capture one of my two available votes for the position of councillor. The first four are already decided.

 

 

 

 

 

Council Agenda Preview – September 18, 2018

17 Monday Sep 2018

Posted by Jo Bossart/ParrySounds.com in Parry Sound, Town Council

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Agenda, By-Law, DBA, parry sound, safety, Stockey Centre, Town Council

A very, very light agenda this week as Council heads towards the election. Nothing caught my attention as being a major issue.

Deputations

5.1 – Susan Hrycyna, Executive Director and Brenda Ryan, Board Member Parry Sound Downtown Business Association (PSDBA). Presentation of the Downtown Business Association’s Beautification Plan

5.2 – O.P.P. Staff Sergeant Mike Gordon and Rob Gibson from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. Update on the state of Parry Sound Fire 33.

Resolutions and Direction to Staff

9.2.1 – 2019 Council Meeting Dates. Resolution. That pursuant to By-law 2018-6814, Section 3, paragraph 4, Council approves Schedule “A” as attached, which provides the schedule of dates for the 2019 Regular meetings of Council.

9.2.2 – Updated Code of Conduct for Council, Boards and Committees. Direction. That Council direct the Clerk to provide notice of the new draft Code of Conduct on the Town’s website for public review and comment; and To bring back to Council a by-law for deliberation and discussion to the October 16, 2018 Council Meeting.

By-laws

10.1.1 – Rezoning Application – Z/18/7 – 32 Great North Road (Istvan). By-law 2018 – 6863. Being a By-law to amend By-law No. 2004-4653 (The Zoning By-law), as amended, for 32 Great North Road (Istvan)

10.1.2 – Rezoning Application – Z/18/5 – 24 Albert Street (Jackson on behalf of Moore). By-law 2018 – 6857. Read a First and Second time on August 14th, 2018. Being a By-law to amend By-law 2004-4653 (The Zoning By-law), as amended, for 24 Albert Street (Jackson on Behalf of Moore)

10.1.3 – Rezoning Application – Z/18/08 – Church Street (Jackson on behalf of Microsuite Properties Ltd.). By-law 2018-6864. Being a By-law to amend By-law No. 2004-4653 (The Zoning By-law), as amended, for Church Street (Jackson on behalf of Microsuite Properties Ltd.)

10.3.1 – Bobby Orr Hall of Fame Mastercard Sponsorship Agreement. By-law 2018 – 6865 Being a By-Law to authorize the execution of an agreement between Mastercard International Incorporated and the Corporation of the Town of Parry Sound for a Five-Year Event Sponsorship for The Bobby Orr Hall of Fame and Mastercard-Bobby Orr Celebrity Golf Classic (2019-2023).

The 2018 Race Is On – 2010 and 2014 Election Redux

09 Sunday Sep 2018

Posted by Jo Bossart/ParrySounds.com in Parry Sound, Reflections, Town Council

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Elections, Opinion, parry sound, Town Council

With the sprouting of election signs in the Town of Parry Sound it’s pretty apparent that municipal elections are not too far away. In a series of weekly posts I’ll take a look at elections past and election impending. In this first post I’ll review some of the numbers from the 2010 and 2014 Town of Parry Sound elections. The numbers in this post have all been publicly released although some now are seemingly hard or impossible to find on the Town’s website.

2010 & 2014 Vote Totals

The Town of Parry Sound election permits registered voters to select one individual for the position of Mayor and to select six individuals to serve on Council. No voter is required to vote for mayor, nor are they required to select as many as six individuals for council.

The table above summarizes the vote totals for 2010 and 2014. The numbers are remarkably similar. Even though e-voting was introduced in 2014 there was no real uptick in the number of individuals who voted. (Note: The Council “Votes Eligible” figures for 2010 and 2014 reflect that it was possible for voters to cast 6 votes each. More on these figures in the next post.)

2014 Votes Segmented

The chart below summarizes 2014 voter participation by age and sex. A quick look at the data reveals that the highest voting participation was in the group of voters between the age of 40 to 89, averaging 60% and above. There is little difference in the participation rate by sex, except for women in their 40s who voted at almost double the rate of men in that same age group.

The chart below summarizes the number of eligible voters in 2014 by age group.

Councillor Voting Results – 2010 and 2014

The two charts below summarize the distribution of votes received by candidates for Town of Parry Sound Council in 2010 and 2014. There is a remarkably smooth drop off in the number of votes and it seems that receiving 1,000 votes is the threshold for election, with 1,200 almost a guarantee of election. This 1,200 vote figure amounts to receiving a vote from 50% of the folks who actually showed up to vote. (Green bars indicate candidates elected.)

 

 

Council Agenda Preview – September 4, 2018

02 Sunday Sep 2018

Posted by Jo Bossart/ParrySounds.com in Parry Sound, Town Council

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Agenda, Archipelago, By-Law, Capital Investment, DBA, parry sound, Rezoning, Stockey Centre, Town Council, Water Management

Oh boy, this is an interesting agenda from so many perspectives. But my favourite has to be Item 4.3. It’s not often where a problem can be solved in so many ways without raising Town of Parry Sound taxes. I offer some thoughts on the other matters before Council this week in the following section. The commentary section is followed by an abridged summary of the major items on the agenda as presented in the council meeting package.

4.3 – Barry Ridout, resident of the Township of The Archipelago. Complaint that Parry Sound has no public drinking water available. (Letter)
Oh dear, another out of towner who enjoys low local property taxes and no water/sewer charges that is disappointed by the Town’s cessation of providing free water taps. But there are several solutions, none of which require additional Town of Parry Sound taxpayer expense. The first is my favourite.
a) Ask your Township to provide water from their 9 James Street offices in Parry Sound. The Archipelago already has access to Town water and presumably pays commercial rates for their current water use. If they were to supply their residents with the water that some require, the building water costs would rise only a little and that small amount could be passed on in the form of slightly raised Archipelago taxes. The cost ends up being covered by the beneficiaries.
b) Support the Water Depot on Miller Street. I have to believe that they can provide bulk water at a more reasonable price than the grocery stores.
c) Contact one of the businesses you claim to spend thousands at and ask to fill up your water jugs at their business. Don’t be shy, you are their customer.

Closed Session – d) labour relations or employee negotiations. (Stockey Centre) (Union Negotiations).
I’m leaning towards supporting the unionization of the Stockey Centre. As it stands now it is a non-union Town facility that does not benefit from any existing town services for things such as maintenance, snow plowing or grass cutting. Everything is contracted out. It may cost a little bit more but it tidies things up in so many ways.

9.4.1 – Tender – Denis Drive and MacKlaim Drive Servicing.
I was surprised by this one, it’s almost a million-dollar expense that I did not remember Council approving as part of the 2018 budget. Reviewing the R&R I realized that this was part of an agreement earlier this year to cost share with a developer the expenses of providing services for a potential of 19 new lots in the Town. So, I guess that works. The Town puts up most of the money now, probably in the form of a lower cost debenture, and then gets reimbursed in part by the developer with the balance coming in the form of future tax revenue from the new properties. That type of approach mostly worked with the Granite Harbour development.

10.1.1 – Rezoning Application – Z/18/6 – 1 Joseph Street.
It looks as though the rezoning request for this new twelve unit development will be approved.

Abridged Version of the Town of Parry Sound Council Agenda of September 4. 2018

Closed Session
a) the security of property of the municipality or local board. (Audit Questions of Council)
d) labour relations or employee negotiations. (Stockey Centre) (Union Negotiations)
e) litigation or potential litigation, including matters before administrative tribunals, affecting the municipality or local board. (Planning Matter)

Public Meeting
2.1.1 – Council will hold a public meeting to consider a proposed Zoning By-law amendment under Section 34 of the Planning Act, as amended. The purpose of the proposed Zoning By-law amendment is the applicant has requested to amend the Special Provision 26.44 holding (SP 26.44(h)) and Residential Second Density (R2) Zones to permit up to 160 apartment dwelling units at a maximum height of 16.5 metres. The property is currently zoned to permit up to 74 retirement residence units. The property is a vacant lot on Louisa Street and described as Part of Lots 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 on the west side of Louisa Street on Plan 21, or more particularity described as Part 3 42R9332, Part 2 of 42R9754, and Parts 2 and 8 of 42R10238.

Correspondence
4.1 – Letter from the City of North Bay. Request to the province for more stable, long term or permanent funding to give stability to the film industry in Northern Ontario.
4.2 – Joseph Raedts, 7A Addie Street. Sale Halverston to Raedts, 7A Addie Street, Parry Sound. Concerns with Right-Of-Way.
4.3 – Barry Ridout, resident of the Township of The Archipelago. Complaint that Parry Sound has no public drinking water available.
4.4 – Rick and Jean Beckett, 10 Meadow Street. Concerns with flooding issues on their property due to changes in near by properties.

Correspondence – Zoning By-law Amendment – Z/18/04 – Louisa Street (Acorn Ridge)
4.6 – Larry & Joy Hall, 114 Church Street North. Opposing the proposed Zoning By-law Amendment
4.7 – Louis and Elise Resonnet, 38 Louisa Street. Opposing the proposed Zoning By-law Amendment
4.8 – Mary Bertrand, 45 Louisa Street. Opposing the proposed Zoning By-law Amendment
4.9 – April Leach, 40 Louise Street. Opposing the proposed Zoning By-law Amendment

Deputations
5.1 Thomas Dowswell, 22A Belvedere Avenue. Citizens on the fringe of society – “Fringers”

Consent Agenda
8.1 – PSDBA Request for Board Appointments. Resolution. That Council for the Town of Parry Sound appoint Bernard Keating, Amy Black and Tanis Mack to the Parry Sound Downtown Business Association Board of Directors for the term ending November 30, 2018.

8.2 – Support for City of North Bay’s Resolution – Stable Funding for Film Industry Resolution. Whereas the film industry in Parry Sound added approximately $25 million in 2016, $600,000 in 2017 and 10 million in 2018 to the economy of Parry Sound; and Whereas NOHFC funding of the industry is a large part of the attraction to utilizing our Town and our people as staff in the productions, as well as in other northern cities; and Whereas the NOHFC funding application process continues to be short term, with current information on their website indicating funding applications are only currently open until fall of 2018; and A more stable, long term or permanent funding would give more stability to the industry and the jobs and impact it has here, as well as across Northern Ontario; Therefore Be It Resolved that Council for the Town of Parry Sound supports the City of North Bay’s Resolution 2018-229, attached as Schedule “A”, and calls upon the Province to make the funding of the film industry either more long term, as in 10 year commitments, or a permanent commitment.

Resolutions and Direction to Staff
9.2.1 – Discarded Needles. Direction. That the CAO’s September 4, 2018 report on discarded needles be received for information.

9.2.2 – Potential Waubeek St. Non-Profit Housing Development. Resolution. Whereas the Parry Sound Affordable Housing Development Corporation has requested Council support in principle for the development of an affordable housing initiative on Waubeek St. and; Whereas the proposed development would require a rezoning; and Whereas the Planning Act obligates Council to remain neutral in its position on proposed rezonings until the public consultation process has been concluded; Now Therefore Be It Resolved that Council defer indicating whether it supports in principle the development of an affordable housing initiative on Waubeek St. until the public consultation process through the Planning Act is concluded.

9.2.3 – Withdrawal of 2018 BOHF Scholarships from Reserve Fund. Resolution. That Council authorizes the withdrawal of $2,000 from the Bobby Orr Hall of Fame Scholarship Reserve Fund to pay the two recipients $1,000 each, further to By-law No:2018-6859 which established the Bobby Orr Hall of Fame Scholarship Reserve Fund and authorized the annual expenditure of $1,000 to two recipients.

9.3.1 – 2017 Audited Financial Statements. Resolution. That Council for the Town of Parry Sound does hereby approve the Draft Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2017 in Schedule “A” as attached.

9.3.2 – Financial Variance Report for Q2 2018. Resolution. That Council hereby receives and accepts the variance report for Q2 2018 (June 30, 2018) in Schedule “A” as attached; and Further that Council hereby approves the expenses for Council members for the period from January 1, 2018 to June 30, 2018, as in Schedule “B” attached.

9.4.1 – Tender – Denis Drive and MacKlaim Drive Servicing.Resolution. That upon the recommendation of Triton Engineering Services Limited, Council accept the tender from Fowler Construction Company Limited for the reconstruction of Denis Drive and MacKlaim Drive including water, wastewater, and roadwork, in the amount of $905,599.12, excluding HST, this tender being the lowest tender of two received. This includes $174,179.77 of work to be completed as part of the Isabella Street reconstruction project.

9.4.2 – Tender – Gibson Street and Logan’s Lane Retaining Wall. Resolution. That upon the recommendation of Triton Engineering Services Limited, Council accept the tender from Fowler Construction Company Limited for the replacement of the existing concrete retaining wall on the southeast corner of the intersection of Gibson Street and Logan’s Lane, in the amount of $75,850.00, excluding HST, this tender being the lowest tender of four received.

By-laws
10.1.1 – Rezoning Application – Z/18/6 – 1 Joseph Street (John Jackson Planner Inc. on behalf of Microsuite Properties Ltd.). By-law 2018 – 6861. Being a By-law to amend By-law No. 2004-4653 (The Zoning By-law), as amended, for 1 Joseph Street – (John Jackson Planner Inc. on behalf of Microsuite Properties Ltd.)

10.2.1 – Union Gas Franchise Agreement. By-law 2018 – 6841. Being a by-law to execute the Union Gas Franchise Agreement and repeal by-law 98-4008.

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