The following profiles were published in the Guelph Mercury:
Vicki Beard
Age: mother to grandmother age
Occupation: retired small business owner and operator
Education: college graduate
Lived here: 28 years
About the candidate: I’m a retired small business owner, mother and grandmother, past master gardener, artist on the Guelph Studio Tour and founding member of Kids Can Play. Through my business, I helped others get started in business. I’ve taught adult education courses. On council, I chaired the finance committee and worked on several others. In 2007, I helped start Pollination Guelph, a group formed to create the first park dedicated to pollinators and educating the public about how pollinators sustain agriculture.
Three issues I feel strongly about: Maintain the sound financial management policies this council has developed in order to control costs and debt, manage financial risk, and minimize the tax burden while maintaining high quality municipal services.
Attracting sustainable employment is paramount. Guelph has ample employment lands which will soon be fully serviced, high quality municipal services and the quality of life required to attract new business.
Plans such as the Water Conservation Strategy, The Transit Strategy, The Solid Waste Management Plan and our Community Energy Initiative must be fully implemented. I also support our proposed Neighbourhood Engagement Framework—our communities need a strong voice and more input into the management and development of their neighbourhoods.
What is your ward lacking that the next term of council needs to deliver?
Under the provincial Places to Grow legislation, we must accommodate an increasing population within current city boundaries. This means higher density developments. The city must facilitate an open dialogue between developers and existing residents to minimize conflicts arising from high density developments in existing neighbourhoods.
The residents of Ward 2 and management of the Guelph Junction Railway must reach an agreement regarding maintenance of the tracks that pass through Ward
How should the city seek to grow in the next term of council?
Growth must be managed to facilitate a healthy, attractive and vibrant city. Well balanced growth across all segments is vital, increased residential density needs to occur along corridors and close to services. Carefully planning and design with input from surrounding established neighbourhoods is vital. Serviced employment lands must be available for the jobs required for an increasing population. Attention must be paid to the availability of services such as health care and recreation to all sectors of our community including especially seniors, youth and low income households.
What big-ticket capital budget projects should be started in the next term of council?
There are three major capital projects that are pending, the south-end rec centre, the library and the Wilson Street Parkade. I don’t have a strong preference as all of these projects are important. Which moves forward will depend on the available funding and the will of the new council.
What must be done to improve city-county civic relations?
Presently the city is having a very hard time getting clear financial information from the County concerning their use of discretionary funding from the city. We have no way of knowing whether these funds are being used in the best interests of the city. Transparency of all financial transactions, openness and accountability are vital to good relations between the city and county.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ray Ferraro
Age: 70
Occupation: real estate, construction and devevlopment
Education: High school graduate
Lived here: All my life
About the candidate: I believe my building experience and previous three years on council would be an asset in helping a new council and city staff correct and address the serious problems facing our city. I believe in representing citizens –keeping them informed and answering their concerns on a daily basis. I respect the trust voters place in their selection for council.
Three issues I feel strongly about:
1. Financial Stability. Our current council has increased spending on operating the city by $30 million during its term 2007-2010. Our city debt has increased to $85 million as of Dec.31, 2009 audited statement. There are currently millions sought in damages in lawsuits registered against our city. The 2010 budget shows an $8 million dollar operating loss. We need to quickly address these items with management and council before the 2011 budget is approved.
2. The current chaotic relationship with Wellington County which has resulted in no social or rent geared to income housing constructed in Guelph in the last four years. These needed units would have been built with federal and provincial funding.
3. Maintaining current levels of service without tax increases or closures .
What is your ward lacking that the next term of council needs to deliver?
Reliable bus service and access to facilities, no closures. Respect and support for the many seniors in Ward 2 in their operation of the seniors centre on Woolwich Street.
How should the city seek to grow in the next term of council?
We need to concentrate on attracting commercial and industrial investment in Guelph. This is critical to not only provide jobs but to also provide city tax revenue to improve the current situation which has residential paying 85 per cent.
If we do not correct this imbalance and the other problems mentioned above, I don’t think we will have any demand for growth in the next four years.
What big-ticket capital budget projects should be started in the next term of council?
Until we get our financial problems in order, none. With the exception of any related to maintaining existing services.
What must be done to improve city-county civic relations?
Immediately after the elections, we need to call a meeting (hopefully with new players) and see if a new agreement for providing a service partnership can be achieved. If not, we must call on the Ontario government to intervene and settle this war. It has caused a waste of millions of dollars in lost grants from the upper levels of government and hardship to people in need.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ian Findlay
Age: 46
Occupation: Small business owner and construction manager
Education: Some high school
Lived here: 28 years
About the candidate: One of the foundations of my successful campaign in 2006 was to bring transparency, accountability and accessibility to Guelph City Hall. I’ve worked hard to deliver on that promise, facilitating discussion on City issues with my Ward 2 blog. I’m currently chair of the ECO Committee and the Downtown Coordinating Committee. I’m also on the Nightlife Task Force, Social Services and Governance committees, Elliott and Public Library boards.
Three issues I feel strongly about:
1.Real value for your tax dollars.
2.Support Guelph businesses.
3. Let’s build a city we can be proud of for generations.
What is your ward lacking that the next term of council needs to deliver?
Good quality jobs.
How should the city seek to grow in the next term of council?
We need to revitalize existing neighbourhoods with respectful development and rely less on farmer’s fields for growth.
What big-ticket capital budget projects should be started in the next term of council?
New main branch public library
What must be done to improve city-county civic relations?
Guelph city council is elected to represent the best interests of Guelph’s residents and their money.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Paul Mahony
Age: 50
Occupation: community worker/church deacon
Education: community college social service diploma
Lived here: 42 years
About the candidate: I’m married with four children and five grandchildren. I’m a community developer and chaired the management board of Onward Willow for seven years. I’m past director of the Guelph Food Bank. I’m a deacon and board member of Royal City Church.
Three issues I feel strongly about:
Fairer tax ratio. Currently the ratio is 84 per cent residential. This means homeowners pay a unfair portion of city property taxes. I would champion a moved to a 60/40 ratio which would entail making this city more open to business.
City services. I would not cut services to save expense. This council has done this and people are not pleased.
Spending priorities. I would not spend millions on garbage bins and ice skating rinks when we are in a financial crisis. Finally people need to feel that their money they are taxed on is going to the services it’s meant to go to.
What is your ward lacking that the next term of council needs to deliver?
Commerical development right away. In the next four years a fire substation to address the growth in the northwest of our city. Services for seniors that take into account the limited resources they have. An example would be to look at reducing the cost of the seniors transit pass and extend the hours at the evergreen centre for more activities at different times of the day.
How should the city seek to grow in the next term of council?
Well the past number of years has seen residential growth move faster then the city’s ability to service the growth. This has led to areas being underserviced for years. The south end is still waiting for services that have been promised for years. Growth needs to take into effect that we have limited water resources. The reality is if we grow too fast we will need to consider a pipeline to Lake Erie or Huron. This will cost Guelph a fortune.
What big-ticket capital budget projects should be started in the next term of council?
A new library but only if it’s financial sound to do so. A fire substation in the northeast that is in Ward 2. Finally, building the needed facilities in the south end, including a recreation centre and police substation. I favour this over buying waste management bins and building a skating rink in front of city hall.
What must be done to improve city-county civic relations?
A mandated course in civility for both the city and county councillors. Joint councils meetings have been the place for insults and pettiness that is frankly unbecoming of adults. The taxpayers who pay for all this should expect people to make choices that are in the best interests of the people they are elected to serve. The county and the city have to realize that they need the support of each other to get things done.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Andy Van Hellemond
Age: 62 years
Occupation: Retired, former professional hockey referee
Education: high school
Lived here: since 1974
About the candidate:
My wife Cheryl and I have raised and educated our daughters in Guelph and we are proud to recently welcome our fifth grandchild to our growing family. I cannot think of a better time to be here to make a difference in Ward 2 and the city of Guelph. I want to help build a positive future for the youth and seniors in our community. I am best known for my career as one of the National Hockey League’s most well respected on-ice officials. Bringing service to others has always been one of my best assets. I have always been interested in municipal politics and the issues affecting our city. I have now become very involved by giving my time and energy to represent the citizens’ of Ward 2.
Three issues I feel strongly about:
I want to help build a positive future for the youth and seniors in our community, stabilize tax rates, and end excessive and irresponsible spending at City Hall. When misrepresentations surfaced about how our tax dollars were being spent, rather than talk about it, I have set my mind to find the truth. We need to start thinking of the City of Guelph as a company, and we the citizens, are its primary shareholders. As a shareholder, I am not very happy with how my investment is being managed.
What is your ward lacking that the next term of council needs to deliver?
I don’t believe Ward 2 is lacking in any respect. We are an established area of the city with many services for residents that make up a healthy community. However, I we need to take a serious look at seniors’ services going forward. Aging affects us all, and I want to ensure that the residents of Ward 2 have access to an age-friendly community. I will work to improve accessibility, and recreational and wellness programs that support the safety and well-being of our seniors. As councillor, I think it’s important to encourage new ideas and approaches to support our aging population well into the future.
How should the city seek to grow in the next term of council?
I will not support short-term growth without a vision for the future. Growth by excessive spending will only put pressure on our municipal tax base, and I am not willing to lay the burden on our future generations. I think there are gaps that need to be addressed. I support an increase in industrial/commercial investment while maintaining quality of service, which will help to stabilize our residential tax burden.
What big-ticket capital budget projects should be started in the next term of council?
Council should stop all new spending and get our house in order. The current council is stretching our debt to a level that is not sustainable. The current interest amount on the city’s debt is a serious concern and needs to be reversed.
What must be done to improve city-county civic relations?
Together, the city and the county can build a better environment for all of us –What is good for the county is good for the city. I will work to build relations with the county of Wellington. There needs to be transparency in the city’s relationship with the county and ensure they have the essential programs and services in place.