Brockton withdraws from Municipal Innovation Council
BROCKTON – Brockton council is opting out of the Municipal Innovation Council (MIC). At the Jan. 23 meeting, council passed a resolution to that effect.
As stated in the Brockton resolution, MIC was established in 2020 “to find savings, efficiencies and deliver services better to their residents – all with the goal of building smarter, stronger, more resilient communities.”
Members of Brockton council have repeatedly asked to see some concrete numbers on how the municipality is benefitting financially from membership in the eight-municipality Bruce County partnership.
During a presentation by the MIC to Brockton council in the fall of 2023, Coun. Tim Elphick said he wanted numbers, not general statements about “being stronger together.”
At the same meeting, Coun. Mitch Clark said he liked the idea of MIC, but had heard “a lot of buzz words” in the presentation.
The Jan. 23 resolution stated that while the benefits from MIC membership may be evident to some municipalities, Brockton has been “carefully considering the value to residents when faced with difficult budgetary pressures.”
Brockton’s resolution stressed that the municipality remains committed to “finding strategic partnerships and collaborating with Bruce County municipalities.” However, they choose to do it in a “less formal setting.”
The resolution means Brockton is providing notice of its intent to end its financial commitment to MIC for 2024 and subsequent years. That commitment amounts to an annual contribution of $12,000, plus a sum based on population. The total amount discussed when the last agreement was signed was $22,630 from Brockton annually.
Brockton’s resolution further stated that the secretarial services provided by the municipality should be transferred to another partner.
In an interview prior to the meeting, Mayor Chris Peabody said council was in agreement that the financial benefits promised by MIC had not been forthcoming.
The municipal budget for 2023, including the amount for MIC, passed, but Peabody had made it clear at that time the matter would be revisited during 2024 budget deliberations.
At the Jan. 23 meeting, Elphick said he supports the motion.
“I think staff have worked diligently to co-operate and collaborate with the MIC around priorities… of Brockton and we have just not seen that collaboration and level of return as is noted in the motion.”
He supports reallocation of the funds previously earmarked for MIC to other parts of the municipal budget.
Deputy Mayor James Lang said he’d advocated for MIC when it first came through, but it “just didn’t work out for us.” He added that he echoed what Elphick had said.
Among the projects lauded as MIC successes was last summer’s pilot program for FoodCycler, aimed at reducing the volume of organic waste going into the landfill. Brockton had opted to not participate in the project.
The MIC program with the highest profile has been the Smart Beach Project in Kincardine, which has the potential to be of great benefit to lakeshore municipalities. Brockton, of course, is located inland.
Other MIC highlights include service reviews on waste management and information technology, and a digital mapping project.
The MIC had originally been part of the Nuclear Innovation Institute. An effort to have Bruce County take over running MIC was unsuccessful.
Brockton supports Port Colborne motion
Coun. Kym Hutcheon made a notice of motion at the Jan. 9 council meeting, to bring forward a resolution to support the City of Port Colborne and Township of Bonfield on a tax credit increase for volunteer firefighters and search and rescue volunteers.
As stated in the Bonfield resolution, Canada has 90,000 volunteer firefighters and an additional 8,000 search and rescue volunteers. While they receive an honorarium or funding to cover expenses, they don’t earn a living wage from firefighting. The federal government initiated a $3,000 tax credit for these people in 2013. The resolution asks that it be increased to $10,000.
Brockton to discuss another motion at next meeting
Coun. Greg McLean, recently elected to the executive of the Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority’s board of directors, has prepared a notice of motion asking the province to reconsider its minister’s directive under the Conservation Authorities Act for planning and development fees.
The matter will be discussed at the next meeting of Brockton council.
Pauline Kerr, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Walkerton Herald Times
