| Looking ahead to 2001 |
| By Morgan Ian Adams |
| Enterprise-Bulletin (Tue, January 2, 2000) |
| COLLINGWOOD - Town hall's organization, the CSL property
and the town's sewage system top the mayor's to-do list or 2001. |
| Terry Geddes also wants to continue to work with local
industry to ensure that maintaining a local presence remains a viable and
feasible option. |
| "As I watch the world markets, with a fear of a
recession, we have to continue to work with our industries," Geddes
told the newspaper, noting with many of the local industries controlled by
overseas owners, it becomes more important than ever to show that it's
advantageous to do business in Canada and Collingwood. |
| But the $50,000 organizational review prepared by consulting
firm KPMG tops Geddes list. |
| "There are staff issues there, and it will have an
impact on the entire municipality - it will have a direct impact on
everything," the mayor said. |
| Hand-in-glove with the KPMG report are also a number of
hiring issues the new council will have to deal with soon in the new year. |
| Along with a new fire prevention officer and junior planner
- both to replace staff - the council will also have to make decisions on
where it will go with economic development, special events and information
technology. |
| There is also a recommendation of the report to hire a
human resources professional. |
| "There are lots of personnel issues we're going to
have to deal with early in the new year," Geddes said. |
| On the development side, the mayor is expecting
applications for the west-end commercial node, as well as a new plan for
the former shipyard property. |
| Geddes, along with Councilor Sandra Cooper, town planner
Nancy Farrer and Chief Administrative Officer Carman Morrison met with
Canada Steamship Lines' officials before the November municipal election
to discuss the future for the 50-acre waterfront property. |
| Infrastructure-wise, there are issues both on top of, and
underneath, the ground. |
| Before the election, council passed a motion to apply for
Super-Build infrastructure funding for sewers in the east end - an
estimated $30 million cost. However, there are other sewer concerns
throughout the community, where parts of the system are upwards of 80
years old. |
| "It's definitely a major area to address," Geddes
said. |
| Roads will also dominate the council agenda in 2001.
The Georgian Triangle Area Transportation Study should be presented to
council early in the spring, with recommendations that may include a
southerly bypass rout around Collingwood. Council will also have to
look at its internal transportation system, as the town prepares for the
influx of traffic expected when the Intrawest development at Blue Mountain
nears completion. |
| The mayor also wants to pursue a second post-secondary
institution for Collingwood - a goal he announced two weeks ago at a
chamber of commerce power lunch. The mayor also hopes the
municipality is successful with its application for infrastructure funding
for a multi-use facility. |
| "When it comes to arriving to decision on items such
as economic development and Vision 20/20, we have to slow down and make
sure we make the right decision," Geddes said. "We have to
make sure we continue to have a community that functions in harmony, and
one we can take pride in." |
