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Former mayor provides laundry list of recommendations to Council

April 3, 2020   ·   0 Comments

By Mike Baker

Former Orangeville Mayor Jeremy Williams has called on Council to do more in the face of the global COVID-19 pandemic, making several suggestions that would enhance services and provide additional support to local residents during these trying times.

Compiled with the help of area residents through social media, Mr. Williams submitted a laundry list of requests to Council on Monday. 

“I do not wish for this to be seen as political in nature, or to attack the current council. I write with the hope that you (council) will act to address the concerns, complaints and suggestions (of the public),” Mr. Williams said. “Ignore your citizens at your peril, for they chose you to represent them and you chose to accept that privilege. 

Chief amongst the requests were that the Town force shut-down of all non-essential workplaces in Orangeville, and provide a clear definition for what an essential service is, fine businesses that are not shutting down to allow workers to stay home, fine people who are not social distancing, and provide direction on the legality of unlicensed home daycares in town, given that licensed daycares have been forced to close. 

Mr. Williams suggested that Council cease all major expenditures and infrastructure upgrades and curb all major spending until 2021. He also asked that the municipality go back on its decision to disband the Orangeville Police Service (OPS) so that money required to be spent during the transition to OPP, approximately $7.2 million, could be used to help with tax deferrals and reductions for local residents. 

Some of the requests, such as having the Town lift its overnight winter parking bylaw, recommend that hydro-rates be charged off-peak while people are home and self-isolating, and make adjustments to property tax requirements, were addressed at an unprecedented virtual meeting of Council on Monday afternoon (March 23). 

In total, 51 requests were made in Mr. Williams’ report. While many did not fall under the jurisdiction of the municipal government, such as providing mortgage relief to residents, lowering gas prices in town, and ordering the hospital to hire more registered nurses, Mr. Williams says it is within Council’s power to support such ideas and lobby the necessary level of government, or non-government agency, to take action.

“As a member of Council, you have the power to move a motion. You have the power to deal with all (of these issues). It would be easy to say an item is for another level of government – if so, move a motion to make that request official,” Mr. Williams said. “Some of these things could likewise be dismissed as part of the private sector, or outside of your realm. There is always something that can be done, even if it’s as simple as consistent messaging or (making) recommendations to the private sector.”

He added, “Bylaws can also be implemented as an emergency response measure. The parking issue could be quickly dealt with. As owners of Orangeville Hydro, and as a town that has its own police force, many options are open to you. My hope is that you won’t just ‘move to receive’. I hope you find the ideas and concerns of your citizens worthy of action.”

While Mr. Williams said the document should not be considered an attack on Council, there was one comment in particular that heavily criticized the community’s elected officials for a perceived lack of action throughout the COVID-19 crisis thus far.

“With respect, there has been a great deal of concern that Council is not being proactive. There have been calls for members to step down. Many feel Council should have met much sooner, and should continue to meet more often during this crisis,” the comment reads. “There has been an expression of displeasure that Council has refused to meet without first having an expensive technological solution in place first to let them tele-meet.”

It continues, “It is insulting to the hundreds of citizens who have to continue working throughout all of this, many earning minimum wage while being on the frontlines providing access to food, medicine and other essential items. There is a general sense, rightly or wrongly, that Council has not been active enough, and is waiting for others to act first. Many also feel they are not being adequately kept up to date with what is happening at a local level.”

In addressing Mr. Williams’ submission, Coun. Lisa Post asked that Council consider directing staff to go through the concerns listed and provide recommendations that members could discuss at a future council meeting. Mayor Sandy Brown seemed to be in favour of that suggestion.

“There are some good ideas and information in there. A lot of them are out of our purview, but I do think we should receive the document for further review from Council and staff,” Mayor Brown said.

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