Gibsons council approved a slate of funding requests on March 16 in advance of budget approval, but after some debate has chosen to wait on a staffing hire.
Council voted to defer the decision whether to hire a manager of corporate services after rehashing a debate that began at a March 9 committee meeting when the staffing request was first made, and which resulted in a motion requested by Coun. Annemarie De Andrade for a staff report with cost estimates and options for conducting an organizational performance review.
At the March 16 regular council meeting Mayor Bill Beamish, who supports the hire, said he couldn’t justify the review, since it would likely cost at least $100,000.
Coun. Stafford Lumley said he didn’t want an expensive study, but needed more information before he could make a decision.
De Andrade, meanwhile, reiterated the review was needed to find efficiencies.
Coun. David Croal, who supported both a review and the extra hire, suggested council defer the decision to a future committee.
“I’ve been into the corporate officer’s office enough to see stuff piled on the desk a foot deep,” he said. “I’m not questioning the need that’s being asked for, I think council is feeling that we’re being asked for something without enough information.”
The March 9 staff report said the need was identified following an organizational design review and needs assessment, which “confirmed that the day-to-day office management and IT responsibilities should be relocated to a more appropriate level within the Town’s structure.” This would allow the director of corporate services “to focus on municipal legislative duties, which are most appropriately handled at the director level.”
The report noted all other departments in the town already have the proposed staffing structure in place, and it “has proven to be very successful.”
Council voted to refer the request back to committee for further discussion.
Council also approved moving forward with a five per cent tax increase for the 2021 tax year to cover anticipated costs related to a change in how policing is funded once the town reaches a population of 5,000 people.
That milestone could be reached following this fall’s census and when it does, the town will be responsible for 70 per cent of policing costs, pursuant to the B.C. Police Act, with the federal government covering the rest.
The annual cost is expected to increase to up to $1.4 million annually, more than triple the town’s current contribution, with a tax burden anticipated to range from 22 to 32 per cent.
The incremental tax increase to cover the anticipated tax surge was expected to start last year but was delayed because of COVID-19.
Beamish and the town is lobbying the provincial government for a phased-in approach and possible extension due to COVID-19, and that the population threshold be increased to 6,000.
Also on the operations side, council approved providing $5,045 to the Gibsons Senior Society to offset a purchase of a new freezer. Starting in 2022, a $5,000 line item will be added to the budget for seniors’ supports.
A further $5,000 has been added as an annual line item to build a reserve for children’s playground equipment and infrastructure.
Council also approved a number of capital requests ahead of budget, including $392,000 on road repaving, $276,000 for watermain replacements, $47,000 for creek monitoring, $13,000 in sidewalk repairs and $5,000 for building-permit software.
An additional $16,000 was earmarked for paving the westbound traffic lane on O’Shea Road outside of the School Road supportive housing project. The repaving is needed because of a construction error. BC Housing has been asked to cover the cost.
Councillors also voted to move ahead with an alternative tax payment scheme, which, similar to Sechelt, would involve penalty dates of five per cent starting July 3 2021 and another five per cent Sept. 1.
