Inaugural Address

Delivered by mayor robert deutschmann

Township of North Dumfries

December 6th, 2010

Thank you.

I want to welcome everyone to our special Swearing in Ceremony celebration.  I want to welcome all family and friends who have come out for this special occasion.  This event is as much a thank you and celebration for all you have done and will do over the next 4 years that permits us to carry out the work of the Township.

This past municipal election was unlike any we have had before.  We had interesting competitions at all levels.  I dare say everyone here has earned their stripes.

I want to extend my congratulations to my fellow councilors.  We have some familiar faces and a new face around the table.  I welcome back Gord, Sue and Ben.  Their time in office and experience will be most helpful.

I welcome Neil Ritchie.  Neil replaces Ted Higgins, who provided the Township with many years service as a councilor for Ward 4.  We wish Ted all the best in his retirement from public office and all the best with his continuing recovery. 

It is important for a council to welcome new faces, new people.  It is a renewal of sorts.  New people bring renewed energy, ideas and drive to a council.

Before moving on I want to acknowledge the work of Ms. Denouden in her service to the Township.  She dedicated much of her time to the Township at various levels of municipal government involvement.  Her commitment to keeping property taxes low was certainly a hallmark of her 13 years as councilor and mayor, and we will look to continue that. 

However, like all things, change is necessary.  Change is important for the growth of a community.   In this past election the community sent a clear message.  The community was presented with a clear choice between staying the course and change.  The community was loud and clear, that they were not interested in Staying the Course.  In this past election the community clearly chose Change.  I am honoured by their decision and I will work to bring about the type of change that we clearly outlined in our campaign and that the community supported.

If you were to describe three words about my term as Mayor, it is my hope that it will be "Open, Transparent and Active".

I want the community to become more engaged in the local political process, more active regarding the issues facing our community, more involved in finding solutions.

Open - We need to let the community know what is happening.  We need to find ways to improve communications with the community on a variety of levels - like traditional media and the internet.

It 's about customer service.  The taxpayer, residents of the community are our customers and we need to ensure that in all our dealings, politicians and all levels of staff, treat our customers with the utmost of respect and do our best to provide them with timely and informative service. 

Transparent - We need to better inform residents about the about the affairs of the Township.   Providing clear information about our future plans, our roads and bridges strategy, our finances.  On finances, there has been too much misinformation circulated of late and we need to provide clear information.  It's the community's money that we are entrusted with.  These are the peoples tax dollars that have been collected, development charges paid to the Township, government funding provided under various programs.  We need to ensure a timely and complete reporting about what has happened with these funds, what their intended purpose and we have to communicate this better to the public.

We also require better financial reporting and controls.  I intend to work on implementing a timely reporting process so council can do their work properly and more effectively.

We cannot continue to look year to year.  We cannot go through the motions of a capital forecast and not put in place actual planning - including setting aside proper, identified reserves - implementing a plan - a long term plan that considers our investment strategy over many years.

Active - Collaborative - The good things that happen in our Township happen when we bring together a large group of people to work for the common cause.  Examples include things like our new Community Centre or the Fresh Ayr Festival.

Township needs to work with community groups.  We have to maximize the benefits from these arrangements.  We are a small Township and we have to learn to better leverage the resources available - through the Region of Waterloo, through Langs Farm Village Association and our Community Health Centre and other groups like the Social Planning Council of Cambridge and North Dumfries.

We need to be out there encouraging people in the community to get involved, to try new things, to be community activists and continue the growth and transformation in our community.   We need to encourage the Lindsay Pickerings of our community to stay active and involved.

Town Halls and meet and greets in the community will become a hallmark of the next 4 years.  We need to get out to the people, not wait for them to come and meet us at the end of Greenfield Road.

We have often heard the comment, particularly during the past campaign, that we have the best municipality in the Region, or we are the envy, because we have the lowest property taxes. 

Lowest property taxes alone cannot be a measure of the success of a Township.  In fact, one could argue that a focus on the lowest property taxes  leaves us with inadequate services and infrastructure to service the community.  Leaves us without a proper plan for the future.  Leadership requires a balance and it is my goal as Mayor to restore that balance in our community.

We need to actively promote North Dumfries.  For economic and residential growth and development.  Smart growth is needed to expand our assessment base and grow the revenues of the Township.

During the campaign we held a meeting on housing options for an aging population.  This was a well attended meeting.  Township needs to take the lead and facilitate discussion and planning on these important social issues.   The best way to do this is to engage the community through the effective and targeted use of citizen committees.  Like our Community Police committee.

We will look to expand the concept of community groups, with Township representation.  I regularly attend the meetings of the recently revised Ayr Business and Community Development group.   It's the best way to stay in touch and understand what is happening at the grassroots level.   One citizens committee that we will start immediately is a group based on Seniors issues.

We need to show that North Dumfries is a progressive and modern community with many amenities that make this a desirable place to locate your business or to move to.  As many of us already know, a wonderful place to Live, work and play. 

We need to demonstrate and show the unique rural and urban life balance that we maintain in our Township.

The International Plowing Match in 2012 will be an important event for our community.  It will provide us with one of the best opportunities  to promote NDT.  We look forward to working with the IPM committee in helping to make this a successful event in our community.

Of course there is the new Community Complex.  A project that is near and dear to my heart since 2004.  This building will transform our community, at all age levels, in many ways.  And as we stated during the campaign, we will be committed to completing this structure properly, including the soccer fields and splash pads, working with all stakeholders, to come to a community solution.  The cost issues are not insurmountable, the issues will be resolved together. 

I could go on.  Safety in our community, programming for all ages...

I recognize it's an ambitious agenda for the next 4 years.  But I did not run to give a partial effort to the position of Mayor.  I did not run to go through the motions over the next 4 years.  Those that know me understand that I will give this position my best and maximum effort.

This is a privilege to serve.  We need to show our constituents that we respect this position and that we are here to serve them.  The job is not finished with election night, but just the beginning.

I look forward to serving as your Mayor over the next four years.  I look forward to working with my fellow councilors and Township staff, at all levels, and especially all of you, the community, to bring about the type of dynamic change that our Township and its residents deserve. 

The people chose Change in the last election and Change they will get.

I can promise you that it will be an interesting and exciting 4 years in North Dumfries Township.

Thank you.