The first night of the 2020 budget deliberations is in the books for Chatham-Kent and staffing recommendations were the hot topic.
Four positions were up for debate -- a human resources generalist costing $87,303, an engineering technologist for $115,393, an engineering solutions analyst for $109,423 and an engineering manager costing $122,087.
Both the technologist and solutions analyst are supplemental, existing positions in the engineering and transportation division that will end in about a year. However, Thomas Kelly, general manager of infrastructure and engineering services, said he was requesting to make them base positions. Meanwhile, the engineer manager was a new recommendation.
Kelly said the roles were vital for keeping up with work volumes and keeping work in-house.
"All of these jobs are really to support our growth strategy and support our asset management plan," explained Kelly.
To help save some money from the base budget, about $434,000, the executive management team put a revised recommendation up for approval that included alternative funding sources towards the four roles.
However, some councillors argued that the positions should be taken out of the budget altogether. The argument was made that the positions could be fulfilled within the individual departments by existing staff.
Chief Administrative Officer Don Shropshire countered by saying oftentimes, municipal staffing requirements are tied to service levels that have been established by council.
"Those staff are tasked to do requirements that are meeting council service expectations," he said.
Ultimately, council voted in favour of the revised recommendations which include the following:
- Human resources generalist be funded internally by every department finding internal savings
- Engineering technologist, engineering analysts and engineering manager be funded out of the new asset management plan funding
- A $11,670 one-time equipment costs for all four positions be funded from the strategic development reserve
According to Budget Chair Councillor Brock McGregor, feedback from the community and from council about staffing requests led to the revised recommendations.
"One of the things that was heard from the community was concerns over staff changes. That's something that we look at every year. Administration heard that concern and made some recommendations for funding the positions either through internal efficiencies or through reorganization and cost savings in their department," McGregor explained. "So, those positions won't have a tax impact."
After discussing the staff recommendations, council moved on to the 2020 capital budget. In total with the starting capital base budget, the one-time Federal Gas Tax addition and the recommended 0.33 per cent tax increase requirement for disaster mitigation and adaptation funding projects, the assumed 2020 capital budget sits at $13.6 million.
The bulk of discussion went towards whether or not to remove the $1.4 million Thames River Trail project from the capital budget. The third and final phase of the project would expand the trail down Grand River Line, over the Prairie Siding Bridge then back to the River Line, making it a complete connecting circle and equating to half a marathon in length.
Councillor Steve Pinsonneault put forward a motion to take the trail project out of the capital budget. However, many councillors spoke in favour of keeping it in, citing the health benefits that a trail system had on residents in the municipality.
Chief Financial Officer Gord Quinton noted that if the Thames River Trail project was removed from the budget, it would have no tax impact and the money allocated for it would instead just go towards funding other items in the capital budget. Council would have a separate discussion and make a separate motion to alter how much money is in the capital budget.
In the end, council voted in favour of keeping the trail project in the capital budget.
"This is a project that has been ongoing for the last several years," said McGregor. "It's a real asset to the community, it's seeing increased use. If there's any lesson we've learned about cycling in our community is that if you have a network, you have to complete it."
Budget deliberations continue Wednesday night at 6 p.m. at the Civic Centre in Chatham.
During Wednesday's deliberation, council will continue working through the capital budget, move into infrastructure discussions and hear the proposed police budget.