Sarnia City Hall. (BlackburnNews file photo)Sarnia City Hall. (BlackburnNews file photo)
Sarnia

City of Sarnia service delivery reviewed

The final draft report of a service delivery review of the City of Sarnia has found what many municipalities already know.

Residents expect the city to deliver and enhance its services, but resources are limited due to funding constraints.

To make up for funding shortfalls, the city decreased staffing levels, limited infrastructure investments and didn't properly maintain assets.

Mayor Mike Bradley said he always welcomes another set of eyes to look over how the city operates.

"I view it as advice that, not so much council, but the CAO and new staff team can use to move forward as they look at how we're delivering services and can we be doing them differently," said Bradley.

Bradley said the Ford government offered funding for municipalities to review service delivery.

"It's ironic because the whole point of this exercise was to save money for the province, but there's nothing in this report that would really impact on the delivery of services by the province or money transferred to us."

Bradley said the city has to operate within its means.

"It's easy for a consultant to come in and say, 'in an ideal world I would like to have staff here, here, here, here and here,' but I'm also cognizant as the mayor of the people's ability to pay, and most of our costs are people. So, anytime someone's recommending a new staff position, it needs to be determined whether it is needed."

The review, to be presented to council during a special meeting on Monday at 3 p.m., can be viewed here.

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