​Kincardine councillor excused from budget meeting due to inappropriate comments

Kincardine councillor Bill Stewart (above) found his attendance cut short at the budget meeting Monday morning (Dec. 18) after his comments were deemed inappropriate.

Treasurer Roxana Baumann had presented her draft budget report which outlined a proposed seven-per-cent rate increase for the municipal portion of property taxes.

She explained that there were uncontrollable changes in the budget, including such things as the Ontario Municipal Partnership Funding, property tax relief for natural gas pipelines, IT (information technology) services agreement, OPP contract cost increases, and salaries and benefits for employees. The total budget impact of these uncontrollable changes is $874,469 or 4.03 per cent.

Baumann also noted the draft budget includes several cost reductions and/or service adjustments, such as reduced building maintenance for ward shops, permanently reducing one seasonal bylaw enforcement officer, eliminating the Canada Day fireworks display, closing waste depots, eliminating the tall tree program and municipal tree purchases, and a reduction in maintenance work in several areas.

Stewart said the draft budget is basically a summary and he questioned why the information about wages and benefits does not include a figure for the step-up levels.

Regarding the uncontrollable changes in the budget, he said that staff salaries and benefits are controllable. “We control them. We haven’t seen a staff review yet.”

“If the staff complement remains the same this year as last year, then this is the net result,” said mayor Kenneth Craig. “This is based on the agreements we entered into.”

“Then we need to do better forecasting,” said Stewart. “Also, we have a disagreement here about the IT contract as part of the operating budget. I thought we agreed not to include that $100,000 until later.”

Craig asked Stewart to hold that question until the discussion of that specific department.

Stewart then asked why the reduction in services does not include a reduction in labour costs.

“I didn’t see that, just a half-a-million dollars in service cuts,” he said. “I’d like to know this figure.

“And why are we giving tax relief to a private company? We’ve included a $100,000 tax break for the natural gas pipeline.”

As chief administrative officer Jillene Bellchamber-Glazier was presenting her department report, Stewart left the council chamber and the mayor stated that once he returned, Craig would address Stewart's comments regarding the value of the information in the draft budget.

Upon Stewart’s return, Craig stated that Stewart’s comments were inappropriate, regarding the value of the budget discussion.

“Staff has invested significant time on this and I won’t tolerate comments that suggest the information is not valuable,” said Craig. “This is not debatable.”

“Do you want me to leave?” asked Stewart. “Are you saying that I can’t ask the hard questions? This is budget time. This is the most important thing we do on behalf of the taxpayers.”

“You’re suggesting that the information staff is presenting is not valuable,” said Craig. “We are having budget discussions. Your input is encouraged, just as everyone else’s is. To suggest that staff is doing things that are not of value to us, is incorrect.”

“I want more ...,” said Stewart.

“This is not debatable,” said Craig. “The chair has ruled.”

As the CAO continued her report, Stewart made several more comments and the mayor told him that he was excused from the meeting.

“Councillor Stewart, your insubordination is not appreciated,” said Craig. “You are excused from the council chamber.”

And Stewart left.