The council of the Township…

The council of the Township of Edwardsburgh Cardinal submits the following:

WHEREAS newly proposed municipal asset management planning regulations from the Infrastructure for Jobs and Prosperity Act, 2015, was proclaimed on May 1, 2016 and gives the province the authority to regulate municipal asset management planning; AND WHEREAS the new proposed regulations are currently posted on the Environmental Registry (013-0551) and is open for comment until July 24, 2017; AND WHEREAS imposition of new municipal asset management planning regulations by the Ministry of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure will result in extra costs and work burden for smaller municipalities, who may not have the in-house capacity to create the policy, monitor the outcomes and submit the required reporting to the Province; AND WHEREAS the proposed regulations will require the asset management plan to be approved in writing by a “licensed” engineering practitioner representing the municipality; AND WHEREAS many smaller municipalities do not have a licensed engineer on staff and would therefore be required to hire an outside consultant to approve the asset management plan, which would result in additional costs, but also result in the possibility of hiring a consultant who has limited knowledge of the community and assets within; AND WHEREAS the Province appears to have not considered the potential impact of the 2018 municipal election on the timing for the creation of the strategic asset management policy; AND WHEREAS the proposed implementation of the regulations does not take into consideration the timing of developing and adopting a major strategic asset management policy at a time when some members of council will be campaigning for election, other members retiring, and others being entirely new to municipal government; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council of the Corporation of the Township of Edwardsburgh Cardinal requests that the Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure delay the implementation of the proposed municipal asset management planning regulation until at least July 1, 2019 and preferably January 1, 2020, with a corresponding delay of the next three phases. AND FURTHER THAT staff provide feedback to AMO’s request for information on financial impacts in regards to the possible need for additional staff and consultant costs. AND FURTHER THAT a copy of this resolution be sent to the Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, MPP Steve Clark, AMO, the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville and its member municipalities.

[Original Comment ID: 210296]