Councilors are not ready to dissolve the Chatham-Kent Public Utilities Commission (PUC) just yet.
Questions arose after a presentation by KPMG highlighting the benefits of dissolving the PUC and giving water and waste water governance over to municipal council.
“I am particularly concerned that the report identifies the $2.2 million in new staffing costs in addition to legal, consulting and contractual costs without council having the opportunity to review how these figures impact our overall budget and tax levy,” said councillor Carmen McGregor.
The Ward 5 representative, who is also a representative on the PUC committee, put forth a revised motion to defer the vote to allow for more information to be disclosed in relation to dissolving the PUC.
“I believe council needs additional information and education before considering adoption in principle,” McGregor added.
“Before moving forward it’s important that council fully understands the range of governance models used across the province for water and waste water utilities, as well as the true and complete costs associated with such a change.”
Administration recommended the dissolution of the PUC, agreeing with KPMG that this move would “establish clearly defined operational roles, responsibilities, and decision-making frameworks to eliminate ambiguity and duplication,” improving accountability and coordination across services.
“Staff is supporting the recommendation of KPMG, and one of the reasons I think why we are supporting it is the green, yellow, red list,” said CK Chief Administrative Officer Michael Duben.
“The work that you saw there not only is significant in terms of cost and effort, but we feel that if we have the most efficient model going forward we can accomplish that.”
Council voted 9 to 8 in favour of McGregor’s revised motion, with Mayor Darrin Canniff, and councillors Conor Allin, Anthony Ceccacci, Ryan Doyle, Amy Finn, Rhonda Jubenville, Trevor Thompson and Lauren Anderson voting against.
“I also want to say and bring awareness that the GM of the PUC, Darren Galbraith, Rob Bernardi, the Director of Engineering and Compliance at the PUC, Karen Burgess who is the Director of Operations for Water and Wastewater Services at the PUC and Ryan Brown, the director of public works were all collaborators on this and all agreed this was the best option to go for the PUC,” said Anderson.
“I don’t think delaying this will change our decision. I think it will take a lot more time and resources and money to do everything that is being asked in this to ultimately come to the exact same decision that’s being recommended.”
Council will make a decision on the fate of the PUC in the new year, during a special regular council meeting on February 2 which will include a presented report on the estimate costs on dissolving the PUC, other governance models that were explored, and include results from a public open house to be held in January.