Owen Sound mayoral candidates present different approaches

An all-candidates meeting revealed differences in approach, if not aims, between Owen Sound's two mayoral candidates.

Coun. Richard Thomas, who is challenging Mayor Ian Boddy, questioned Boddy's leadership during the two-hour meeting at the Harry Lumley-bayshore Community Centre on Thursday.

The city needs “strong leadership, something we have not witnessed a lot of in the past term,” Thomas said. That and “considerable conflict” between councillors has meant a “woeful lack of action” on key issues of high taxes and housing affordability.

Thomas called for new ideas and vowed to strike a mayor's task force on property taxes to examine solutions, including the idea of possible annexation or amalgamation, as his top priority.

“Are there other service agreements? Is there cost-sharing we can do with our neighbours? Assuming that our neighbours want to share costs with us,” Thomas added.

On the task force idea, Mayor Ian Boddy said: “I don't need to put together another committee to talk about taxes, at all. We know what we've got to do. We either have to increase our revenues or else we have to cut our costs.”

Boddy said people are worried about being able to afford gas for their cars and the economic situation seems to be getting worse. The city should spend its grants only on needs like roads, not wants, he said. City tax increases “have been a lot less in the last few years than all of our neighbours around us,” Boddy noted.

Asked whether they would try to revisit municipal amalgamation, given the city couldn't find a willing municipal partner 20 years ago, the candidates' answers also revealed their different approaches.

Thomas noted he used “the A-word” for annexation or amalgamation but given the city's 22,000 people are basically paying for services provided to a greater Owen Sound area population of 50,000, it's a problem that needs a solution.

“We cannot go on like this in Owen Sound. And I am whole-heartedly in favour of examining any possibility -- any possibility -- for easing the burden on the taxpayers in Owen Sound. And I think it's very important to include annexation and amalgamation in those discussions.”

Boddy said neighbouring municipalities “are not interested” in taking another look at amalgamation but he said he hopes the province will make changes with amalgamation and restructuring. “I agree, I would like to change boundaries too. It's not within our control.”

“Over the past years we've sat at these tables, we've heard we didn't co-operate enough with any of our neighbours and we were too difficult and weren't building relationships,” Boddy said.

Incumbent councillors often talked about their efforts over the past four years.

Travis Dodd said he wanted to be part of the team to make Owen Sound a better place for is children and others, using his experience and leadership skills and collaborating to solve problems. Consultation and efficient use of taxes and service delivery efficiencies are among his aims, he said.

Coun. Brock Hamley said if elected he'd advocated for a green bin program; more money for road resurfacing and more funds towards downtown storefront revitalization.

Coun. Marion Koepke committed to focusing on what matters and using common sense. She listed numerous council accomplishments she supported, including downtown improvement, housing development, transit, growth policies and more.

Coun. Carol Merton said she would use her experience to help attract doctors and do more to have affordable housing. She would seek new approaches suggested by the community. She would try to represent the unrepresented.

In the race for deputy mayor, Deputy Mayor Brian O'leary, who also sits on county council, noted his record, including support for downtown's River District, taxpayers, and belief in the need for teamwork on council.

He sits on 11 committees, more than anyone else, he said, and advocates for housing, homelessness, addiction and mental health support and others. He pours his heart and soul into the work, he said.

Challenger Scott Greig said he would consider affordability in all decision-making, criticized county tax increases during O'leary's term, including 6.6 per cent last year alone. Greig said he moved three successful motions to save money at the last budget session. He led discussion to complete Alpha Street reconstruction in two years rather than three, saving costs and disruption, he said.

He favours reducing financial demands on developers to make housing more affordable and available.