Municipality of Chatham-Kent Council heard over 100 deputations from the public at their Monday, June 20, 2022 virtual meeting.
The letters sent in by residents and community groups were dealing with a staff report focused on a service review of customer service in Chatham-Kent.
The sentiment stemming from the deputations were overwhelmingly opposed to the staff recommendations, in particular the divestment of “underutilized service centres.”
“The tentative recommendation of the Service Review Committee is to reduce the number of Service Centres and Municipal Information Desks to three Service Centres locations only, in an effort to increase efficiency and adapt to the changing needs and demands of service delivery,” a staff report indicates.
“Based on a preliminary review, the three Service Centres to remain would be the locations with the highest volume of transactions: Blenheim, Chatham, and Wallaceburg.”
A staff report says the Service Centre location in Dresden, which shares a location with the ServiceOntario office, cannot be divested until the end of the service contract with the Province or until an alternative location for the service is secured.
A staff report added: the Tilbury and Ridgetown centres could be closed and divested relatively quickly; the Wheatley and Thamesville Municipal Information Desks are located within buildings currently used primarily as libraries and costs and building space would be transferred to the libraries if these desks were closed; and the Bothwell desk is located in the old town hall building and currently shares space with a seniors centre, theatre, and library, and the current location could be repurposed as needed.
“Of note, the Bothwell, Thamesville and Wheatley Municipal Information Desks have been closed for over 24 months due to pandemic and emergency circumstances and have provided an unintented pilot of how services could shift,” a staff report indicates.
“This has proven to be a successful solution deriving efficiency gains.”
Of the 100-plus deputations, a letter from Cindy Brewer, Stuart Kiar and Liz Kominek, who are the co-chairs of the Dresden Shines group, was read to Council.
“Our small committee, over the last two years, has been successful in investing close to $60,000 in our community, through grants, donations and sponsorships… the Town Hall is the most visible symbol of our efforts,” the Dresden Shines group said.
“That investment has contributed to community pride, business revitalization, and economic spinoffs for merchants in our downtown core. Many of these initiatives would not possible without a publicly owned Town Hall. The clock tower sits proudly over our downtown and is visible from approaches from all directions. It also draws people to our downtown core, whether in search of municipal or provincial services.”
The Dresden Shines group added: “We therefore ask that you reject the recommendations contained in the Service Review Report, and instead work toward fostering real economic growth in our rural downtown cores. Direct staff to work with local community builders to come up with creative solutions to ensure service centres remain as vital links between the municipality and its citizens.”
The full staff recommendations can ne seen, below:
Read the full report, here.
After over two hours of deputations, Council agreed to move their discussion and debate on the topic to their next meeting, which is scheduled to take place virtually on Monday, July 11, 2022 at 6 p.m.
