Watershed Management is unfortunately one of those issue that falls by the wayside until it forces it's way to the top of every priority through contamination or some other issue that can threaten the very health of residents.
For those councils who have not yet developed a watershed management perhaps now is the time! With talks of ICSPs, Emergency preparedness plans and the like it is a lot to deal with. Lucky for you there is help on the watershed management front in the form of a guide developed based on the Steady Brook experience.
Found here A Municipal Guide to the Development of a Watershed Management Plan is a detailed guide including legislative references, relevant departments and templates all based on the Steady Brook example.
At the very least it can be the source for your very own plan. It's well worth consideration.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Ultimate in Cooperation?
If you click here you'll see the most recent example of amalgamation in NL. But if you've been watching the news lately you'll know that this is but one of a few possible amalgamations.
There was a time in the not so distant past when amalgamation was a very dirty word. Growing from a couple rounds of forced amalgamations was a bitter taste for forcing towns into a permanent situation, in some cases without appropriate consultations or discussions. Times have changed. The current provincial administration has promised no forced amalgamations but that isn't stopping towns from realizing that sometimes amalgamation is the best option. Many councillors who have gone through an amalgamation process fell that the end result is a more effective government with a more efficient service delivery model because sometimes amalgamation just makes sense.
Sometimes, however, amalgamation may not make sense. Because of the work of CCRC in providing assistance for cooperative efforts and promoting the benefits of cooperation some feel that we are simply promoting a hidden amalgamation agenda. The truth is that the goal for CCRC is to promote healthy sustainable communities with solid government structures and that sometimes that may mean amalgamation but the majority of times it does not. Simply on a physical level the geography of the province and the disbursement of communities would be a significant barrier to mass amalgamations.
From the CCRC perspective there are many ways to work together from joint councils to service sharing and amalgamation is but one tool in the box and like any tool it should only be used when it fits the job.
All the best to the newly amalgamated town of Roddickton-Bide Arm.
There was a time in the not so distant past when amalgamation was a very dirty word. Growing from a couple rounds of forced amalgamations was a bitter taste for forcing towns into a permanent situation, in some cases without appropriate consultations or discussions. Times have changed. The current provincial administration has promised no forced amalgamations but that isn't stopping towns from realizing that sometimes amalgamation is the best option. Many councillors who have gone through an amalgamation process fell that the end result is a more effective government with a more efficient service delivery model because sometimes amalgamation just makes sense.
Sometimes, however, amalgamation may not make sense. Because of the work of CCRC in providing assistance for cooperative efforts and promoting the benefits of cooperation some feel that we are simply promoting a hidden amalgamation agenda. The truth is that the goal for CCRC is to promote healthy sustainable communities with solid government structures and that sometimes that may mean amalgamation but the majority of times it does not. Simply on a physical level the geography of the province and the disbursement of communities would be a significant barrier to mass amalgamations.
From the CCRC perspective there are many ways to work together from joint councils to service sharing and amalgamation is but one tool in the box and like any tool it should only be used when it fits the job.
All the best to the newly amalgamated town of Roddickton-Bide Arm.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
New Year, New Success'
2009 is already shaping up to be an exciting time in Newfoundland and Labrador from a municipal perspective. Specifically from a CCRC angle we have just completed the Municipal Sustainability Self-Assessment process as the first step in the ICSP process and we're eager to get the rest of the process underway. We are still awaiting the ICSP report from the Department of Municipal Affairs before we can proceed further and all signs indicate that the report will be released soon.
The CCRC will be continuing it's traditional activities of providing information and assistance to any municipalities that request it with regard to service sharing or cooperative efforts. On the forefront of cooperation is our continuing work on Fogo Island with all councils taking part in discussions around potential amalgamation. Still early in the process but 2009 will be a big year for local government on Fogo Island.
The CCRC has been so inundated with requests for information and assistance and with the ICSP issue that we have not been conducting the research that we need to and so for 2009 we are planing to kick-start our research activities especially with regard to ideas of regional approaches to government and the financial benefits of cooperation.
As we are always looking to serve the membership if there are any areas of research or activity please forward them along and the CCRC Advisory Committee will welcome and consider all suggestions.
The Advisory Committee for 2009 consists of:
Chairperson: Madelyn Kelly - Councillor in Happy Valley-Goose Bay
Jody Fancey - Mayor of Bishops Falls
Dave Strong- CAO for PAradise
Kelly Voddon - Dept. of Geography, MUN
Keith Warren - Dept. of Municipal Affairs
Dan Noseworthy - Dept. of Municipal Affairs
Ryan Lane - CCRC Program Officer
Looking forward to a busy 2009.
The CCRC will be continuing it's traditional activities of providing information and assistance to any municipalities that request it with regard to service sharing or cooperative efforts. On the forefront of cooperation is our continuing work on Fogo Island with all councils taking part in discussions around potential amalgamation. Still early in the process but 2009 will be a big year for local government on Fogo Island.
The CCRC has been so inundated with requests for information and assistance and with the ICSP issue that we have not been conducting the research that we need to and so for 2009 we are planing to kick-start our research activities especially with regard to ideas of regional approaches to government and the financial benefits of cooperation.
As we are always looking to serve the membership if there are any areas of research or activity please forward them along and the CCRC Advisory Committee will welcome and consider all suggestions.
The Advisory Committee for 2009 consists of:
Chairperson: Madelyn Kelly - Councillor in Happy Valley-Goose Bay
Jody Fancey - Mayor of Bishops Falls
Dave Strong- CAO for PAradise
Kelly Voddon - Dept. of Geography, MUN
Keith Warren - Dept. of Municipal Affairs
Dan Noseworthy - Dept. of Municipal Affairs
Ryan Lane - CCRC Program Officer
Looking forward to a busy 2009.
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