BOB BUCHKOWSKY

CANDIDATE FOR TINY TOWNSHIP COUNCILLOR

Following is a brief statement on the six issues you identified from BOB BUCHKOWSKY, candidate for Tiny Councillor:

AMALGAMATION

• I do NOT support amalgamation
• Tiny can achieve cost improvements internally and through co-operative efforts in certain areas with our neighbouring municipalities
• If amalgamation is imposed on Tiny I will fight for the best deal for our residents…I too am a taxpayer!

WARD SYSTEM for TINY

• There are a number of PROS and CONS
• A ward system is likely to result in more costs through an increase in the number of Councillors to be effective
• A ward system may also result in further divisions in our already seriously divided township
• Tiny needs 5 members of Council who are committed to represent ALL Tiny’s residents in a fair manner and do what is best for Tiny as a whole.
• There are a number of MAJOR issues that will face your next Council…if there is strong support from our residents to look at a WARD SYSTEM for Tiny then I would be more than prepared to entertain the viability of moving in this direction.

PARKING STRATEGY

• Tiny needs a parking strategy that is fair and works
• It seems that every Council agenda contains correspondence from our residents who are not satisfied with the current parking situation…some want more ‘NO PARKING’ while others want LESS
• There have also been petitions and deputations expressing dissatisfaction
• As a first step I would support the establishment of a PERMANENT PARKING COMMITTEE with equitable representation ( 2 waterfront, 2 back-lot , 2 inland and 2 Council members). This committee would receive input, review options, visit the site, and make recommendations.
• Solutions must be derived through this type of ‘grass-roots’ approach rather than top down directives from Council

BALM BEACH- PARKING STRATEGY

• I support the development of comprehensive ‘Master Plans’ for our MAJOR OPEN SPACE as prescribed in our New Official Plan
• This is now underway for Balm Beach and I strongly encourage residents to participate in this process and provide their views
• A parking strategy is one component of the plan…your next Council must utilize ALL input in deriving a reasonable parking strategy for the area

CONTRACT CONSULTANTS

• We need to reduce the excessive reliance and costs associated with contract consultants
• This starts with STOPPING the mass exodus of staff that Tiny has experienced in recent times ….it has taken an extremely long time to fill the many vacancies and we are now close to working with a full staff complement.
• It is essential that we now work at retaining our staff and provide training to enhance their skills
• Contract consultants should only be utilized to provide specialized expertise or in situations where urgent projects cannot be accommodated by our full-time staff
• Tiny has had a full-time Manager, Public Works for only 7 of the 36 months of this current term of Council . The position was filled by one contract consultant for 17 consecutive months who was paid $100.00 + per hour. This quite simply is NOT ACCEPTABLE!

BEACH ISSUE/TOWNSHIP OWNED BEACHES

• ALL beaches must be used in a responsible and respectful manner
• Improved and proactive enforcement of regulations on township owned property is a priority (i.e. alcohol consumption, littering, dogs off leash etc)
• All concerns and issues with use of beach areas under private ownership should be submitted to the Provincial Mediator, Mr. Paul Torrie…I fully support community based solutions derived in a cooperative manner with the assistance and guidance of an independent professional expert

About
BOB BUCHKOWSKY

Background

• Honours graduate Commerce & Finance, University of Toronto
• Employed by a major oil company for 27 + years until voluntary retirement
• Managed various departments with staff of up to 50 and operating budgets up to $5 million

Tiny History

• With family, I have been a day-tripper, renter, seasonal resident and permanent owner for over 45 years

Active Community Involvement

• For the past 4 years, I have regularly attended Council meetings
• Concerns have been brought to Council’s attention through approximately 20 deputations
• Volunteer in various community activities

The Major Issues

Beach access disputes; Shoreline Parking Management; Environmental protection; Economic Development; Municipal Tax Increases; Excessive Use of High Cost Contractors; Township Staff Departures; Low Staff Morale

“There are many critical problems in Tiny that must be addressed in a constructive manner. I will make a personal commitment to work in a cooperative manner with the residents of Tiny and the other members of Council to accomplish this. Decisions will be made by listening to ALL input, entertaining different views and arriving at conclusions which will benefit Tiny as a whole. As such, there will be NO special favours or considerations granted in seeking support from any special interest group or association in Tiny.

I look forward to providing good municipal government for ALL the residents of Tiny for the next 3 years.”