Joanne McQuarrie, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter | [email protected]
Budget shake-up on the cards
Jasper Municipal Council could change the way it sets the town budget this year.
A 鈥榖ottom up鈥� approach has been used for budgets for the last five years, with the administration going to council with a budget recommendation based on needs to maintain service levels.
But council talked about using different approaches at their Committee of the Whole meeting Sept. 8.
Administration hoped council might consider setting a target dollar amount or percentage increase so the department could prepare a budget for discussion - and allow for better allocation of resources for the budget work ahead.
But Mayor Richard Ireland said instead of a bottom up or top down approach, an integrated approach between council and administration needs to be used instead.
"I would rather use the budget as an opportunity to build a relationship between council and administration," he said.
Coun. Jenna McGrath pointed out the importance of council working with administration as well.
Less money owed
Jasperites owe less money in taxes to the municipality than they did last year.
The amount of outstanding taxes has decreased from 16 per cent in 2019 to 13 per cent this year.
"We are looking better than the prior year," said Natasha Malenchak, director of finance and administration, who presented an update on the COVID-19 Tax and Utility Deferral, to council.
Moving on
When Mark Fercho, Jasper鈥檚 chief administrative officer (CAO), leaves his job in November, he will also leave his role as chairman of the Jasper Community Housing Corporation (JCHC).
And when he goes, he has recommended that the association appoints a chairperson who is not the municipal manager until the articles of incorporation are updated.
The JCHC manager is responsible for coordination of the various consulting services in both the governance and financing of the project, the site preparation, servicing and construction aspects.
They also coordinate JCHC board meetings and report to council for decisions on JCHC matters as approved by the board.
Fercho will be moving to Cranbrook, B.C., in November to start a new job as CAO.
He has already prepared a JCHC succession plan and recommended that council direct administration to issue an RFQ for JCHC manager services on an as-needed basis
Ireland said there's a need to get JCHC shareholders together for discussion, to take JCHC matters off the municipality's council agenda.
Virtual council
Since March 31, the only way to tune into a Jasper council meeting has been online or by phone.
And a discussion this week to reopen meetings to the public elicited several points of view.
After months of meeting virtually on Zoom, council returned to in-person meetings on July 28, held in the lower level of the Library and Cultural Centre, continuing to stream the meetings online.
But councillors wondered whether they could start to allow people back in-person.
McGrath said: "I feel that our capabilities with the technology we have, provides the public with a wonderful opportunity to be enjoyed with council, but from afar.鈥�
She said she questions councillors giving themselves an exemption of not wearing masks in the room, but expecting the public to in similar situations.
Coun. Bert Journault said the Zoom format works very well, and added the public should be directed to their Zoom platform.
Coun. Helen Kelleher-Empey said it's great council returned to the meeting room, and that the Zoom format works. She said she's heard from some members of the public, however, that they would like to attend meetings in person.
Kelleher-Empey said if the doors are opened to the public, councillors can wear a mask and apply social distancing measures.
"I'm glad with the way we're set up here," said deputy mayor Rico Damota, adding that he would be more comfortable conducting meetings via the Zoom format.
Ireland said he's quite comfortable with the Zoom format.
"I would prefer to step back than step forward," he said.
He noted that the configuration of the room serves council well but, because the tables have been arranged to incorporate social distancing, a councillor would have their back to the gallery, and added, "that's disrespectful". He said he's not prepared to open to the public yet.
Fercho said, in addition to watching meetings via Zoom, people can phone in to be at the meetings as well.
"If we're concerned about being close to a few public members, why did we open the Activity Centre?" Butler asked. He said the public should be allowed to attend the meetings, using social distancing measures.
Fercho pointed out that generally, public attendance at council meetings is a matter of observation, rather than participation.
Advocating for pedestrians
Council had praise for a letter written by Jasper resident, Erin Toop, saying it is professional and comprehensive.
Toop wrote to council to advocate for Jasper's pedestrians including those who use wheelchairs and other mobility aids, people pushing strollers and people who walk.
She said active transportation is critical to the health of a community and asked that priority be given to pedestrians on Jasper's downtown streets.
Council will discuss Toop's points at upcoming meetings.
