Experienced
Educated
Engaged
In the Agenda
Firefighter Recruitment, Retention & Recognition
Recognized the growing demands placed on volunteer firefighters and the need to strengthen recruitment and retention. Proposed a 10% increase in point pay and, when it was determined that volunteer firefighters were not eligible for OMERS, proposed an RRSP matching program that increases with seniority — providing meaningful long-term benefits to recognize commitment and encourage experienced firefighters to remain with Point Edward Fire & Rescue.
COMPLETE
Building a Strong Municipal Workforce
Moved that the CAO and management team establish formal annual employee reviews to set goals, identify training and development opportunities, and create regular dialogue between employees and management. While the process was implemented initially, it was not continued. I believe consistent performance and development planning is essential to ensuring Point Edward has a well-trained, supported and high-performing workforce — and that investing in our employees ultimately improves the service residents receive.
NOT SUSTAINED
Pedestrian Safety & Complete Streets
Strongly supported creating a more pedestrian-friendly streetscape by proposing controlled pedestrian crossings on Michigan Avenue, Alfred Street and St. Clair Street, along with upgrading and standardizing the Venetian Boulevard crossing. These improvements were proposed as part of larger road projects where possible to reduce costs and avoid duplicating construction work. The initiatives were part of a broader, multi-year approach to improving road safety through pedestrian infrastructure, road diets, traffic calming, pavement marking, bollards, enforcement and public education.
ONGOING
Strategic Planning & Long-Term Direction
In 2019, proposed that the Village develop a Strategic Plan to establish clear goals and priorities and guide decision-making by Council and staff. I have continued to push for the plan to move forward because Point Edward needs a clear roadmap for the future. A strong Strategic Plan will connect our budgets, infrastructure investments, development decisions and municipal services to measurable long-term objectives — helping Council move from reacting to issues to proactively planning for the Village’s future.
IN PROGRESS
Caregiver Expense Policy
Recognized that caregiving responsibilities can be a barrier to participating in municipal government and introduced a policy to reimburse eligible child care and dependent care expenses for Council members attending to Village business — helping make serving on Council more accessible to members of our community.
COMPLETE
Memorial Flower
Basket Program
Created an alternative to the popular memorial benches by proposing a memorial flower basket program that allows families to honour loved ones with a downtown memorial sign while helping offset the cost of the Village’s hanging flower baskets.
COMPLETE
Waterfront Park & Downtown Events
Proposed funding to create summer events that would attract more people to Point Edward’s downtown and waterfront park. The initiative helped launch “Vintage in the Village,” now a seasonal monthly car show held five times each year, bringing residents and visitors into the Village.
COMPLETE
Conference Expenses
Recognized an opportunity to improve accountability while reducing costs to taxpayers by proposing changes to the Village’s travel policy. The changes eliminated reimbursement for spousal expenses and required receipts for meal expenses, while continuing to ensure Council members are appropriately reimbursed for legitimate expenses incurred while representing the Village.
COMPLETE
Expand Municipal Accomodation Tax
Submitted a proposal to temporarily increase the Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) for two years to help fund Point Edward’s 150th Anniversary celebrations, while also proposing that MAT collection be expanded to eligible short-term rental properties. The approach would help support the anniversary celebrations while ensuring that accommodation providers benefiting from tourism contribute appropriately to the costs of promoting and celebrating our community.
IN PROGRESS
Turning Blight into Opportunity
Regularly raised concerns about neglected and derelict properties to address blight and safety issues in the Village. Advocated for action on the former Holmes Foundry and Michigan Avenue properties, helping move both sites toward the removal of vacant structures. The removal of the buildings improved safety for first responders who had previously been required to attend the properties for various incidents. With the sites now cleared, both have attracted renewed development interest and proposals that could return these long-vacant properties to productive use and contribute to the Village’s tax base.
ONGOING
Project Management
& Oversight
Recognizing the demands of the St. Clair Street/Lite Street road project, recommended retaining a dedicated Project Manager focused specifically on the Village’s interests, including project oversight, communication with affected businesses and residents, and ensuring issues were addressed in a timely manner.
The proposal was not adopted. Although engineering services were in place, I believed the Village also needed dedicated project management focused specifically on protecting its interests and coordinating the many parties involved. The project subsequently experienced significant delays and challenges. While it is impossible to know whether dedicated project management would have prevented all of these issues, the experience reinforced my belief that complex municipal projects require clear, dedicated oversight focused on the Village’s interests.
NOT APPROVED
Enivronmental Services Building - Financial Oversight
Challenged the evolving scope and escalating cost of the Environmental Services Building and questioned whether the project could be located elsewhere as part of a broader workplace enhancement benefiting more Village employees and departments. Recognized that the financial commitment could affect water and sewer rates for decades and brought forward alternative options for Council to consider, with a focus on maximizing the Village’s return on investment and protecting taxpayers from unnecessary long-term costs.
IN PROGRESS
Proactive Budget Planning
Advocated for changing the Village’s past practice of approving the annual budget near the end of the first quarter so that budgets are prepared and approved before the start of the fiscal year. This approach provides clear financial direction from day one, improves accountability and allows Council and staff to make decisions based on an approved plan rather than operating for months without a finalized budget.
COMPLETE
150th Anniversary Planning
As Chair of the Finance & Administration Committee, advocated for early and proactive planning for Point Edward’s 150th Anniversary by ensuring the anniversary remained a standing item on the committee’s monthly agenda. Recognizing this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to celebrate our Village, I believe planning cannot begin too early. A successful anniversary will require meaningful engagement with residents, businesses, community organizations and volunteers, along with time to develop events and initiatives worthy of the occasion. I advocated for starting the planning process early to allow broad community input, build partnerships and ensure the Village is positioned for a memorable and successful celebration in 2028.
IN PROGRESS