NOTL discusses sharing more services with the region

After Niagara Region and the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake agreed last month to begin sharing resources related to planning responsibilities, Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa says a “vast opportunity” remains for lower-tier governments in Niagara to find other forms of shared services that could be beneficial.

In a report brought to Tuesday’s committee-of-the-whole meeting, Niagara-on-the-Lake chief administrative officer Marnie Cluckie summarized work already underway as a joint effort between the heads of staff across Niagara’s municipalities.

Although local CAOs have implemented shared services in many areas and continue to pursue shared services opportunities, “the need for more concerted attention to address these opportunities is crucial,” Cluckie said.

Recently, the town and region agreed that NOTL will have access to regional expertise the town currently doesn’t have, as well as access to additional planners when work is piling up.  

This is a result of the approval of Bill 23, creating significant changes to the Planning Act, with specific impacts involving the removal of upper-tier planning responsibilities. It will take effect early next year. 

Asked by Coun. Gary Burroughs if elected officials are expected to weigh in with suggestions on other areas where shared services could be a fit, Cluckie said ideas are welcomed.

“Certainly, we look to our councils for any input they have in terms of where you’d like to see resources put,” said Cluckie. “If you have feedback, we’re more than happy to take that away.”

Zalepa said it’s vital that municipal councils, including NOTL’s, play a role in ongoing steps being taken across the region for shared services.

“It is incumbent on elected people to continue to push for this to modernize government to allow us to be more responsible with taxpayer resources,” he said, adding that if proven to be effective, it may cause the province to “think twice about amalgamation,” a path the lord mayor has already shared concerns about publicly.

Zalepa said during the committee meeting that he believes it’s important that “local government makes local decisions.”

Niagara’s CAOs meet regularly and “continue looking for ways to deliver services more efficiently and effectively,” said Cluckie.

Also attached to the committee agenda was a report from the region, done in collaboration with the head administrators of Niagara’s municipalities, listing successes achieved as well as potential areas of focus where opportunities could exist to find efficiencies, savings, or service delivery improvements.

In that report, it says shared services, varying in scope, complexity, financial and operational savings, have already been taken place, including shared fire service pilot projects, mergers of libraries, amalgamation of transit, and coordination of animal control services.

Last year, regional council approved sharing its financial management system with the City of St. Catharines, complete with an implementation work plan, project agreement, and a shared service agreement, so that the region would become St. Catharines’ financial management software and support provider. It is expected to launch in 2024, the report says.

In October 2021, Grimsby and Lincoln began a shared fire service pilot, establishing Niagara West Fire and Emergency Services to serve the two neighbouring communities.

Lincoln and Pelham successfully merged their library systems in 2022.

Building upon “initial successes with collective purchasing and reciprocal borrowing agreements,” the municipalities now share services, programs, and staff, says the report.

Coun. Sandra O’Connor said Niagara-on-the-Lake council should “proceed with some caution” when taking steps to implement shared services.

She used the St. Davids roundabout as an example – a regional project the majority of the local council has said it does not support.

“I don’t think they’re taking into consideration what the council is saying,” said O’Connor.

Zalepa said people shouldn’t “be afraid of shared services” and that it doesn’t involve directions being handed from the region to towns and cities.

It should be seen, he said, as “local, elected people making local decisions using resources that are perhaps shared.”