About that letter....
Bill states:
“To suggest Melanchthon needs a full time planner is not accurate. We did 7 severances in 2009. "
FIRSTLY : Melancthon’s own figures for 2009 show taxpayers paid Planning & Development fees of $65,039.08. Bill’s letter seems to intimate that all the planner did was 7 severances in 2009. Wow, if that is true, that is approximately $9,200 per severance in planning fees.
IF however you look at Melancthon’s breakdown in numbers, the OP planning expense was $12,000.00, the wind projects required planning fees of about $12,000.00, and general planning fees of $40,000.00 were paid.
And don’t forget, until June 2009 Melancthon’s planning consultant never stepped foot in the office. It was only in June and ONLY on pressure from ratepayers that Melancthon Council had the planner attend – ONE DAY A MONTH.
And the planning consultant has been “working on” Melancthon’s OP for 6 years and has not produced a completed map or final draft. Seems like he is trying his best to make a full time job out of that.
Bill goes on to state:
“The cost would NOT be a few thousand dollars more but probably two or three times the current amount, because there would not be the work to employ him full time.”
So by Bill’s figures it would cost Melancthon about $200,000 a year for a full time planner. And by a full time planner we don't mean a full time planning consultant, but a full time employee.
Lets take a look:
Here is a link to the City of Hamilton’s website advertising for an experienced senior planner:
https://hr.hamilton.ca/psc/hr8eapps/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_CE.GBL?SiteId=1&Page=HRS_CE_JOB_DTL&JobOpeningId=6524&
You will note the salary range is from $70,980 to $81,062.00 per year. Lets take the highest amount, add 20% for benefits and Melancthon can have a FULL TIME PLANNER for about $97,000.00 a year-NOT the $200,000.00 that Bill projects.
As for Bill’s statement there wouldn’t be enough work: HONESTLY... this planner would be dealing with the biggest aggregate application EVER proposed in Ontario. And it appears there will be more wind projects. And the next OP review.
And perhaps they could actually get someone who could multi-task, you know produce all bylaws in house as most other municipalities do, instead of paying a solicitor every single time you need a bylaw. Maybe this planner could even do the reports that go with the bylaws, instead of having to hire ANOTHER planning consultant to do that job. The planner could do bylaw enforcement and legislative research. Dare I suggest even work on a Strategic Plan????
Mono has a Deputy Clerk/Planner. Melancthon has a CAO/Clerk/Treasurer. That employee can do three jobs....
Just a thought.
More in another post.
I guess the general planning fees don't include anything to do with the Highlands proposal, because there has been nothing submitted yet. So $40,000 for general planning fees, WOW.
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