BY NANCY KELLY
Kings County Advertiser/Register
Kingston’s new policy and finance committee recently made its first move by drafting a “housekeeping item” that will allow the village to revise its fees-for-service more easily.
The newly established committee met in early March for the first time. During their meeting, members recommended the village change its fee-for-service structure from by-law to policy status.
Clerk treasurer Greg Towne says the move was made in order to simplify the “onerous process” of setting and changing fees, in this case specifically for sewer service. Under the Municipal Government Act any by-law amendments, such as changes in fees for village sewer service, can only be enacted following notification and multiple readings of potential changes. Policies, however, can be changed in-house without following any formal mechanism designed to generate public information or input.
The recommendation was heard at the March 11 commission meeting, where it passed.
Towne says the village’s new policy for fees was taken “word-for-word” from the former bylaw. It will remove all fees and fee schedules from individual bylaws and provides the commission with a mechanism to easily revise village fees. While no fees were increased under the recommendation, Towne acknowledges the village fee structure for sewer service could change to assist in the development of the 2010/ 2011 budget document.
