1) Why are you running?
Owen Sound is a community with so much potential.
Four years ago, I spoke with thousands of residents, asking them how Council could better support the community. People had good ideas, and I worked every day to make them a reality. We were able to build the new 10th street bridge ahead of schedule, and sold the airport to a successful operator, saving taxpayers $250,000 annually.
It’s why I’m knocking on doors again. Here’s what I’m hearing from you:
We need to start a green bin program. It’s good for the environment and saves residents money on bag tags.
We need to better use existing tax dollars to increase the City’s annual budget for road resurfacing.
We need to support local businesses in the Downtown by investing $180,000 annually in revitalizing storefronts and buildings.
I believe the most important thing an elected official can do is listen to the people they serve, put their ideas into action, and deliver real results.
That’s exactly what I’ve done in my first term and I’ll continue to do if I earn your support again.
I’m Brock Hamley, and I hope to earn your vote for Owen Sound City Council on October 24.
2) Are there any steps municipalities can take to ease cost of living concerns? If so, what measures would you support?
Owen Sound has one of the highest property tax rates in the province. This is something I hear about from residents almost daily when I’m out knocking on doors. As a community where many seniors are on fixed incomes, and the average household income is approximately $75,000, finding ways to significantly reduce or eliminate tax increases is one of the most effective ways that a municipal government can help keep money in people’s pockets.
It’s why I voted in favour of the City hiring a firm with expertise in the municipal sector to conduct a third-party review of the City’s business. That review is currently underway, at no extra cost to local taxpayers thanks to a grant from the provincial government, and I believe it will drive some tough and important conversations about how Council needs to better manage the tax dollars it already collects from residents. Over the past four years I have worked hard to bring this message to Council, and I will continue to do so if I earn your support for a second term.
3) What are your ideas for economic development in your municipality?
Growing and supporting our local economy is not only vital to ensuring we are creating good jobs and opportunities for the next generation of Owen Sounders, it’s also an important part of alleviating the tax burden being placed on residents. My plan for supporting economic development in our community is twofold:
1. Owen Sound currently receives $90,000 from the County each year through the Community Improvement Program. This funding helps new business owners update and revitalize their storefronts. Unfortunately, these funds are often fully allocated by the end of January, leaving nothing else for the rest of the year. I would like to see the City find funds from within to match this investment, raising the total amount to $180,000 annually.
2. The City should look at creating and filling a dedicated position for a “sales person” to chase after business investment. Competition for industry is at an all-time high, and we must become more competitive. To achieve this, we must also determine what sets Owen Sound apart from its peers and develop a unique value proposition that highlights our strengths.
4) Do you think the municipality has a role to play in the recruitment and retention of physicians and other healthcare workers?
Healthcare, including the hiring of physicians, nurses and other medical professionals, is an activity that is exclusively the responsibility of the provincial government, hospitals and other medical settings.
However, I believe that City Council has a role to play in supporting these efforts once they are underway. I would like to see the City establish a new Physician Recruitment Committee. This Committee would work with the HR departments of the local hospital and clinics to develop a formal value proposition for why prospective healthcare workers should choose to live and work in Owen Sound. I would also like to see this Committee explore ways we can help new hires settle into the community.
5) What steps could municipalities take to help get more housing built that you support?
In the last four years, close to 500 new residential units have been built in Owen Sound, and there are another 2,000 currently in the construction or approval phase. This is the most new homes built in the City over the last 20 years.
Additionally, the Owen Sound Municipal Non-Profit Housing Corporation just opened a new apartment building with 60 affordable units.
Unfortunately, while the federal government provides grants to organizations like the Owen Sound Housing Corporation to build affordable housing, in order to receive these funds, the development must first be completed. This is where the City can and has come in. We hold the loans for the Corporation while construction is underway, so that costs remain manageable for the Corporation, and affordable housing can get built.
This is one way the City can support more housing and affordable housing being built.
6) Should the city do more to regulate short-term rentals, such as AirBNBs?
Short-term rentals (STRs) play an important role in supporting local tourism and our small business owners. However, I also believe that the ability of local homeowners to enjoy their property should not be unreasonably impacted. We must, as a community and a Council, find something between the two that works for our community, and above all, is enforceable
Many municipalities across Ontario have already implemented a variety of measures to regulate STRs. I believe we should reach out to the ones who have already tackled this issue to find out what has and has not worked for them, and use this information to develop and implement the by-laws that will work best for our community.