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Media Type : Newspaper Article
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Community : Bradford West Gwillimbury
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Description : Bradford West Gwillimbury Town Council has voted to create a new municipal Engineering Department that will be responsible for both Sewage Treatment and Water supply. The decision, following a vote to sell off the Town's electrical Utilities Commission of its last responsibilities, and means the end of the 82 year old body. The municipal water supply has been the responsibility of the local PUC since about 1930. Under Provincial Bill 35, The PUC can no longer be responsible for electric supply within the urban area, by November 7th - and rather than continue to have a 5 member Commission to control the water works and 3 personnel, a report recommended turning Water over to a new Engineering Department. The report suggests that the move will give Council better control over finances and budgeting, provide greater integration of infrastructure and municipal planning and development priorities, and potentially, find savings, by using municipal accounting and management systems already in place. But it was control over the decision-making process that was seen as critical, especially with a future connection to the Georgian Bay water pipeline in question. The cost of connection will require debenture so large that it could bring the Town to the limits of its debt capacity - a decision that should be made by Council, and not by an arms-length body, the report stated. The new Engineering Department, endorsed by Town Council in a special meeting on July 18th, would incorporate Water Public Works, and Sewage Treatment.