New policies for Essex County as part of its new Strategic Plan

Essex County Civic Centre.

A couple of firsts for the County of Essex as it moves forward with its inaugural Strategic Plan.

Manager of communication and organizational development Don McArthur presented to council an advocacy policy which could help the county better prepare and position itself when it comes to lobbying the provincial and federal governments.

According to McArthur’s report, the county currently has no formal process when it comes to advancing Essex County’s priority and common goals it shares with its seven local municipal partners.

“The Strategic Plan says the county will develop and execute a coordinated advocacy strategy to advance common priorities with local municipal partners,” wrote McArthur.

In the past it was the responsibility of the CAO, Warden and Senior Leadership Team to apply to be a delegate with certain government ministries at conferences such as the Association of Municipalities of Ontario.

“I think this is something long overdue. It’s going to help us and put issues to the forefront and help when we appear as delegations” said Deputy Warden Joe Bachetti who chaired last week’s meeting in place of Warden Hilda MacDonald.

Bachetti said that he was recently at a conference in London where there was talk about upper tiers of municipal government having a Government Relations position which Essex currently does not have.

Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara, a former county warden, said with the recent release of the federal budget, perhaps a county advocacy policy could help bring funds to Essex.

“We all know Essex County has been hit hard,” said McNamara.

Also last week, the county approved a CAO performance appraisal policy which, according to director of human resources Kyla Pritiko will help ensure accountability, promoting leadership, development and fostering open communication between council and the CAO.

The policy was designed by Voakes Leadership Group for $10,750 which came out of the 2024 budget’s levy dollars.

Sandra Zwiers has been the CAO since 2023 and prior to that for five years she was Essex County’s director of financial services/treasurer. As part of the policy, the CAO is asked to do a self-evaluation.

“In the future, if we hire a new CAO, I think something like this should be imbedded in the hiring process at the beginning so we don’t have to reinvent the wheel,” said Essex MayorSherry Bondy.

New policies for Essex County as part of its new Strategic Plan

By Fred Groves