Priorities & Focus
Following her first term on Council, Sherry plans to focus on Community Engagement, Fiscal Responsibility and Diversified Growth moving forward.
Customer Service and resident satisfaction are key to Cramahe's future success.
Current Focus
Cramahe faces a number of future challenges. We need community involvement.
Sherry remains focused on understanding and responding to what is required.
She is a strong advocate for Advisory Committees which have proven their effectiveness this past term.
No one among us has all the answers but together we can find them.
Community Engagement
Collaboration and community engagement begin with communication.
Communication is a two-way street. It's more than simply delivering information to residents. Listening and respecting the input from our community is the way forward.
Town hall meetings and surveys are only effective if we pay attention to the results.
We need more two way dialogue between the Council and the community.
Making customer service a priority and measuring resident satisfaction will help us get on the right path.
New Funding from the Province
Municipalities in Ontario are struggling.
Property tax is paying for things it was never meant to cover. Downloaded provincial services need funding attached.
Paying for healthcare, social services, provincial highways and housing is putting a strain on the property tax.
In the last 4 years municipalities across Ontario have increased property tax on average by 19-24% to pay for services that were previously paid for by provincial revenue.
The problem is province-wide and it's unsustainable. We need to bring property tax under control and advocate for a new deal.
Sustainable Agriculture
Farmers feed us all. The trade war has added immense pressure to every aspect of our economy. Farming is no exception.
We need to recognize that food security is National Security. It will take an array of solutions to address and fill the gaps we currently fill with imports from the United States.. Farmers need to be part of the solution.
It's time for serious dialogue that includes our agricultural community and requires support from upper levels of government. Getting the right people in the room is just the beginning.
It's all about working together and advocating for changes that will allow the agricultural sector to grow in a sustainable way.
Priorities and Focus
During her first term on Council, Sherry was a champion of advisory committees, always respecting their input
Moving forward, Sherry plans to continue her focus on Community Engagement,
Fiscal Responsibility and Diversified Growth moving forward.
Current Focus...
Many of these thought bubbles can be grouped into a few key priorities. Most of Sherry's work this term has been accomplished through committees and working with others. Collaborating with partners and residents helps set a project up for success. Engaging with the community is a top priority.
Managing the budget in a responsible way is also a priority. While we celebrate the grants we've received, we recognize that the needs are ongoing. Grants may start a project but we need a new funding deal with the province to provide reliable, stable support for the services that are being (or have been) downloaded. Property tax is under immense pressure.
To achieve effective governance the Executive Branch and the Administrative Branch of our municipal government must paddle in the same direction and work as a team.