A lack of openness with the community promoted Bill Heska to run for town council is Ward 3.
Heska, 65, filed his nomination papers on deadline to enter the ward race against incumbents John Durley and Peter Papp, and, newcomer Wally Braun.
The sudden appearance of an arena lease for the Pirates Junior B hockey team in July was an example of a lack of transparency, he said
Residents will notice a loss of Friday night public skating because of the deal.
Heska, a retired professional engineer who worked at John Deere for 28 years, has lived in Pelham for 32 years with wife Muriel and three children.
In his career he said he worked in areas such as plant, facilities and manufacturing engineering as well as supply management, quality, production, product engineering, and marketing.
“I was directly involved in managing capital and projects with fiscal expenditures up to $10 million,” he said.
His community involvement includes 14 years in Pelham minor hockey and soccer as a trainer, manager, convenor and coach. He was a member of parent advisory councils at Glynn A. Green and E. L. Crossley. He served for more than 20 years on his church board.
“Based on my work and community experience, I feel I can provide fresh dynamic leadership as a Councillor for Ward 3 in Pelham,” he said.
“There are many issues that are currently in progress or planned for Pelham. They need to receive rational consideration and be prioritized so that a fiscally responsible local government decision can be made. “
A new community complex in East Fonthill is a major project “which must serve a dynamic growing community now and in the future.”
What it will contain “needs to be reviewed and rationally justified.”
That includes ice surfaces, swimming pool, fitness centre, track and multifunctional community room with kitchen, he said.
“The need for an active park with soccer and baseball fields, a children’s playground and a passive area also should be considered.”
Other issues are: completion of the Fenwick revitalization, a decision on Fenwick Maple Acre library, the development of Highway 20 through Fonthill, and support for service clubs.
“The turnover of town staff especially in the planning department needs to be reviewed to ensure responsibilities and function are clearly defined and accountably managed,” Heska said.
The operation and services rendered by the town need to be efficient and cost effective, he said.
Infrastructure such as roads, water, sewer, drainage and lighting “needs to be maintained and repaired and replaced in timely manner.”
Heska said that “all communication with citizens of Pelham must be clear, factual, and timely and provide fiscal impact.”
The Ward 3 candidate said the town must encourage and support current and new businesses and find ways to keep young people in Pelham.
Ward 3 will have two representatives on town council. Election Day is Monday Oct. 27.
